Breeding my N. American Rainbow Cychlids

[davyp1]

My five N.American Rainbows have formed two pairs and both have protected the eggs then fry for about a week or so. Then it almost always seems to be 'open season' on the fry and they are eaten.
So this time when I first saw eggs I introduced a net & frame to segregate some of the fry. I tried by catching up some fry and placing them in the net on 3 separate occasions also adding powdered flake food.. On each occasion and after a few hours, the fry had apparently died.

Also this time, both pairs had eggs within about a day of each other and so far some fry of each pair have survived (approx 2 weeks old now)

I would appreciate some comments as to what I am doing wrong with the segregation net etc.

Cheers,

David

[Sandz]

There are a lot of things to consider when breeding... Water changes and quality first... second you have to think over base food and then you need to consider predation. Honestly you should look into a single tank for the pair if you really want to breed. They will protect the fry for a month or so and then grow large enough to be moved to a grow out tank.

Fry need to be fed tiny foods that are enriched with the right vitamins to grow. I have used something as simple as tetra flakes ground to powder... but if you do this you need to get the powder wet and feed directly to the cloud of fry with a suringe. Also Liquifry and baby brine shrimp (less than 12hrs old) are best for feeding babys.

[davyp1]

Thanks for your reply Sandz, much appreciated.

The remnants of my fry lasted to late yesterday, all victims of predation.

I shall take your advise and move one of my pairs to their own tank.

Cheers,

David