Uneven growth rate of fries

[mobile2007]

Hi all,

My first batch of fries from my pair of caca is about 20+ days old. However, i noticed that the growth rate are not even across all the fries. Some are already more than 1 cm , yet a few still looks very tiny. Is this normal ?

I suspect the weaker fries could be hiding under the moss mesh and not getting food. Is this possible reason ?

[thanantosis]

hi

from my experience on breeding betta and badis badis, uneven growth rate is very normal.

as some of the fries will eat more then other....thus there is an uneven in size

even without the "moss mesh" uneven fries will still happen

btw what you feed them?...

i'm also new in Apistogramma cacatuoides

[mobile2007]

Thanks, bro. Glad to hear that.

Mainly i feed them with decapsulated brine shrimp eggs, hikari micro pellet ( smashed). Also, my shrimp tank (used to)has a few white worm growing , the bigger one will go after them.

[thanantosis]

no problem!

i just got my pair from biotope too

i guess both our pair is related

hope mine will spawn soon

[wiki]

Hi, don't have to worry too much. Suggestions for you -

1) Keep your fries in a 1 ft tank if you can. Their growth can be stunted if kept in a cramped environment.

2) Change water regularly, at least 3 times a week, 1/3 volume of water. This can help keep their environment clean and they also tend to grow at a faster pace. Siphon out all uneaten food or waste.

[mobile2007]

thanantosis, you getting the cacatuiodes "super red" or "triple red" ? Saw some of them are already in spawning mood when i was there 2-3 days ago.

wiki, thanks for the advice. I'm housing them in 1ft tank, but not so regular water change.

[thanantosis]

mine is super red . as his triple only left 1, and its is a 1 eye jack....

[thanantosis]

Thanks, bro. Glad to hear that.

Mainly i feed them with decapsulated brine shrimp eggs, hikari micro pellet ( smashed). Also, my shrimp tank (used to)has a few white worm growing , the bigger one will go after them.

yo brother, i got a question.

since the first day your fries were born, you feed them decapsulated brine shrimp eggs?...

those fries took them right away?

and where you got the decapsulated brine shrimp eggs from and how much?

thanks

[illumnae]

i usually feed my fry decapsulated brine shrimp eggs from day 3 onwards. day 1 and 2 they are usually chilling at the moss area in my tank, so i'm assuming they feed on infusoria. from day 3 onwards, i see them everyday with fat orange bellies so i can tell that they're feeding on the decapsulated eggs.

however, a couple of apisto gurus do recommend against feeding the decapsulated eggs and claim that 1. the decapsulated eggs are too hard or 2. the eggs will expand in the stomach of the fry causing indigestion. My personal experience is that there is no negative effects of feeding the eggs (i do soak the eggs in tank water for 10-20min before feeding them to the fry, so the 2 negative effects are somewhat negated as the eggs absorb the water and soften/expand before being fed to the fry), but in light of the above, do feed them this at your own risk.

as for the source of such eggs, i believe there is a merchant on AQ who carries stock of these eggs (check out the merchants subforum), or trident and i both know someone who sells this. pm one of us for more details if you want

[thanantosis]

hi thanks illumnae for the reply!

i think i will add some more moss in my tank, and will soak those decapsulated eggs for 20 minutes, like what those expert here had advices

oh and thanks for letting me know where to get those egg!

will get them soon!

[illumnae]

no problem at all my personal experience and preference is for using the decapsulated eggs. Much less hassle (soaking for 10-20min compared to hatching bbs) and they last forever! very nutritious for both fry and parents as well.

[mobile2007]

i think illumnae has answered your question. I got my decap. bbs eggs from a merchant in AQ - aquanova, look under the merchant section.

Personally, i think the fries more responsive to live baby brine shrimp, but then hatching the bbs is more time consuming.

[Cacatuoides]

Having the BS hatching dish saves a lot of trouble having a constant supply of bbs everyday its more convenient than using the conventional method

[thanantosis]

mobile2007 thanks alot, i know where to get already. ha better get myself prepare!

[mictok]

I have been feeding the decap bbs for the last 2.5 mths to my 30 plus agassizii fries.I will try to get live bbs for them in the weekend.
My fries sizes range from 1.5 to 2.5cm,some seems to eat much more than the rest.
The size different is it due the the different in gender also?Apistogramma male is much bigger than the female,could it be the cause of the size different?
What I notice is that my bigger fries are mostly male with strong colour appearing on the tail and fins.

[thanantosis]

mictok

i think gender does play a part.

just look at those pair on sale in fish shop.... most of the male bigger then female..... and i guess is from same batch.....

so i think from young male will grow bigger faster.

[mobile2007]

My caca fries is ranging from 0.5cm to 1.5cm. Have the same observation, those bigger size look like to be male, having blue color sparkle near their grills.

Any other things that the fries like ( beside bbs, decap bbs)?

[exotic_idiot]

Hi mobile2007, How's your little fries growing??? Hopes to see some pics.

May i know how much you get the decap bbs? Is it cheap? If wants to have live bbs can just hatch from there? Any idea how much percent rates of live bbs can i get? Thanks alot.

[trident]

exotic,
Decap bs are bs eggs with the shells removed by using bleach.
They can be fed directly to the fries, no need to hatch them.

[exotic_idiot]

So can they(decap bs eggs) be hatch? Because can try both live and decap bs eggs. what's the percentage rate of live bbs when you hatch them???