Brandy Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 I was not prepared with a CONTINUOUS supply. I underestimated how critical that would be. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larrimore Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I wouldn’t beat yourself up too much. 100+ fish is a lot to try to manage. I can’t imagine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 1 hour ago, Brandy said: I was not prepared with a CONTINUOUS supply. I underestimated how critical that would be. I have 3 cones going at all times making a fresh cone every 12 hours so there are always just hatched napulii. It is not as hard as it sounds once you get a system. These days I usually end up letting my fish breed in community tanks. The few surviving babies have fitness out the wazoo. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 Yeah, I meant to set up the other cones, but I left it one day late. I should have tried freezing some. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Congrats!!! You’ll love these little blue babes to the moon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larrimore Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I would bet it’s not long before you have a hundred more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 7 hours ago, Brandy said: Well. lesson learned. they need more food than I seem to be getting into them. The attrition rate has been BRUTAL. 😭 There were so many, but I am down to about 20-30. Admittedly I had no way to raise 100+, but this is still sad. I feel like this is the main con of having them in a tiny box... No infusoria or biofilm or anything else to eat between feedings. They definitely need to be fed 3-4 times a day in that box most likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 3, 2021 Author Share Posted February 3, 2021 I was feeding several times a day, hikari first bites, vinegar eels, bbs, but they did not seem to get enough that way either likely the other foods I was offering just were not enough. Mom was not able to protect the ones she had either--they were eaten. This was not supposed to happen only a few weeks after getting "juveniles", lol. If I had known they were about to breed I probably would have kept the tank empty except for the happy couple! The adults have put on some decent size in the past month also, so that is good. Happily as @Larrimore says, they will likely spawn again and this time I won't be caught off gaurd. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levi_Aquatics Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 This thread has been super cool to read and very helpful! Thank you so much for sharing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 3, 2021 Author Share Posted February 3, 2021 A thought...I may leave this box in the tank to develop biofilm. I will clean the screens regularly enough to maintain flow, and then see if the extra film improves the outcome. I will count this time a raging success if I make it to the 1 month mark with 3 left. I have never bred any fish but live bearers, and my rams never hatched a single fry on their own in their community tank. The EBA are much better parents, but I still would like to raise some of these up to at least the 1 inch mark. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_Obermiller Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 On 1/27/2021 at 12:52 AM, Brandy said: Not a moment too soon. Forgive the sloppy video editing, I'm no Jimmy Gimbal. What does it feel like for a EBA to bite you? Like a little nip/pinch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 3, 2021 Author Share Posted February 3, 2021 15 minutes ago, Paul_Obermiller said: What does it feel like for a EBA to bite you? Like a little nip/pinch? Put it this way, I work with many animals who draw blood if they bite and I am used to that. I was prepared for her to go after my hand as I had seen the video @Fish Folk has up on youtube. I still couldn't help flinching. I added the music to cover my yelp the first time she nailed me. It is a serious hard bite for such a small fish. No way even NEAR to causing actual injury, but she MEANT it. Think a hard mean pinch. Guppies nibble your hand and it tickles. She wants you to hurt. I have a healthy respect for her and avoid her corner when I clean the tank. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 1 hour ago, Brandy said: It is a serious hard bite for such a small fish. This is one reason why it’s always risky to recommend E-blues to a community aquarium with smaller fish. Usually they’re fine... but you know... if they decide to “off” some offender, no doubt they’re good for it! 🤪 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larrimore Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 Well @Brandyhas inspired me. Had an empty tank that's been cycling. Now there are 4 juvenile EBAs residing in there. Hopefully there is a good male/female split in there. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_Obermiller Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 23 hours ago, Brandy said: Put it this way, I work with many animals who draw blood if they bite and I am used to that. I was prepared for her to go after my hand as I had seen the video @Fish Folk has up on youtube. I still couldn't help flinching. I added the music to cover my yelp the first time she nailed me. It is a serious hard bite for such a small fish. No way even NEAR to causing actual injury, but she MEANT it. Think a hard mean pinch. Guppies nibble your hand and it tickles. She wants you to hurt. I have a healthy respect for her and avoid her corner when I clean the tank. I am getting into cichlids just now after like 2-3 years of fish keeping, I am getting some apistos and angelfish soon and I really want them to bite me just so I know what it feels like. None of them have the mouth the size of the EBAs but idk... It going to be fun! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenman Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 I always like to put an algae covered plant, rock, or piece of decor in with baby fish so they have something to graze on when I'm not feeding them. Baby fish process food very quickly and unless you're feeding them every couple of hours, which is very hard to do, you're apt to starve some of them. Something that's heavily crusted in algae likely has lots of other stuff living in it also, so it gives baby fish more of a fighting chance for food whenever they want it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 6, 2021 Author Share Posted February 6, 2021 I had a twist of moss in there, and a mini water lettuce. I think my flow was a little too strong on the box which probably burned too much energy and discouraged foraging. There is such a thing as too clean. I have decreased it, and the survivors seem happier and visibly larger. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 14, 2021 Author Share Posted February 14, 2021 So no further losses, bbs hatching issues sorted out, everybody is getting bigger... This morning the parents were looking at a rock intently. I went to clean a 10 gallon, came back, and caught them in the act! Male is easy to determine now, with longer dorsal and larger size overall. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbit Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 What a cute couple! So attentive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 26, 2021 Author Share Posted February 26, 2021 Moving up day for the first batch!! Exploring their new space and making friends....and hunting...something too tiny for me to see. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbit Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 Yay!! They’re looking great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAC Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 @Brandy I just re-read through this thread after pulling nannacara eggs today. Great job, those fish are gorgeous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 I am in soooo much trouble. The first batch had 10 survivors. this batch had 147. I am going to need more tanks... and a venue to sell them! Dear heaven, I did not expect them all to make it!!! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 Needless to say, I will defiinitely NOT be pulling eggs again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenman Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 Yeah, egg layers can produce a lot of fry in a short period of time. If you're not prepared for it you can end up knee deep in fry. It can get a bit overwhelming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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