Bolivian Ram fry

[TXHawgHunter]

My Bolivian Rams have hatched and I don't have a clue what to do with them.  It was not my intension to breed them.  Mom and Dad are both very protective of them for the moment.  They are about the size of a flea's flea.  So Tiny and still have their egg sacks.  I think they may be safe for awhile until their tankmates relize they're there.  They are in a community 55.  My questions are: should I move them and when and how?  What do I feed them?  I don't have any food that small.  Any other information would be welcome.

Thanks,
Don

[Spot86t]

Re: Bolivian Ram fry

I can provide some worm cultures for you - the hard part wold be getting them down to them.  I take it they're in the corner by that flat rock where the eggs were?  Microworms sink and are about the size of baby brine shrimp - maybe a fraction larger.  

One thing I'd do for sure is put a divider in the tank.  Plastic canvas works if you don't have a true "aquarium divider".  So does light grid, but you've got little fish in there that would think baby rams are a treat.  They'd go right thru that.

One way I can think of to direct food to them (i.e. microworms) would be to take a length of thinwall clear tubing - like either that used for UG filters, or utilize one of the clear tubes they make for covering/protecting fluorescent light tubes.  cut it a little shorter than the water depth in the tank.  Have the food handy and within easy reach.  Direct the tube toward the fry,  put food in the tube and it will sink down to them.  I don't think flakes would work well, but microworms definately sink, whereas walter worms, banana worms and vinegar eels remain in the water column a bit longer.  My Krib fry go nuts over the microworms, and their growth rate really improved (partly due to what I feed the cultures with IMHO).

Let me know if I need to make a run up there, and if you need to borrow a small tank or something - I've got a 2.5 with cycled sponge filter ready to go if you need it.  

Just remember - I've got one lonely Bolivian Ram who could use some friends  :)  
Will trade worms for fry!  :)

Call or pm if you want.  

Oh, something else I tried once was a pond plant plastic basket, inverted over the fry and with a chunk of rock on top to hold it down.  That was with some baby mollies and they caught on real quick that the bigger ones coldn't get in.  Both Walmart and Lowes have those - and probably other places too.  They have pretty small holes - tetras and such won't be able to get in.

Spot

[TXHawgHunter]

Re: Bolivian Ram fry

Thanks Spot,

Yes, they are next to the flat rock the eggs were on.  Mom and/or Dad made a couple of small holes in the gravel and the fry are now is the indentation.

I have a 10 gallon I could set up real quick and use one of the sponge filters from the ABN tank.  Not sure how to move them, I have heard of people using a turkey baster to suck them up.  Not sure if it would work, but sounds like it would.  I think the local petsmart/petco has some small type boxes for fry to put in the tank.  Am stopping by after work tonight to see.  Do you know if they carry microworms and such? I never purchased them before.

As for the trade, if any of them make it, you will have first pick of the litter!
Like I said they are so tiny right now, I can barely see them.  Christina spotted them.

Just got the latest report from my daughter.  She says they are swimmers now and Mom and/or Dad are keeping them in check.  Everytime one swims off, one of the parents goes and puts the little one in its mouth and returns it to the hole in the gravel.

[jughead]

Re: Bolivian Ram fry

a piece of siphon hose about 5 ft will work better than a baster.get the siphon going into a bucket ,then stick the end down by the fry.piece of cake if they arent free swimming yet.the only problem i had raising these guys was that they wouldnt eat crushed flake until they were 2-3 mo. old.hopefully you wont have to go that long.i used baby brine shrimp as 1st food.good luck.

[Spot86t]

Re: Bolivian Ram fry

I have microworms - and plenty of them.  You won't find them at any pet shop around that I know of - and certainly not the petco/smart ones.  

All you need to maintain them is any one of the following: oatmeal, instant potato flake, wheat flour, plain or wheat bread,  cornmeal.  

You'll need a pinch of brewers yeast too.  

I've found oatmeal to work best for production rates, but bread would be easiest - laborwise.  
For nutritional value, I add some dry baby cereal (unflavored) since it's usually packed with vitamins, this isn't required, but something to think about.  Have also heard of folks adding liquid vitamins to their cultures but I haven't found any to try it with.

Give me a ring and we'll figure out a way to get them up there to ya.  

Spot

[TXHawgHunter]

Re: Bolivian Ram fry

Thanks Jughead, the siphon hose idea worked great.

Hi Spot,
Got some microworms at the LFS.
Have the stuff required to produce more, especially the yeast.
Love that homebrew beer and wine.

[Zulaab]

Re: Bolivian Ram fry

I was about to say you know all the yeast / sugar stuff that ends up at the bottom of your wine making tank.. that stuff is PURE microworm culture to the HILT.  (ie instead of throwing it out. Reuse it to grow out some microworms..  :) :) and like spot said, add some oatmeal and its heaven for those small guys :)

[Spot86t]

Re: Bolivian Ram fry

Thanks Jughead, the siphon hose idea worked great.

Hi Spot,
Got some microworms at the LFS.
Have the stuff required to produce more, especially the yeast.
Love that homebrew beer and wine.

Whoa!  What LFS had microworms??  Did they have any other cultures?  I'm looking for Grindals.....