Fry nest

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Beth_obrien2424

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I was wondering if anyone could post some pictures of their fry nests/nurseries in community tanks so that I could get some ideas on how to set mine up. I was told which plants to get etc, I just wanted to see how people put it all into action
I have some molly fry coming any day now in a community tank with angelfish (not fully grown. Still quite small but with a bigger mouth than a molly) in and so I’m eager to set up a safe nursery
 
Excuse the mess of the tank, took this photo while I was removing plants to add more gravel and stuff, so I'd stirred everything up and it was everywhere including all over the sponge filter. I'd also tried (and failed) to grow a proper algae wall for the shrimp.
But see the mass of hornwort floating at the top right corner? That's basically my guppy fry nursery. Mine is planted, but I let it get into a long mass at the top for the fry. They all tend to congregate in there, although I usually have a stone or "tree" with masses of java moss low down too, plus other plants like crypts and swords.

But you can use anything. My first batch of fry I thought I was prepared because my tank had a lot of live plants, but I panicked when they were born since they all went to the surface in one corner, and my plants were all too short! I went to LFS and found some silk leaved fake plants he was selling off for a pound each, so I got three or four of them, and wedged them into a suction cup and stuck that the side at the top, and they all hid in there. Worked perfectly! Every time an adult got close, the fry would just move around the leaves and hide, and I fed them in there. I didn't take a photo of that, should have, but have kept the fake plants for quarantine use since they can be bleached. Might add them to the 57 G community tank later and snap a photo, since the elodea in there died after I medicated the tank.

Any plants that float and have roots work, like frogbit, water lettuce etc, and stem plants like hornwort or elodea (like in this pic) are probably even better since they form these tangled, long and deep masses of stems, which fry can get around easily, but bigger fish like your angels will struggle to navigate quickly. Guppy grass is recommended a lot too, just see what's available near you, and use fake if you prefer!
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I have 9 Platy Fry born in the tank but I moved to an incubation box. Initially they went straight up to the floating Salvinia & that's how I was able to catch them. Some went to the top of the filter. I've found my Salvinia has grown very quickly. I've the Salvinia also in their incubation tank and that's where they spend most of their time.
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I have 9 Platy Fry born in the tank but I moved to an incubation box. Initially they went straight up to the floating Salvinia & that's how I was able to catch them. Some went to the top of the filter. I've found my Salvinia has grown very quickly. I've the Salvinia also in their incubation tank and that's where they spend most of their time.View attachment 113479View attachment 113480View attachment 113481
They've grown so much! Proper little fish now :D You've clearly been feeding them well and keeping their water nice and clean, good job :good:
 
They've grown so much! Proper little fish now :D You've clearly been feeding them well and keeping their water nice and clean, good job :good:

I crush the food (Probiotic Tropical) three times a day. I'm surprised they've done well with the cycling. Water change today once I get little one to nap. I think later this week I'll put them in the main tank. I've Amazon Sword now & driftwood with mini caves & grooves for them to hide in.
 
I crush the food (Probiotic Tropical) three times a day. I'm surprised they've done well with the cycling. Water change today once I get little one to nap. I think later this week I'll put them in the main tank. I've Amazon Sword now & driftwood with mini caves & grooves for them to hide in.
They might well have struggled more with the cycling, had they not had a very dedicated fish keeper who kept on top of water changes and water tests, and added lots of live plants ;) The daily water changes likely did them a lot of good.

Have read that some fish fry exude a hormone that inhibits the growth of other baby fish around them - gives them a better chance of out-competing other fry if they're the largest and can take the biggest food - which is another reason so many breeders recommend daily water changes when trying to grow fry fast and large. I don't know for sure which fish that does or doesn't apply to, so don't quote me on that, but if that does apply, then the daily water changes do more than keep nitrates low; they remove some of that hormone and encourage faster and more evenly distributed growth among the fry.
 
Excuse the mess of the tank, took this photo while I was removing plants to add more gravel and stuff, so I'd stirred everything up and it was everywhere including all over the sponge filter. I'd also tried (and failed) to grow a proper algae wall for the shrimp.
But see the mass of hornwort floating at the top right corner? That's basically my guppy fry nursery. Mine is planted, but I let it get into a long mass at the top for the fry. They all tend to congregate in there, although I usually have a stone or "tree" with masses of java moss low down too, plus other plants like crypts and swords.

