O MAN! WE HAVE BETTA FRY!! HELP!

[kove32]

I know that little baby betta fry aren't "free-swimming" till about three days. My question is, how come the male isn't picking them all up! There are A LOT on the bottom of the aquarium. Why isn't he getting them all! I'm not sure that they are dead, but they aren't moving! What is going on! Will he get them? HELP!

 

[wuvmybetta]

Don't worry, he should eventually get to them. Is he picking any up at all?

If not, I'd remove him and lower the water to about 3"

 

[kove32]

Ya, he is getting some...

 

[wuvmybetta]

They'll be fine then, they're not breathing air yet so as long as you have a sponge filter or an airstone going, they should pop up shortly.
Unless of course...they're dead Sometimes dad will handle them TOO much and accidently kill them, or they were just weaker than the rest and he knows it.

 

[kove32]

A FILTER? WHAT? I need a filter? Noone told me that? Should I put it in now or what?

 

[coconutman39]

yea a sponge so the fry are protected from being sucked in. also make sure the tank is away from any fans or halls and it is covered, any blasts of cold air in the first few weeks will kill the fry.

 

[kove32]

I have a filter, what do you mean a sponge tho?

 

[iloveyou]

if the filter is sucking in water, you will need to put something over the suction intake so the fry dont get sucked up...

i used .. i think its called panty hose

like stretchy things for womens legs lol i feel like a moron

 

[kove32]

HAHA...alright! I think my mom might have some of those?

 

[kove32]

It is a 15 gallon tank and there fish are on one side, the filter on another. I think it is alright w/o pantyhose for now!

 

[wuvmybetta]

Good!


Yes, you must have some sort of aeration because the fry are breathing oxygen from the water right now, they'll develop their labyrinth organs over the next month to 6 weeks. Just a gentle bubble flow is all you need at this point.

 

[kove32]

http/img9.imageshack.us/my.php?loc=img9&...ge=DSCN0881.JPG
Kind of a bad picture!! Sorry!!
Umm..the left you can see the light and then a black (little for like 2.5-5 gallon aquarium) filter. In my whole half filled 15 gallon tank. The big 2.5 gallon in there was from the female (waiting for her to get stripes). Other than that, the male is at the bottom looking for eggs.
Anything else I should look for?

 

[jacblades]

YES YOU NEED A FILTER!!!!!!

if the filter is sucking in water, you will need to put something over the suction intake so the fry dont get sucked up...

you cannot have a filter that sucks water in! even if the intake is covered with panty hose-it will pull the fry to it. this is a sponge filter you attach an air pump to a sponge filter. it does no sucking.
or you can get a corner filter with carbon like this

 

[kove32]

Why can't I just have a tube going in that makes bubbles?

 

[wuvmybetta]

You can, you won't acually have to start filtering until they're free swimming and pooping like crazy. The air will be enough for now.