Help!!!!

[paradigmcubed]

I have a bit of a problem. I have a pair of Convicts who have had their 2nd batch of babies. They are very small, I would bet they just hatched. I had previously assumed that all the babies from the first batch had been eaten, killed by other fish etc. This morning I noticed the babies falling through the undergravel filter. This was because they cleared the bottom of all gravel. Anyways, upon looking under the tank, to my complete surprise I found 3 1/4 inch baby convicts. I assume these are from my their previous batch. I guess they got sucked under and lived off of the stuff that got taken in by the undergravel filter. I will have to remove my JD, Oscar and pair of Convicts before I can pull the undergravel filter up. The only problem is that I still have the baby Convicts from the 2nd batch to deal with. This is where I need you guys to jump in. I was thinking I would set up a 10 gallon tank. Then I would suck all the 2nd batch babies out and place them in one of those green nets you use to catch fish, then stick them in the 10. After removing all the other fish I would also pull the undergravel filter out and put the 1st batch babies in the 10 gallon. They wouldn't be able to eat the 1st batch babies, they could live in a big green net until they got bigger. I know this is a farfetched plan, but does anyone think it will work? Or any other ideas?

Thanks

[firetank]

are the fry 2nd batch free swimming yet -- if they are and are eating from the water column and not their egg sacs, id say its very feassible to syphon them out into a smaller tank.

make sure the smaller tank is using a cycled filter - preferably spo nge based -- cuts down "losses"..

syphon a large proportion of water from the main tank into the smaller to keep the perameters similar..

try feeding them on brine shrimp or a shop bought liquifry product.

ive read that con babies from different generation hatchings are't a problem together....

hth

[paradigmcubed]

I think some are still eating from a very, very samll egg sack. These guys are very young though, miniscule. You don't think the other Convicts, from the 1st batch would eat them? I am feeding them baby brine shrimp, they are slightly bigger than adult brine shrimp.

[dbcb314]

so your goin to destroy your whole tank to save 3 baby convicts?

[optix]

Originally posted by dbcb314
so your goin to destroy your whole tank to save 3 baby convicts?


I was thinking that same thing actually.

[paradigmcubed]

I'm guessing by destroy you mean taking apart the entire tank. All I have to do is bag each fish. Then remove the babies from the rock where the Convicts were nesting. After that I can remove the UGF and save the Convicts.

[firetank]

in the same situation, i'd rip the tank down too....

(plus gives the opportunity for a little house cleaning under that ol under gravel--(or you could leave it out altogether..));) ;)

:D

[paradigmcubed]

There is quite a bit of crap under there, which is what likely saved them.

[paradigmcubed]

It has been exactly 24 hours since I removed the baby convicts from the first batch and the fry from the second. I have placed them all in a 10 gallon. The temerature is maintaining at 79 degress. I have yet to add a filter and will go purchase one tomorrow. Anyone have a recommendation? I believe they will be fine till I tomorrow, any thoughts on this?

Thanks a lot!

[firetank]

you are probably up against it if you arent using an established filter.

try doing a 10-20% water change daily.

remove any that die as soon as you can to prevent the water fouling...

do you have an airpump or something to keep the water moving??

[paradigmcubed]

I do have an airpump moving the water and I can switch an established filter over, I'm just afraid the babies could be sucked in.