spawning firemouths

[Paul_MTS]

my firemouths spawned for the 2nd time on thrusday night and as before by the morning all the eggs were eaten.

there in a 110 tank with vairous other cichlids, catfish and plecs.

when they spawn again whats the best thing I can do to maybe get some fry out of them?

 

[freddyk]

Are you sure it's them eating the eggs?

I've noticed you have many catfish and loaches that are nocturnal and my guess would be it's some of those guys sneaking in at night to devour them.

 

[Paul_MTS]

yeh it probable is some one else eating them during the nigh when they can't defend aswell, but should let the parents learn to proect better or move the eggs out and try and hatch em my self?

 

[juanveldez]

freddy is probably right, best thing to do is to get a small tank with a good filter that will put a steady but gentle flow of water over the eggs, and an air strip, and when the FMs spawn remove the rock or what ever they spawn on and place it in that situation., or you could get a tank and place the pair in there and see if it is truely them that is the reason that the eggs are gone

 

[Paul_MTS]

oki dokey, will get a small filter then whe i happens again i can stick them in large tub or similiar, then if they hatch I'll find something more suitable, It seems to be linked when i don't add much/any hot water at a water change so might do another over the week end to get them going again.

 

[juanveldez]

some people use a monthly cycle of water changes to induce spawning, the thing to remember is to make sure that they are properly conditioned first, I say wait 4-5 weeks before trying again in that time continue to feed good pellets, insects, frozen foods etc.... the water change thing is pretty simple; 20, 20, 20, 65-70. that should throw them into it pretty easily!!!!

 

[Paul_MTS]

oki dokey,

i feed only with froozen foods then occassionally I throw in a cichlid gold and a range of sinking pellets!

what are firemouth fry like with food when first born? obviously BBS is going to be the best but not sure if i'll have time for all that malarky, so power foods, cucumber and liquid fry??

 

[juanveldez]

looking at BBS, I belive that hikari makes a product called first bites, though I have found that crushed flake to be just as good and a HECK of alot cheaper. the fry will live off of the yolk sac until free swimming.

Edit: I know that the betta people that breed bettas regularly use a variaty of microworms might get a culture of them going as well, the fry might be more inticed to eat something that is a bit more lively!!! I wouldn't be surprised to see a die off of the fry though.