Best method to clean bottom of fry tank?
- Thread starter red99cat
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platyfreek
Fish Crazy
well the only time ive ever kept fry there were only 2 of them so i could just avoid them 
but im aiming to try breeding and thats a good question.
but im aiming to try breeding and thats a good question.Andie
Fish Addict
I've had recommendations from breeders to either affix some netting to the end of a regular gravel vac when the fry get larger, or, especially when they're very small, to just use a length of rubber tubing as a siphon (the smaller opening is easier to keep an eye on, or even half-cover with your thumb to control access).
I put 6 corydoras pygmaeus in my 5 gallon fry tank today. They are dwarf corys. The person I got them from said that you put them in a betta fry tank when the fry are 5-7 days old. They don't eat the fry, the tank floor looks vacuumed, and now I won't have to spend time siphoning. These miniature corys are great.
A group of corydoras pygmaeus next to a small sponge filter
Close-up of corydoras pygmaeus
A group of corydoras pygmaeus next to a small sponge filter
Close-up of corydoras pygmaeus
Kiarra
Former Betta Breeder
I use small apple snails. They leave the fry alone, eat excess food, and their poop is much easier to clean up than either excess food or fry poop.
The pygmy corys also stir up the tank bottom and the sponge filter has a lot more junk on it. I got them from bluebetta.com. Here is the link: http/www.bluebettausa.com/galleryac4.htm
/www.bluebettausa.com/galleryac4.htmAndie
Fish Addict
red99cat said:
Oooh, do they really? I can't have a sandy substrate because I'm so scared I'd forget to stir it, but if those little guys can do as good a job as loaches . . . hmmm
The cory pygmies can swim fast along the floor, so the stuff they don't eat gets suspended into the water for the sponge filter to get. The fry tank is noticeable cleaner. I worry less about bacterial blooms from uneaten food. Best of all: less agonizing work for me! The person I got them from is nice. He threw in a few extra fish in my order.
Synirr
"No one is a failure unless you try"
Thanks for the link, I may have to order me some 
I imagine they also help keep fry off the bottom, which is good. I've read that bacteria on the bottom of the tank is one reason that you sometimes find fry without ventrals in a spawn... the bacteria attacks their developing fins. That might be hogwash, though
I imagine they also help keep fry off the bottom, which is good. I've read that bacteria on the bottom of the tank is one reason that you sometimes find fry without ventrals in a spawn... the bacteria attacks their developing fins. That might be hogwash, though
I ordered 5 to try out, and he sent me an extra one. But I wish I ordered more. In my inquiry to him about the pygmies, he said that 5-10 can go into a ten gallon fry tank. He also got in a bunch of beautiful halfmoon plakats pairs this week.
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