My Son Wants To Know

[Shelby]

My son has a 55g tank and wants to know if there are any fish that actually protect their fry?

Or

Are there any fish similiar to an oscar but smaller?

 

[waterdrop]

Well I don't know either answer right off but I believe there are plenty of species that are actually protecting a increasing the chances of their fry, despite eating other of their fry. The act of eating ones own fry actually serves two purposes: first, by eating some of the fry, the fry that aren't eaten get more food and have a better chance and they are usually the more viable fry. Secondly, the parents retain some of the valuable protein their bodies have spent energy making, so they are more viable and competitive for having their next brood.

WD

 

[Truck]

Yes, most new world cichlids do, but they're terrible first timers, they get better with time though.

All apistos will as will mikrogeophagus species.

 

[drobbyb]

Angelfish, convicts, discus all protect their fry. Mostly the new world cichlids do.

 

[Wills]

A smaller alternative to an oscar - now that would be fantastic. But no unfortunately not nothing that looks and acts like an oscar at a smaller size but you do get dwarf cichlids with a lot of personality but look quite different.

Quite a lot of cichlids that you could breed in a 55g but it depends on your other tank mates.

 

[simonas]

the best I have seen are my Channa Orientalis which at present are doing a fine job of looking after the 15 fry they have

 

[ian]

Kribs do a good job, they often get mistaken for eating the fry, when the fry swims into the mouths of there parents for protection