No....you don't have to fill the tank all the way until they start swimming around and growing some. Halfway is fine, I had mine filled only about a third of the way for the first week or two.
Any aquarium plant will do....if you can find java moss at the LFS that would be great. You can buy it in clumps for a few dollars. You can also look online if you want to go to the trouble and expense of shipping, but it isn't necessary. Just pick up some low light plants like water sprite or java ferns. Put plenty in the tank...all sorts of tiny microscopic organisms come into the tank with them and the fry will feed on that for the first week or so after becoming free swimming.
Powdered fry food will work fine...I have used the Hakari brand with success. If you can get a microworm culture that would be even better...but don't worry if you can't. I go from the powdered food to micro pellets once they become big enough to eat it. Live foods are always best though, if you can manage it...microworms or vinigar eels are the easiest I think.
The eggs being brown with the black dot is GREAT ! It's when they turn whitish grey that means they're no good. If you notice any of them doing that, pick them off with a toothpick carefully so as not to harm any of the good eggs...then syphon them out of the tank so they don't cause the good ones to go fungusy on you too.
All the best Joe !
Any aquarium plant will do....if you can find java moss at the LFS that would be great. You can buy it in clumps for a few dollars. You can also look online if you want to go to the trouble and expense of shipping, but it isn't necessary. Just pick up some low light plants like water sprite or java ferns. Put plenty in the tank...all sorts of tiny microscopic organisms come into the tank with them and the fry will feed on that for the first week or so after becoming free swimming.
Powdered fry food will work fine...I have used the Hakari brand with success. If you can get a microworm culture that would be even better...but don't worry if you can't. I go from the powdered food to micro pellets once they become big enough to eat it. Live foods are always best though, if you can manage it...microworms or vinigar eels are the easiest I think.
The eggs being brown with the black dot is GREAT ! It's when they turn whitish grey that means they're no good. If you notice any of them doing that, pick them off with a toothpick carefully so as not to harm any of the good eggs...then syphon them out of the tank so they don't cause the good ones to go fungusy on you too.
All the best Joe !
