Platinum Acara Babies

[bricko]

Hi Guys,
 
Not posted anything for a while.  I need some advice on what to do in my 600l tank.
 
It is heavily planted and contains 2 platinum acara (thought they were both male), 1 firemouth, 1 gold severum, 1 red head severum, 5 denisoni barbs, 6 mascra barbs, 7 zebra loach and about 5 bristlenose of various sizes.
 
Anyway I have come back from holiday to a tank full of baby platinum acara, the parents seem to be defending them well without showing too much aggression to the other fish.  I had no intention of breeding as I though both specimens where male and I don't want my tank to turn into a warzone.
 
I was thinking of vacuming out the babies and taking them to Wharf aquatics but do not know if they are better off just staying in the tank with the parents at such a small size.
 
Do I leave them for nature to take its course and remove any survivors once they have grown a little or am I better off getting them out now before all hell breaks loose in the tank.  I will also remove one of the pair as to avoid any further occurences.
 
Any help / suggestions would be appreciated from anyone with experience in this matter.
 
Thanks in advance.
 
Bricko

 

[Munroco]

It's probably just me but I would find it a great shame to split up a pair of fish that have bonded. Can't you give them away as a pair to someone?

 

[bricko]

That is a good point Muncro, as long as I can sort something out with the fry and they don't become overly aggressive to other fish then I may keep them together.
 
I was convinced they were both male, in fact at one point I thought I would have to rehome one as they tore each other apart, lip locking etc.
 
Will let you know how I get on, may have to retrieve my old 440l tank and set up in the garage as a fry factory!

 

[Munroco]

Fry factory would be good if you could be sure of selling/giving them away. I suspect that won't be the case. Very few people seem to want the larger SA cichlids these days, even unusual ones like yours (platinum = blue acara variation?)