Free-swimmers Finally

[Doug A]

Well I finally have some free-swimmers!!!:D http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_34.gif

Not very many. Maybe 12 +/-. This is the pairs 4th or 5th spawn. The pair is a Red LSS Male and a red scribbled female both are just about 1 year old. I damn near cried when I saw the first fry on the parent. Now I guess I just have to wait and see if they make it to next week and then start hatching BBS.


Click the image to see a short video of some fry swimming around and on the dad http://i1.zvhost.com/1/h/hec86dhe.jpg (http://www.zippyvideos.com/5357691983952826/free-swimmers/)

Doug:D

[Chrisb]

Congratulations Doug

I hope my new pair gets there soon. They just try for the third time:(

Chris

[Barb Newell]

Congratulations Doug!

Barb

[candyl70]

Awesome Doug!!!!!!! That is such great news!!!! I really like seeing the little babies zip off the dad... that was neat!! Good luck getting them further along... keep us posted with some pics!!!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_2_79.gif

[Doug A]

Thanks!!! :D

I will update as time marches on. Should I remove the flower pot once all the fry are attached to the parents?

Doug

[Kenny's Discus]

That's so nice Doug! Congrats!

I would remove the pot if all frys have attached to the parents. Sort of like forcing the frys to stay near the parents' sides instead of staying near the cone because they wouldn't find anything to eat at the cone lol. But it's not a necessity though.

Btw where's the female? Did you separate her to another tank? Just courious here and it's all good.

Best of luck to you Doug.

Kenny

[AmberC]

Congrats Grandpa Doug! Good luck with the fry!
Amber

[Jarrod]

Well I finally have some free-swimmers!!!:D http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_34.gif

Not very many. Maybe 12 +/-. This is the pairs 4th or 5th spawn. The pair is a Red LSS Male and a red scribbled female both are just about 1 year old. I damn near cried when I saw the first fry on the parent. Now I guess I just have to wait and see if they make it to next week and then start hatching BBS.


Click the image to see a short video of some fry swimming around and on the dad http://i1.zvhost.com/1/h/hec86dhe.jpg (http://www.zippyvideos.com/5357691983952826/free-swimmers/)

Doug:D
Congratulations Doug!!...thats wonderful:) :D
One of these days eventually when mine get to the breeding stage I can post the same way and feel as happy as you do now!!!!
Jarrod

[Doug A]

Kenny, Amber, Jarrod. Thanks !!!!

Kenny, the female was on the other side of the tank looking after some other fry.

Jarrod, You'll get there one day.

Doug :D

[Ardan]

Congratulations Doug!

Ardan

[Doug A]

Thanks Ardan!

Well I had to seperate the female cause she was getting ready to lay eggs again. I first tried removing the flower pot thinking that might nip the urge. Then she started cleaning the floor to lay eggs on. I even sat in front of the tank telling her "you can't lay eggs you have babies to care for". http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_102.gif

So I quickly filled the 20H that I had sitting next to the breeding tank, grabbed a sponge filter from my main tank, netted her and ploped her in the new tank and added some salt. Now she's swimming around lookin' for love in all the wrong places. lol

I thought about taking a male from the main tank and putting him in with her and see what happens, but decided to wait. http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_12_12.gif

Doug

[marilyn1998]

Congrats Doug! Love the video. Seems once they spawning age the questions and problems never end! If I ever get a pair, you can have em! :D

[lauren0626]

Hi Doug,
I just found your thread. Don't know how I missed it the past several days. Your video is cooooooool!
How are the free-swimmers doing?

[Doug A]

If I ever get a pair, you can have em! :D

I'm gonna hold you to that Marilyn! ;) :p


The free swimmers are mostly staying in the upper corners of the tank. Sometimes I will see a few on the parents. I decided to put mom back in the tank. They both looked so lonely separated and I think her urge to spawn has passed for now. I have the water lowered to half and have the sponge filter covered in white. The back of the tank is painted white and I have white paper on the sides. I'm not sure if the parents are secreting enough slime. I saw 2 dead fry earlier today.

How long can the fry live without eating from the parents?

Doug

[Doug A]

Update!!!

