Not sure what stage my BNs are up to

[everythingzen]

Last Saturday, approximately, I realised dad had disappeared. I found him and the eggs on Sunday. Eggs were good and orange. Fast forward to perhaps 5 ish days ago and the eggs were not visible. Yesterday, I was removing all likely threats such as a DG, angels, killi, etc. I couldn't help myself and upturned the ornament to stickybeak. I thought I saw a fry. Today, I was separating Cory eggs (everyone is busy in this tank! Must the low lights and Barry white playing... J/k lol, I don't like Barry ) and I moved the pleco ornament and decided to try having a good look for these babies. Dad came out all angry at me but there didn't appear to be fry, so I'm not sure at all what he is protecting. I must have been mistaken yesterday, with this little pinky nail sized fry? The ornament isn't a cave. It's a resin house, one of those tacky decorations that I actually bought with the hope they'd breed in it because it's well protected. dad went back in there and is still not coming out unless I force him out.

It's been about 10 days all up. Maybe more. Given the time frame, what stage should these fry be up to? Should I be seeing free swimmers soon? Is there a chance thee are no fry and dad is just having trouble leaving the site? Am I waiting for little plecos that just mit not be there? It's so hard to see inside this ornament, if there are fry then they are stuck well right around a corner and out of sight. Please help with any advice you have!

 

[tommy mf]

hey mate,

dont fuss too much, if this batch fails (as for most first batches) the female will drop eggs again in 3-4 weeks time.

the male will always guard his cave, especially now that he is sexually mature (hopefully). So maybe just leave him for now.

eggs hatch approximately 5-7 days depending on your temperature of the water, your fry should be free swimming by now but at the stage where they are still absorbing their egg sac.

once they have finished absorbing the egg sac, they will venture out.

Its really upto your preference as to how you look after the fry. I generally prefer to take care of them after their egg sac is nearly gone by shaking the babies out of their cave in a jug of tank water.

This is how i usually collect my juvies, especially if the male won't come out of the cave and I throw them in a fry saver plastic thing and feed them cucumber etc. Just make sure if you do use a container, that there is a flow of water going in and out of the container to reduce the buildup of nasty nitrite, ammonia and nitrate etc.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

 

[everythingzen]

That's been a great help, thank you. I'll set up the net for the next lot and drop an airline in and try to raise them out where I can see them. I guess this lot didn't make it after all. Ah well. I didn't expect them to breed so soon anyway. I've only had the female for a few weeks!

 

[everythingzen]

Well, just like you said, the male has taken over his 'cave'! He only comes out when I shake him out. I'll stop doing that now. My pair have proven they do actually know what they are doing, as there are about 3 little bitty fry about the tank now. They've come out due to my shaking them out, but they seem to be doing ok. I'm actually surprised because I really did think this first spawn had failed, like so many seem to. It's now 2 weeks since this started so I suppose if there are others then the dad will let them out soon enough. The ornament is an awkward shape, but geez did he do a good job of protecting them! I had no idea any were in there, let alone 3