fairdeal

Don't think you have ever been here during Stampede week Re: the not- so- wild west.

Tammy: call me after 2 P.M. today (254-9402) and I will give you some of the Better than Brine Shrimp in the egg layer size. This is great stuff and the fry love it. Harold I forgot to mention that I bring this in from the U.S., as I have never seen it in Canada anywhere. It is only available in very limited quantities - it is usually gone as fast as they can make it.

If you plan on breeding and raising the fry the only proper way is to have the 2 adults in a tank of their own. It doesn't have to be more than a 20G., but when I used to breed angels that was the only way to have regular spawns and to keep any other fish from eating the fry. Wriggling fry in a tank is like ringing a dinner gong until they are all gone. I have even seen the parents eat their own fry or eggs they get so frustrated trying to protect them and once they have done that it is a real problem trying to break them of the habit. Back when I raised them all there was to feed the fry was live baby brine shrimp (and what a hassle that was keeping 3 hatcheries going) or infusoria or liquid egg yolk formula. Now there are several no hassle prepared dry foods available - like Better than Brine Shrimp. So it doesn't have to be a time consuming laborious job if you do want to keep them.If you leave the fry in the existing setup it is highly unlikely there will be any survivors. I had 2 cyndrilicus eat 250 brichardi fry in less than 1/2 a day and everybody knows what good parents brichardis are. If you do want to keep the fry I would suggest a 10G. tank with an aged sponge filter. You want to make sure they are all getting maximum food intake at the free swimming stage, which will be pretty quick from the sounds of it. I haven't done this for many many years, so I hope one of the current breeders can help you out more. Good luck.

Electric blues and synodontis are natural fry eaters and the likelihood of even a few survivors is at best minimal - the electric blues will get them during the day and the synodontis at night. Pile the rocks closely together and make the pile deep - the predators are built to grag anything that is even close to the edges and use larger rocks. When these guys are hunting they will move pretty large objects in their exuburance to feed. They will probably also dig out any gravel or sand aroung the rocks, so make sure they are on eggcrate or the bottom of the tank.You might also want to try a floating breeding trap - one made of netting or wrap a nylon stocking around a plastic one. If there are any slots or openings of any kind the fry will be pulled through them in an instant. At least that way they will have a chance to get to 1/2 - 3/4".Good luck.

I feed my fry that still have the yolk sacs all the time and it really does get them off to a good start with the growth. BUT, I don't give them anything until they can get upright. At this stage they are probably still laying on the bottom on their sides and food is rather difficult to eat. When they can get upright and even before they can actually swim then it is time for the food and yes, only small amounts. I use Better Than Brine Shrimp, which I bring in from the U.S. but crushed flakes, etc. will work too. The reason I like the BBS is that it is 10 times more nutricious than live baby brine shrimp and no hassle. 2 or 3 weeks after they lose the yolk sacs they are big enough to put on NLS grow pellets, then NLS small fish pellets. If you want to try some of the BBS I can mail it to you - it lasts forever - bought 200 or 250g. 6 months ago and have only used 1/4 of it and I have fed probably 6-700 hundred fry. Good luck with the fry.