Went to feed my fry this morning and found three dead and one in a larger sibling’s mouth, thrashing frantically. I don’t know what killed those three but it worries me greatly. It could have been the larger fry, but it might have been something else… like disease.

I’ll put in some meds just in case, because they’re still too tiny to tell what killed them. But what should I do about the cannibalism?? They’re too young and small to move still. Maybe three weeks old.

Should I put in plants for them to hide in? If I do, I’ll have to buy them from a shitty pet store. How do I make the plants safe to put in the fry tank without killing the plants? What plants should I get?

Let is be noted I cannot afford a grow light, so it'll have to make due with what light comes through my window.

you could give them some plants to hide in. if you are concerned about the light, you can also use silk. boil it first.

have had fry get aggressive at 6 weeks of age. the plakats i spawned were the worst. have you tested your water? do you have any kind of filtration in the spawn tank?

No filter yet and and I have no more test supplies. I am so strapped for money it's test supplies or fry food. I opted for food. Not it's test supplies or a filter, I'm going for the filter because I feel it's more important.

Woudln't boiling kill the live plants?

no, you would boil the silk plants if you went that way. yes boiling the live plants will kill them. you do want to rinse them well to make sure that there are no hitchhikers on them.

check with your lfs or lps. alot will test your water for you for free. also a sponge filter is what i use on my spawn tanks. they are rather inexpensive like 6.00 and run on an aerator.

I'll make a stop Thursday and get the filter, like I planned, and a little bunch of live plants.

I just worry about transmitting diseases.

Styx...

I have a bit of java moss ... will see if I have some hornwort.... I will put it in your box. I don't have a lot left because I have it in my jars. (In the process of jarring up kids right now) I will check for java fern...

They stake out territories... ***the mind of a territorial fish "HEY YOU !! From that rock to this leaf it is MINE!!!)****

If they could.... they would post hudreds of little "no tresspassing" signs. If you have enough cover... they can all hang out for a very long time before they even think on snacking on their siblings. The little ones will hide... and will actually get more food as some of it falls into the plants.

Other things to give them cover.... lil caves... tipped over little terra cotta pots... driftwood...

When getting new plants... you want to do a bleach dip... like what you would do to sterilize jars. 1 part bleach to 19 parts water. Dunk the plants in it for a minute.... then rinse.... and put in bucket of water that is triple dosed with dechlor.

Some easy plants are anacharis (have to look out for that... it is illegal in some states because it grows like crazy...), java moss, java fern, hornwort.

Aquarisol is good too as a preventative. To minimize the chances your tank gets nailed with velvet.... really watch the lighting. Velvet.... it also needs to photosynthesize. Indirect lighting is better.

LOL!!! :lmao:

Okay, I'll remember all that. I was thinking of just treating the whole tank with methelyne blue. That seems to usually know out things my fry get.

Either way, glad I know that now, but the plant is already in there. >_< I rinsed it with water is all. I hope I didn't make a big mistake by doing that.

Next time I get plants, I'll know and be able to do that.

Thanks so much for everything! Woo!

No problem.... we are down a car at the moment..... so getting to the P.O. is rough... I am going to try and send it out with the self send post office dealy... Hoping you get it before the weekend...

Cool. And I understand. I've been having the same problem. I've been sending stuff out with people and family that pass by the post office on their way to work in the morning.