Cherry Barb Babies

[lljdma06]

I don't post much in this section but I have a pair of Cherry barbs that decided to have a go at it in my planted 8g. Judging by the various stages of fry development, from grey wrigglers to over 2/3 inch long, I'd say they've been at it for quite a while. The tank is densly planted with CO2 injection, a few pieces of wood, and gravel with laterite. Before the babies, the only fish at the time are said cherry barb pair and one oto. There is also a snail. I haven't really done anything to get them to breed and I hear cherry barbs are very easy anyways, so I realize that this didn't take much skill on my part. It is fun, however, to watch the babies develop and grow, so I have provided a few pictures for enjoyment. I have read that cherry barbs tend to eat their eggs, but I haven't really noticed any agression towards the developing fry. Apparently, enough eggs are escaping the mouths of the adults. I think I have about 10 fry total in the tank, and will be moving them to a 36g when they are large enough.

Why are you taking pictures of me?

Watch me swim!

I see you...(The gravel is 1-3mm for scale)

Proud Papa!

Thanks for looking. Can't believe it, 29 and already a grandma!

llj

 

[Lateral Line]

Always nice to see.

All barbs are egg eaters, and so are snails. Obviously there is enough cover for a few eggs to escape and hatch. Similarly newly hatched fry, these will also be eaten by the adults, but again, there is clearly sufficient cover.

 

[millym]

beautiful babies

 

[lljdma06]

Always nice to see.

All barbs are egg eaters, and so are snails. Obviously there is enough cover for a few eggs to escape and hatch. Similarly newly hatched fry, these will also be eaten by the adults, but again, there is clearly sufficient cover.

Yep, defintely sufficient cover. Thanks for your comments. I know they're not a fancy species to breed, but I agree it's still nice to see. I'd be in trouble if all the eggs hatched, it's only an 8g tank, and was only meant to house a pair or trio and the resident oto. I'm glad the parents are getting some extra live food.

 

[Bloo]

Congrats ! And great piccies

 

[Lynz781]

Awww so cute, thanks for sharing!

 

[guppymommy]

Oh that is precious!!! Now I want some. LOL!

 

[lljdma06]

Oh that is precious!!! Now I want some. LOL!

Not hard really. Get a 10g tank. Plant it densely. Keep the water clean (Again, a give in if you have a densly planted tank). Throw in a male and female. Wait. Treat the tank once a week or so with a weak solution of formalin (I find it keeps parasites in check). 1-2 weeks later, Poof! The surviving cherry barb babies. At least those that make it after:

A. Parents eating eggs
B. Parents eating hatchlings
C. Snail eating eggs
D. Snail eating hatchlings
E. Fry being sucked up the filter intake
F. Misc. risks

A female can lay as many as 300 eggs a batch. I have counted three separate broods, and I only have 10 total. So if each batch was 300, let's say she's a good layer, I'll have 900 eggs total. Only 10 are large enough to see. That's a 1.1% survival rate. Not so great really. But fun and very low-maintenance. You can imagine my problem if I removed the male and female. I certainly do not have room for 900 baby cherry barbs.

llj

 

[Lateral Line]

Another advantage with the "natural method" is that only the fittest young survive. When you remove the parents, there is nothing other then you to cull the deformed and weak.

 

[lljdma06]

It's been quite a while. More than a month, since I posted, so I thought I'd give a little update. The babies aren't really babies anymore. Everybody, parents included, now reside in a 36g planted tank just for them and a clean-up crew of peppered corys and otos. I snapped a few photos of them eating, and thought I'd share. Most are over an inch long and can be considered adults.

Cruising the front of the tank.

A lone barb, 90% sure it's a little female. She's very plump!

Feeding time, a mixture of the sexes. The males are showing their colors, but with the dominant breeding male in the tank, they're a bit more subdued.

I was concerned about the move to the 36g, but the cherry barbs have thrived and the tank is very active. The babies know me, from all the water changes I did in the 8g when they were wrigglers, and they will often investigate what I'm doing. I think they enjoy their environment. The breeders venture out a lot more now, and things are going well. No new fry to report of, but there are many dark, unexplored corners of the tank. I doubt there will be, but now my otos are showing interest in eachother.

As always, thanks for looking.

llj

EDIT: I did a head-count when I moved them, 34 babies total. All survived the move and are still in the tank, as far as I know.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Gosh, haven't they grown! Aren't they beautiful? Are they sleeping well at night? (sorry, just practising my baby talk, I have a lot of friends with human babies at the moment )

 

[lljdma06]

Gosh, haven't they grown! Aren't they beautiful? Are they sleeping well at night? (sorry, just practising my baby talk, I have a lot of friends with human babies at the moment )

They are sleeping well at night. And they are pooping well. What I like best is that basically I have a tank full of fish and I didn't have to do anything. Saves some money.

 

[SugarQube]

Didn't catch the pics when you first posted awww they are sooo sweet Fab photos