Page 69 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

BREEDING IN AQUARIUMS 67

Rearing tanks
Most breeders prefer to use a completely separate tank for
FRY SIZE AND REARING rearing the fry of livebearers. The female can give birth there in
Mouth-brooders, such as the Pearl of Likoma cichlid (upper image), a breeding trap, before being moved back to the main aquarium
produce fewer but proportionately larger offspring than egg-laying after she has recovered. A special V-shaped partition can be
species, such as the Firemouth Cichlid (lower image). Being larger, inserted into the tank as an alternative to a breeding trap. This
young mouth-brooders are easier to feed, and since there are fewer has a narrow gap at the apex of the V through which the fry can
of them, there is less risk of overcrowding the tank or polluting the
water. You may periodically have to remove slip. Alternatively, a net with a wide mesh can be used to
the largest, fastest-growing members separate the female from her offspring. When the female has
of a brood so that they do not been removed, the fry can be reared in the tank on their own.
cannibalize smaller siblings.
A power filter cannot be used safely in any tank that is to
house young fish, whether livebearers or egg-layers, because
small fry are likely to be sucked into the filter. Filtration
must be gentle, so use a simple sponge filter instead, possibly
in combination with an undergravel filter. Prime the filter in
advance with a culture of beneficial bacteria so that it has time
to become active before any fish are introduced. The water
must be well aerated, and the heater should have a special
protective cover so that the fry do not burn themselves.

Feeding the fry
An essential part of establishing a successful breeding regimen
is making sure that you have sufficient stocks of the correct
foods to nourish the young fish.
Tiny fry will initially need
to be given a specially
formulated liquid fry
food or microscopic
aquatic creatures called
infusoria. You can
culture infusoria

The female Red Devil cichlid (Amphilophus labiatus)
keeps a protective watch over her free-swimming fry.
In the wild, this helps to ensure that more of her
offspring survive the critical early days, when they
are at most risk of predation. Sometimes the fry of
another Red Devil will join her brood, and she will
show similar care toward these adopted young.

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