African Cichlids

Hey everyone,
Thank you very much for your helpful feedback. I posted this topic on multiple African Cichlid forum websites. Here is some more information I have composed to give you a better idea of my setup and to answer all of your questions:

- the fry live in 4 separate mesh nylon net boxes (not plastic) hanging at the top of my 65 gallon tank
- the net boxes are in the tank with the adult cichlid fish
- I clean the nets every night with a turkey baster
- the tank has dry aragonite in it which keeps the PH high
- I add Seachem Cichlid Lake salt during water changes
- the tank was cycled over a year ago
- I have air tube lines with an air stone inside each net box
- according to the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals ammonia/nitrate/nitrite test kits, none of these properties are present
- the deaths occur within every group of babies (I've had 6 groups so far)
- I use Lee's Aquatic breeder box - dimensions are @ 6"x6"x6".
- adult fish can't be sucking the fry THROUGH the net, since they are found dead inside the net
- I watch the tank at all times of the day/night, and never see any fish trying to suck at them (but it doesn't mean it's not happening though, where they may be injuring and killing fry)
- none of the fry ever swim funny/look sick - one day the fish is alive, the next - withered away at the bottom of the net box
- the water quality may be poor - the pipes leading to my house are very rusty. Rusty water comes in even after the house has a double-filtration system for removal of rust, sediment, cysts, VOC's, etc.
- i strip the fry because the tank is well stocked with plants/rocks/caves/decorations and I don't have any small hiding places for the fry to hide in if they were automatically released by the Mom in the main water where the adults live.

Well, based on all of your feedback, it sounds like there is no one simple answer:

I could:
- increase the number of feedings/day as all fry may not be eating
- change the water daily instead of weekly
- add/change the diet to: Hikari first bites, daphnia, or NLS 1MM sinking pellets
- reduce the amount of food at one feeding
- strip the pregnant fish earlier or later
- increase the water current along the side of the net boxes
- although the butterfly plecos keep the outside walls of the net box clean, I could wipe down the inside walls of the net box to increase water exchange
- the best solution sounds like I should keep the fry in the net box for the 1st couple of weeks, then when they get bigger, I should put them in a larger fry bare-bottom grow-out tank (20 gallons or above). My 100+ fry have been in the net boxes for 4 months now and are growing at a very slow rate - the oldest fry are only 3/4" long! (Yes, you can yell at me now - lol). I understand now that they should have been in a separate tank a long time ago.

I will definitely try these suggestions and let you know what happens. Thank you again. :)

John

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Forum: Trading Post

Topic: CONVICT FRY GET THEM HERE(ca only)

Re: CONVICT FRY GET THEM HERE(ca only) [message #10381]

Tue, 06 January 2009 16:14

acichlid

Messages: 5
Registered: January 2009
Location: USA

Junior Member

Could we get a picture? Sure would help got a new tank for christmas!

http://www.signaturebar.com/uploads/images/10536.jpg

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Forum: General Discussion

Topic: HELP ID MY FISH PLZ

Re: HELP ID MY FISH PLZ [message #10378]

Tue, 06 January 2009 16:04

acichlid

Messages: 5
Registered: January 2009
Location: USA

Junior Member

Double Post Look Below

Attachment: imagesacichlid.jpg
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[Updated on: Tue, 06 January 2009 16:07]

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Re: HELP ID MY FISH PLZ [message #10379]

Tue, 06 January 2009 16:06

acichlid

Messages: 5
Registered: January 2009
Location: USA

Junior Member

I would say it is a Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi or Lake Malawi Butterfly Cichlid. So it is indeed from Lake Malawi. I really like your fish I have one just like the one in the bottom corner!(Attached is a picture of one)