How to care for fry?

[Diann62]

I have a pair of jewel cichlids that I just got about 2 weeks ago. They spawned and there were eggs all over the drift wood. After a few days I noticed the eggs were gone so I thought they were bad or whatever. After another few days I noticed hundreds of baby fish (not sure if they're called wigglers).

I've been watching them for 2 days now and the parents keep them on the bottom of the tank. It's a planted tank with only some kind of grassy plants.

I'm wondering how they're getting fed? I crush up flaked food and hope it gets to the bottom. Is this a natural process? I don't want to lose these guys.

Thanks for the help.

 

[GuppyMan]

Congrats! And yeah, it's all natural. A lot of parents will keep the fry to the bottom for the first few days until the fry gain strength and can swim more. I always fed my fry finely crushed flake as a staple and some microworms every once in a while. Brine shrimp babies are great too, but never had a kit or anything to hatch em. Also, the fry will eat the micro organisms that grow on live plants. And, they will also eat any algae growth.

 

[SafaditM3]

They also sell liquid fry food at most LFS'

 

[Diann62]

Thanks for your help........I'm so excited!!

 

[steakman]

I feed them crushed flake, nothing fancy (regular flake that i crushed with my dried fingers).
You should feed them little meals like 3-4 times a day 'cause their stomachs are too small to consume enough food in 1 eating. After a couple of weeks, they can eat a normal 1-2 meals a day.
I also notice that the regular cichlid or gold fish flake will make them grow quicker and stronger than those fancy-super expensive little package, or tube, or first bite crap sold @ the fish store.
Hope it'll help.

 

[verbal]

You might try frozen baby brine shrimp. Live is ideal, but can be a big hassle.

 

[Diann62]

Well I'm feeding them frozen brine shrimp and crushed flakes. They're doing well (what's left). I think I have about 10-15. They still spend a lot of time on the bottom of the tank. It's fun watching them grow!

 

[H2Ogal]

Congrats on the fry ... your fish must be very happy in their new home!

Got pics?

 

[Diann62]

Well I'm watching them grow and it's fascinating! Yesterday I found another mound of eggs.........I was like "Wholy Crap"! They're gone off the rock so I think she's holding them in her mouth. I think there's about 10 from the first batch and they're growning nicely. I blew my light tonight so I'll get some pics when I fix it.