When do you separate Mom & babies?

[traco]

I have an Apisto cacatuoides Mom in with her babies. Pulled Dad this time as he was eating the babies in the last 2 spawns.

I have 30-40 fry and they are about a 1/4", eating bbs and growing so fast. They have been freeswimming for just over a week, week and a half.

When do I separate them from Mom? She is still looking like a good Mom, still bright yellow, chases the small pleco around. Does there come a time when she might eat the babies? With so many, I don't know if there have been any losses.

Put them in a bare bottom 5 gallon with a fully cycled sponge filter and heater or would a 20 gallon be better?

Thanks.

 

[Mike Wise]

Since you removed the male, the female will not think about spawning (& driving out or eating the present fry). Once the female has lost interest in brooding, or is unable to keep the fry in a tight school, it is time to separate the fry and the female.

 

[traco]

Thank you Mike for always replying to my threads.

Tight school means they are not all spread out over the tank? Their formation is spreading already so I should think about separating them within the next week? And then when separating, the 5 gallon or 20 gallon would be better suited?

 

[Mike Wise]

Tight school means when some fry wander more than 10 - 15 cm/4 - 6" from the female or do no respond quickly to her "home" signal. The 5 gallon is a good start for growing out <50 fry as long as you do frequent water changes (at least every other day). This allows you to concentrate their food in a smaller area. Once they get ~4 cm long, or if the water gets dirty quickly, it is time to move them to the 20 gallon. I usually use 10 gallon tanks for starters - if I remove the fry from the breeding tank. It depends on the parents.

 

[Roach]

I think every situation is different but what Mike says is a pretty good guide.
I've had my fry for 3 months and they are still in with mum with no losses.

 

[nightowl1350]

Great news! If you want more babies (and have the room), put Mom back in with Dad. Sounds like she did a great job. Mine have yet to parent raise so I cna't help.

 

[Mike Wise]

I think every situation is different but what Mike says is a pretty good guide. I've had my fry for 3 months and they are still in with mum with no losses.

You're right. Right now I have a group of A. cf. agassizii (Madeira) "Gold Agassizii" that have been with the parents for at least 7 months. I can see young males sexing out. Still dad tends to ignore them (in a 20 gal. Long!).

 

[TankWatcher]

Hey Roach (AKA Robdog) & Mike, good to hear it can work leaving mum & dad with the fry, as I don't really have anywhere to move my fry or parents too. Good luck with your fry traco, I hope all goes well.

 

[Mike Wise]

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It depends on the individual fish.