Fry Tank Mates

[Keithbaxter]

I just converted my old reptile tank it to a fry tank and Im going to get it cycling with main tank water, the filter media is already in my main tank filter getting bacteried up. (Its a fluvel 1 for the fry tank and a fluvel 4 for the main so i put it between the two sponges to populate)

Im going to want to put some other fish in the fry tank mainly to clean up left over food and keep the tank running etc.

What would be good choices?

Im thinking shrimp and possibly something else that wont eat fry. Any advice or help would be very gratefull

 

[smegforbrains]

Pygmy Corys?

 

[Keithbaxter]

They look cool, and small!

 

[LauraFrog]

No bacteria live in the water, so adding water from a mature tank will do absolutely nothing, it's not worth the bother.

I agree with pygmy corys provided the fry are not too small, you would be okay keeping 1/3 inch + fry with pygmy corys but they will vacuum up really tiny fry and not even realise they're doing it. They are good at clean ups but they might not thrive on fry food alone so you'll need to provide them with some sinking pellets, especially when there are not many fry in the tank. They are pretty (especially Corydoras habrosus) and have loads of character!

 

[Keithbaxter]

Im planning to put cory eggs and guppy fry in there if thats of any help.

The pygmy cory might eat the cory dory fry then

Will shrimp feast on them at all?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Keithbaxter

It's unlikely that you will be successful raising young corys in a tank with guppy fry. Even newborn guppies will chase and attack the tiny Cory fry.

Cory fry require plenty of good food and daily partial water changes to remove the excess food, debris and chemical pollution. It's a simple enough task but there is no fish that can do it.

 

[Keithbaxter]

My first batch of coryeggs got eaten, the second lot i put in a net and the tiny corys got through the netting and were eaten. the third lot I put in a jar but unfortunatly only a couple hatched and didint eat.

This time Ive found a shallow tub that Im planning to float in the fry tank and have the water changed twice aday till they can go in the fry tank alone. My guppy fry at mo are free in the main tank so first cory eggs are getting placed in the fry tank.

Will shrimp eat them?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Keithbaxter

I don't know specifically about shrimp, but if they feed off the bottom, they might eat your fry. I've found it's usually best to keep Cory fry by themselves.

If your fry tank is large enough, why not move the spawning group into it until they give you eggs? This would save you the trouble (not to mention risk) of moving the delicate eggs later. If you keep the water level an inch or so from the top, you will have plenty of room to net out the parents once they have spawned.

 

[Keithbaxter]

GOod idea would keep the tank running nicely too.

Going to get the cycle going tonight i hope with filter media and water from my other tank.

 

[jonnyf84]

shrimp will do a good job of cleaning up the mess and i find it hard to believe they would eat any fry, all the fry i've ever had have been quick and alert and would evade a shrimp quite easily. Most plecs would leave your fry alone and clean up excess food, otherwise you could go for some tiny species of fish like the ruby rasbora, micro rasbora, candiru, american mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) or even endlers, apple or other snails - the first four are more difficult to find but you should be able to pick them up if you look around specialist breeders and groups. The ruby rasbora was recently in PFK - it is the worlds smallest vertebrate at a fully grown size of 7.9mm, apparently they have them in Peterboroughs Maidenhead Aquatics if your anywhere near there.

Ruby Rasbora Paedocypris Progenetica