How can I protect my bristlenose pleco fry??

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evident

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Dec 24, 2008
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dave
My albino bristlenose pair has had its "litter" hatch and they are starting to free swim and attach themselves to the walls of the tank. I noticed that their numbers are dwindling. I even witnessed murder when i was cleaning out my tank. my bolivian ram was investigating a fry... then all of a sudden, CHOMP! didnt realize how vicious my rams and tetras were till i saw them feasting on these little buggers!

I want to help these guys out, but I don't have an extra tank laying around. I do have this little rectangular water container that you see at some fish stores that hang on the side of the tank. (Something like this http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3728+15485&pcatid=15485 ) I managed to get about 5 of the fry and put them in there, and i hung the little container inside the tank so the temperature stays relatively warm. i put some hikari first bites in the tank and they seem to be eating it up.

Is there another solution that might potentially be better than what i'm doing now? I figure i will probably need to change the water out daily in that little container.
 
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The Zigman

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Oct 5, 2007
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you can pick up a 10 gal tank for a decent price, then get a heater and an sponge filter.
could get one up and running here for about $30


check your local craigslist and see what might be available.
I dont see any other way than having a 2nd tank for them.
 

evident

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you can pick up a 10 gal tank for a decent price, then get a heater and an sponge filter.
could get one up and running here for about $30


check your local craigslist and see what might be available.
I dont see any other way than having a 2nd tank for them.
Do you think i could pull it off in my 5 gallon waterchange bucket? I already have a spare heater, and i would just have to pick up a sponge filter.


loosk like my petsmart is also having a sale on a 5 gallon tank kit as well. may have to just look into that.
 
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vwill279

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I would get a few pieces of cholla wood. The little holes and hollow areas will provide great natural cover for the fry that will protect them from your other fish if they're smart enough to use it. My LFS has them for a buck for a 6" piece. I love them!
 

Taari

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vanillarum

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I have my red ancistrus BNs in my 46 gal community tank (when I move the dad from the other tank). I bought a 5.5 gal tank at petco or petsmart, and when I see eggs in the cave with dad, I just move the cave and all into the 5.5 gal tank until all the fry are out of the cave. I bought this filter ( http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?filteration&1329936003) on AB and an inexpensive heater at Petco/smart. I think the entire thing was about $25. Works great. Good luck.
 

evident

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There are also little breeding nets or boxes that hook onto the inside of the tank and are made of mesh netting with a plastic frame, such as this http://www.petco.com/product/13623/Penn-Plax-Net-Breeder.aspx?Ntt=breeding nets&OneResultRedirect=1

or this http://www.bigalspets.com/Underwate...olor_map,price,size_name&searchRank=salesrank

It will allow the water from your tank to pass through to eliminate special water changes for the fry.
Ok. well i was off to petsmart and ended up buying one of those net things. i also was going to pick up a 5 gallon tank as an emergency hospital tank. my fiance ended up convincing me to get the fluval chi 5 gallon tank. LOL. I set up the net pen in the main tank and the fry seem pretty happy! but now my MTS has officially begun.
 
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