Proud Papa

[robinettesmith]

OK, not to sound a little out there but I just realized I am a proud first time daddy to some really cool little Kenyi fry. I kinda thought that the female was brooding but never could catch her in the act so I wasn't sure. Tonight at feeding time, 3 small fry kept darting in and out of their hiding places to get the smaller bits that floated near. I got so excited I sat on the floor watching the little guys for the next hour. Now I'm stiff from sitting indian fashion for so long but it was worth it. Since this is my first brood what do I do next. I wasn't planning on breeding and set up everything as a show tank. I was mostly concerned with keeping the chemistry right and didn't think about any hanky panky on the fishes part. Now I'm stuck. Do I let nature happen and if any survive then they are the strongest and fastest? Or, do I set up another cichlid tank and try to catch the fry and move them to a new home? If I do separate them, how long do I wait? Mom and Dad are still guarding the area and chasing off the other tank mates so do I wait a little longer? I know it's a lot of questions but I just never really thought of the possibility since it wasn't my plan. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks for letting me ramble. I'll try to get some pics and put them up tomorrow.

[Chrisg12887]

well its up to you.....if you really want the fry then i say take em out and put em in their own tank but if you dont really care for them then just see who survives....

[SNAILOS]

WHO are the other tank mates that you reference to.It depends.Chrisg12887 are right if you don't care for them just see who will survive.

My specs

TANK 1:

250 G

SAND+ROCK+BLACK BACKGROUND+DAY TIMER for my lighting of the tank (exelent)
(I hate bed time)(replicating day and night with full moon wich i can set to a nice marine coral blue) 2 EXTERNAL FILTERS (strong current) + HEATER+PROTIEN SKIMMER.

CICHLID:

1 Male Pseotropheus Fullebiornie ("taken out of the lake")
7 Female Pseotropheus Fullebiornie ("taken out of the lake")

35 roaming chosen juviniles from spawned fry

3 Female Pseotropheus Fullebiornie ("Marmalade Cats")(Fully grown)

TANK 2:

250 G

SAND+ROCK+BLACK BACKGROUND+DAY TIMER for my lighting of the tank (exelent)
(I hate bed time)(replicating day and night with full moon wich i can set to a nice marine coral blue) 2 EXTERNAL FILTERS (strong current) + HEATER+PROTIEN SKIMMER.

CICHLID:

2 Male Pseotropheus "AFRA" (Taken from the lake)(Full Grown)
8 Female Pesotropheus "AFRA" (Taken from the lake)(allmost there)

1 Male Melanochromis Johanni (Taken from the lake)(Full Grown)
3 Females Melanochromis Johanni (Taken from the lake)(Full Grown)

26 Roaming chosen fry from above mentioned species in TANK 2

TANK 3:

80 G

SAND+ROCK+BLACK BACKGROUND+DAY TIMER for my lighting of the tank (exelent)
(I hate bed time)(replicating day and night with full moon wich i can set to a nice marine coral blue) 2 EXTERNAL FILTERS (strong current) + HEATER+PROTIEN SKIMMER.

Fry raising tank

TANK 4:

80 G

SAND+ROCK+BLACK BACKGROUND+DAY TIMER for my lighting of the tank (exelent)
(I hate bed time)(replicating day and night with full moon wich i can set to a nice marine coral blue) 2 EXTERNAL FILTERS (strong current) + HEATER+PROTIEN SKIMMER.

Fry raising tank