But you can use anything. My first batch of fry I thought I was prepared because my tank had a lot of live plants, but I panicked when they were born since they all went to the surface in one corner, and my plants were all too short! I went to LFS and found some silk leaved fake plants he was selling off for a pound each, so I got three or four of them, and wedged them into a suction cup and stuck that the side at the top, and they all hid in there. Worked perfectly! Every time an adult got close, the fry would just move around the leaves and hide, and I fed them in there. I didn't take a photo of that, should have, but have kept the fake plants for quarantine use since they can be bleached. Might add them to the 57 G community tank later and snap a photo, since the elodea in there died after I medicated the tank.

Any plants that float and have roots work, like frogbit, water lettuce etc, and stem plants like hornwort or elodea (like in this pic) are probably even better since they form these tangled, long and deep masses of stems, which fry can get around easily, but bigger fish like your angels will struggle to navigate quickly. Guppy grass is recommended a lot too, just see what's available near you, and use fake if you prefer!
View attachment 113477
Looks great! Thank you. I have a lot of fake plants in my tank to create hiding spaces and make it feel comfortable for the fish inside as fake plants don’t get eaten or die and remain a constant hiding place. I also have real plants in there because I know they are good for the fish. I know I probably have plenty of hiding spaces for the fry to survive but it’s still nerve wracking, knowing these tiny fish will be in a tank full of bigger fish that would eat them .
 
I have 9 Platy Fry born in the tank but I moved to an incubation box. Initially they went straight up to the floating Salvinia & that's how I was able to catch them. Some went to the top of the filter. I've found my Salvinia has grown very quickly. I've the Salvinia also in their incubation tank and that's where they spend most of their time.View attachment 113479View attachment 113480View attachment 113481
Love the set up. Do you think it would be a good idea for me to try and catch some then? I have a travel tank that I modified with holes in the sides and added an attachment so that I could keep it in the main tank water. I used it for the previous fry this molly had (now In my brothers tank) as it was a lot bigger than a breeding box
 
Please share photos of the tanks you have! It's always nice to see members tanks, plus people can tailor their advice to the set ups you have already :)
 
Please share photos of the tanks you have! It's always nice to see members tanks, plus people can tailor their advice to the set ups you have already :)
This is my tank right now. Plus more live plants to come! Plant shopping later today. Sorry about the lighting, my window light shines on it and makes it hard to take pictures
 

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Looks good! Very colourful.

Lots of hiding places so that's good, just need some floating plants and/or some bunches of a fast growing stem plant to make the fry nursery, and you'll be set :)

Tip for photographing tank: If you don't have curtains or a blind you can draw, take some photos after dark, and turn off all room lights except for the tank lights. Will help reduce reflections on the glass :)
 
Looks good! Very colourful.

Lots of hiding places so that's good, just need some floating plants and/or some bunches of a fast growing stem plant to make the fry nursery, and you'll be set :)

Tip for photographing tank: If you don't have curtains or a blind you can draw, take some photos after dark, and turn off all room lights except for the tank lights. Will help reduce reflections on the glass :)
Thank you so much for the help. I will see what plants they have in the aquatic shop near me and get some floating ones :) thank you for being so nice as well
 
Love the set up. Do you think it would be a good idea for me to try and catch some then? I have a travel tank that I modified with holes in the sides and added an attachment so that I could keep it in the main tank water. I used it for the previous fry this molly had (now In my brothers tank) as it was a lot bigger than a breeding box

Looks like your tank is nice a roomy with lots of hiding spots. For me the box was just a panic reaction as I was doing daily changes trying to cycle my tank. I've only 9 so they've room in the box but they just love hanging out in the floating Salvinia. Would really recommend that :wub:
 
Looks like your tank is nice a roomy with lots of hiding spots. For me the box was just a panic reaction as I was doing daily changes trying to cycle my tank. I've only 9 so they've room in the box but they just love hanging out in the floating Salvinia. Would really recommend that :wub:
Ah okay, thank you for the advice and good luck with your little ones! It’s super exciting
 

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