Jd Fry

[leecasey]

Hi, my JD's have finally mastered producing fry. However they end up disappearing. I'm guessing they are getting eaten by the tank mates:

3 x Geophagus Megasema
1 x Oscar
6 x Congo Tetra

I've decided I want to pursue the breeding product and have a batch of fry almost ready to hatch. I am rehoming the Oscar and Geo's as they are almost definitely not going to work with the fry. I'm wondering if the Congo Tetra's would be ok left in there? (It's a Juwel Rio 400 (5ft))

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Verminator89]

Other cichlids in the tank are certainly NOT going to help. However, if it is the Jacks first few attempts at breeding they may not master it even when they get wrigglers. Mine have bred 5 times now, with the latest two times getting to free swimming fry stage, yet over night the female STILL decides to eat the young. Its infuriating, and its all down to how wild they are at heart. Tank bred specimens generally struggle to get used to the concept some times.

Rehoming your bigger cichlids will certainly increase their chances, so thats worthwhile. The congo tetras may actually help, so i would keep them. Having dithers in with cichlids, especially Jacks i've found IME, promotes that parental instinct in them. It encourages them to breed as they know their environment is safe to raise young, so keep the congo's! I highly doubt they will any Jack fry anyway, the parents are usually very protective and thus won't allow them anywhere near. The odd one may be taken, but this can only be expected as survival rates are NEVER going to 100% right.

Keep it up, and keep us posted! Love hear Jack breeding stories!