question about fry

[artemisblossom]

Hi I started my first aquarium (55 gal) about 4 weeks ago now and am currently in the middle of the cycle. the ammonia has gone but the nitrites have spiked. Anyway 2 days after I started the tank (I started with 8 platies) I noticed there were 2 fry in the tank. I put them in a fry saver and they are gowing and seem to be doing great. I was thinking of getting another tank for the babies probably a 20gal tank.....see I was told that keeping them in the fry net would hinder the development of good muscles so they wouldnt be as good swimmers as they should be and might become a snack for the other fish when I let them go in the big tank. Anyway I was wondering will putting them in a new tank harm them where they are used to this one (even though it is only half cycled?) and my other question is what kind of fish or other critters could I put in the 20 gal tank that would not eat the babies?

[Gemstone]

no u wont harm the....I;ve found that fry are more tolerant to changes than larger fish...and probably the only thing I can think of that won't snack on them if they get a chance to...is....a snail?........

[Mvjnz]

I'm surprised they're still alive considering they're in an uncycled tank with nitrites in it. I'd move them, or they'll prolly die anyway. Nothing to lose.

[kaianuanu]

wow a 55g that's alot of commitment for a first timer. you should of started w/ a 10g or a 20g

[donvichu]

wow a 55g that's alot of commitment for a first timer. you should of started w/ a 10g or a 20g


BIgger the tank lesser the troublethumbs2:

[artemisblossom]

thank you gemstone for the advice about the snails.........what about the corys and bristlenose catfish? will they eat fry too? ooohhhh and what about shrimp??

Kaianuanu i chose a 55 gal tank because after reading everything I could for weeks before buying anything it seemed like a larger tank was much easier to maintain than a smaller one and the people who started out small often regretted not getting a bigger tank to begin with. I am in about the middle of my cycle now I would think, nitrites have been present for over a week and the ammonia is now 0ppm and I haven't lost any of the 10 fish i started with, the 2 fry that were born in the tank seem very healthy and happy.....of course i am testing the water twice a day and doing the water changes as necesary

[gm72]

Sounds like you are on the right track. Great job keeping up with the water tests and changes. Your fry may be okay in that tank for now. I would advise not adding another tank since you are just getting started and really don't have a full grasp on how to care for a tank just yet. Now, don't take that the wrong way--you made it clear that you are a beginner. Odd things sometimes happen with tanks as they get older, and there is a lot of good potential for learning in that curve! Hold off on adding more tanks until you learn more. With livebearers fry are certainly not an odd thing--you'll end up being over-run with fry in no time. Trust me on that one!

[graceluvsplatys]

I personally wouldnt worry, i found the fry to be just as hardy as the adults. i have my platy fry in my main 30g tank, and it has plebnty of fish, and i still hyave upwsrds of 20. I bet soon you will WISH they would die! lol prbly not, you will wish they stopped coming!
good luck, and on the contrary, the 55 was a GREAT choice ( in my opinion)

[gm72]

Agreed that a 55 is a great beginner tank for those who choose a commitment. Larger tanks are more stable in the long run.

[cocoa_pleco]

BIgger the tank lesser the troublethumbs2:

ditto, larger the better, with larger tanks the parameters are more stable and you can screw up accidentally every once in a while. 55g-90g tanks are great starter tanks

[troy]

Corys won't eat your fry. Red cherry shrimp would also work. Stay away from ghost shrimp because they can eat fry.

[nwnittany]

FWIW, I recently recycled a 20 gallon tank with several guppy fry in the entire time. I kept them in one of the plastic 3-way breeders (essentially, floating isolation chambers). I was pretty cautious during the cycle - doing daily water changes.

Not saying this is the best way, just saying that it's not a given they will die in the tank.

Also FWIW, I've raised maybe 10 batches of livebearer fry (including several platy) and I've always put them in these breeders and never seen a problem with limited muscles.

[artemisblossom]

Well I am definately a beginner to fish but am no stranger to comitment when it comes to pets LOl I have 2 horses I have had for 21 years (bought them as 3 month old foals in 1997) I also have 4 dogs, 2 cats, 2 parrots and 5 cockatiels. But about the fish I was considering another tank (small just 20 gal) for the fry because right now they are in a fry saver but I was told that while this would keep them alive it would not let them develop their muscles sufficently to swim fast enough to get away from the bigger fish once i did put them in the main part of the tank.
I don;t have any real plants in my tank presently so i am off to the lfs to get some today. I have heard that java moss and swords are good to have (I have no idea what the lfs carries) any ideas on what I should get and any tips on planting them?? I have gravel in the tank now and a piece of driftwood plus resin type ornaments (and fake plants I am going to take out)