What is the best tank setup for released Fry Rearing. [Member Contributed]

[eeztropheus]

This was in my very first troph setup it had some rock formations that were just great for fry protection. In the video you can see all the different sizes of fry in that tank.

http://vid780.photobucket.com/albums...0/c99bdee3.mp4

[dahling]

My colony appears to be relatively fry friendly. The first time I had fry, a cloud of fry tried to zip into the sub dominant male's mouth...he wouldn't have any of it, turned around and fled...almost saw fear in his eyes. Maybe they weren't his or he's in denial.

I allow my females to hold to term. Two rock piles on both ends, smaller stones creates little crevices just big enough for fry. I also have about a dozen 1/2" sized pvc elbows in front of the tank with 1/2" pvc pipes cut to 6" lengths, about 8 or so zap strapped together. I have 2 of those in there together with the elbows and it creates a nice pile for fry to hide. After the females spit, I usually find 2 or 3 fry in the pile of pvc, and the rest are scattered through the tank. It's not very aesthetic, so I remove the pvc pipes when the fry are no longer using them.

I just bought a couple of fake plastic ground cover mats similar to what Mastiffman posted earlier in the thread, we'll see how much use the trophs get out of those. If anything, it is growing a nice coating of algae that fry can pick at.

[JkdJedi]

The more rocks the better has been my success with Mbuna way back when. My Moops first successful clutch had only one survivor. And he's the bravest of the whole clan! Small shells and pVC piping didn't seem to help but I'm thinking if the entire floor had the pvc piping of different sizing the survivor rate would be higher. My one pair of Ikola just breed so contemplating the PVC idea (layered across the entire bottom floor, or a pile on one side) in that tank.

[Mastiffman]

OH that's an interesting idea.

I've noticed that each occasional time that I let a female hold to the point of full term and releasing they seem to hang out by rock piles or corners.

[gw12269]

Originally Posted by JimA

I ended up letting the 7 fry I had in the breeder net go last night while the lights were off, this morning I looked and saw 3 which is a good sign. I didn't have much time to look around for the others and I just got home 9pm and the lights are off. Will look and see if I can find the others in the AM. I am pretty sure one of the smaller fry won't make it, he had a nip in his back from one of the other fry, and his back end was turning black. Jeez they are maybe an inch long if that and picking on the smallest one he was maybe a half inch. Never know though.

Released 7 fry Thursday in the dark. Yet to see one.

[dannyt]

Originally Posted by gw12269

Released 7 fry Thursday in the dark. Yet to see one.

NOoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :'(