Need help artificially raising frys

[blkg35]

My blue snakeskin pair laid eggs 3 days ago. Last night I noticed my angelfish staring at the cone for awhile (cone has a screen mesh protecting the eggs). I went over to see what he was staring at and noticed wigglers. The parents have completely ignored the eggs and wigglers.
I took the cone with eggs/wigglers out and put them in a 5gal bucket. (with tank water, heater, and sponge filter).
Today I have a bunch of wigglers in the bucket.
What should my next step be?
I'm thinking maybe wait until they become free swimmers and start feeding them bbs or Hikari first bites? (if they make it that far)
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[chaoslite]

Congratulations! I have actually does this part before. When they went free swimming I put them in a bowl with a turkey baster. I would drop in some bbs and they would eat. You have to make sure after they eat to switch out the water in bowl. I actually set the bowl in a 10 gallon tank with about 3 inches of water and a heater to keep them at temp. Keep the water clean. I had a bit of an accident locked myself out of the house and lost them all because they were still in with the bbs when I got lock out, but it worked for over 5 days.

Mishka

[TURQ64]

Wardley's fry food is fairly easy to come by, and might help you in a pinch between bbs...Otherwise, search for 'watley method'...

[blkg35]

Congratulations! I have actually does this part before. When they went free swimming I put them in a bowl with a turkey baster. I would drop in some bbs and they would eat. You have to make sure after they eat to switch out the water in bowl. I actually set the bowl in a 10 gallon tank with about 3 inches of water and a heater to keep them at temp. Keep the water clean. I had a bit of an accident locked myself out of the house and lost them all because they were still in with the bbs when I got lock out, but it worked for over 5 days.

Mishka

Thanks Mishka!
I'm waiting for the rest of the wigglers to fall off the cone and then move them into a plastic bowl floating in a 10gal tank.
Your advice sounds like a good plan. I've been watching videos on youtube about your method.
Hope it works out....:D


Wardley's fry food is fairly easy to come by, and might help you in a pinch between bbs...Otherwise, search for 'watley method'...

Hi Turq,
I bought the Hikari first bites for frys. It's a powder type food.
I'm going to try that first and then get them on bbs.

I'm guessing I have around 100 wigglers, half is on the bottom of the bucket and the other half is still on the cone.
I did a 30% water change and will do another 30% tonight.

[TURQ64]

The Hikari first bites are about ten times larger than the Wardley's..good luck with them..( I'm raising a bowlful also from the first hatch in my new room)..

[Cosgrovb]

Is this Wardleys?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18501

[blkg35]

The Hikari first bites are about ten times larger than the Wardley's..good luck with them..( I'm raising a bowlful also from the first hatch in my new room)..

Thanks for that info. I'll check with my LFS to see if they carry it.
When do you start feeding the frys this? As soon as they become free swimmers?

[chaoslite]

Good luck and keep me posted. I learned most of that from Bill and Inland Empire discus. He did not have to use the tank and heater though because his fish room is heated to about 86 degrees.

Mishka

[TURQ64]

He did not have to use the tank and heater though because his fish room is heated to about 86 degrees.

Mishka

mine too; makes it much easier going...

[blkg35]

I followed Mishka's suggestion about the bowl method. I've been watching videos on youtube and read a book by Dick Au on artificially raising the frys.
I have the wigglers floating in a bowl inside a 10gal tank. They are on the 3rd day of being wigglers and still have an egg sac.
I also purchased some bbs eggs and will start hatching them.

The wigglers were attaching themselves to the black sponge filter I had in the bucket prior to me moving them into the bowl (this morning). Does this mean they are ready to accept food?

I couldn't find any Wardley's fry food at 3 different LFS. Although I think the Wardley's fry food would be much more convenient than hatching bbs right now.
Here are some photos of the bowl. Please let me know what you guys/gals think.
Thanks!!

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn234/blkg35/frys1.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn234/blkg35/frys.jpg

Pics of the parents:
Male Blue SS
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn234/blkg35/bluessmale.jpg

Female Blue SS (sold to me as SS but not sure)
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn234/blkg35/bluessfemale.jpg

[blkg35]

I wanted to Thank Chaoslite for taking the time out to help me with these frys.
Thank you for answering all my questions and offering helpful tips!!
Here they are after 1.5hrs of cleaning off what appears to be lint and sticky stuff that was causing them to clump together.
Tomorrow they will get a feeding of bbs if it ever hatches.....:confused:

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn234/blkg35/frys2.jpg
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn234/blkg35/frys3.jpg

[MKD]

congrats David!!! you re doing great job!!!

[chaoslite]

You are very welcome. Everything I have learned came from the wonderful people on this forum.

Mishka

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

[Cosgrovb]

Curiously awaiting an update....

[kikkan]

please keep this post updated with pictures as they grow.

I might try this myself :)

[CliffsDiscus]

Weak batch good luck with the next spawning