There are 3-5 fry staying really close to the parents. There is one that stays on the other side of the tank and I guess just gets a bite to eat and then off again. The rest have died or are dying. :(

Hopefully next time they will have a larger batch of fry. I think it's a good learning experience for them and me.

[Jarrod]

Update!!!

There are 3-5 fry staying really close to the parents. There is one that stays on the other side of the tank and I guess just gets a bite to eat and then off again. The rest have died or are dying. :(

Hopefully next time they will have a larger batch of fry. I think it's a good learning experience for them and me.

Cool Doug!! and think of it this way...bummer on the ones that haven't made it so far but think of it this way..how many times have any of us ever goten something right the very first time that we've tried it?...things always get better with practice I'm thinking. but I'm really hoping for you that the ones that have made it this far will grow up big strong and good for you!...Keep the faith and keep up the good work!
Congrat again and best of luck for getting this far!
Jarrod

[Doug A]

There are still 6. It's amazing how fast they grow! Just last week they were specs with tails. Now they are begining to look like little fish. I haven't been able to get a good pic of the fry, but will post 1 when I do.

I started feeding BBS on tuesday or wednesday. By the look of the orange bellies on them they are eating it. :D

[Kindredspirit]

That is great news, Doug! How old are they now?



http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/1/1_4_138.gif

[Doug A]

They are 1 week old today. :D

[Doug A]

Here is a pic of 2 of the 4 that are left. They will be 2 weeks on saturday.

[Chrisb]

Doug
they look like they are growing fast.
Good luck with them I hope next time over 100:)

Chris

[Jarrod]

Doug they are looking good so far!!..keep the faith and keep up the good work! Congrats buddy!
Jarrod

[marilyn1998]

That is great!! So what there are only 4? As they grow, you wont have alot problems with this spawn causing room trouble.

[Doug A]

Thanks!!!

I don't mind too much that there are only 4. Would like more, but it's a good learning experience. Having 100 next time would be great!!!

Soon I'm gonna try feeding them frozen cyclop-eeze.

[Robo]

Hi Doug,
That was awesome! Congrats! I'm going to have a similar situation as yours - very small batch of free-swimming fry...i've read somewhere that parents don't like small batch of fry and they are not likely to grow out?:confused: But somehow, i've gathered confidence from yours;) Mine is likely to have about 20 free-swimming anytime - if the parents intend to keep them, that is, and provided they are healthy. I'll be happy even if 1 and only 1 can grow out, at least.

Cheers,
Rob

[Doug A]

Rob,

Good luck with them. Keep your eye on the female. If she starts acting like she is going to lay eggs you will need to take her out or else they will get eaten. Butch on this site has a small batch of 8. He just posted pics of his at 3 weeks.

[Robo]

Thanks Doug, Everything is going fine at the moment. Abeit it's a small batch, i'll be taking both yours and Butch's experience as an inspiration;) . What a way to start...I mean it's the pair's 5th spawn (previous spawns all in my community tank). This is the farthest they are going thru'. Am keeping my fingers crossed:) for now.

Rob

[Doug A]

Here is a pic taken tonight. They are almost 3 weeks old. Eating BBS and starting to eat some baby food from ebay and my own dry food mix ground up.

It's a little hard to see in this pic but, 2 of them have stripes and the other 2 look like they are solid colored (no stripes)

Mom is in the tank next door fanning about 300 eggs that she laid yesterday. Unless I have an asexual female they aren't going to hatch.

[Doug A]

The pair did it again!!! I have about 40 - 50 wigglers on the cone tonight. I need more tanks!!!!!!!!! The 4 from the previous spawning are now a little over 5 weeks old and growing FAST. Starting to see slight glimmers of color when the light hits them just right.

[Jarrod]

Doug...those little guys look great!!...keep up the good work!!...:bandana:
Jarrod

[Robo]

Congrats Doug - I'm sure your pair will be doing better this time with more spawn. Well done and keep us posted!;)

Rob

[marilyn1998]

WOW Doug!! That is great!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[White Worm]

I have eggs again, we will see. All last batches were not fertilized, my boy is sure trying and he is a very protective poppa. He is king of the tank when watching his eggs.