yesterday i went to go pull my breeding shells out of my tank to shake into the grow out tank, as today was the first day in over two weeks the female came out of the shell, signaling me the fry needed food and no longer had yolk sacks because she came out to search for it.

I get up to the tank and not only was she out but her whole brood. I was frustrated because i knew that i couldn't get them out now, so i left them in there, knowing i would have none when i got up due to my syno's. We all know Africans are really good parents for the most part, but i was still surprised that when i got up the morning there were still hundreds of eyeballs roaming the tank, and a proud father patrolling the cave exits where the catfish hang out.

I'm so happy they survived, now if only they could stay alive for about a week they will be big enough not to fall through my net and get into the grow out.

I'm so happy but very nervous as that is about $100-200 dollars worth of f-1 fry to sell off. And a buyer who is anxious for them.

You could try to use your gravel vac to suck them out.

thats my plan when they are bigger im afraid right now thet i might kill them if a few rocks get sucked up and tumble with them in the vac

How are they doing?

quite remarkable still bout 100 or so, they have verry good parents


tomarrow is water change day, i think they are big enough to siphon without tumeling them to death.

Cool! :D Please do keep us updated.

So how did it go?

the little guys are very aware what cracks are for, i still have between 75-50fry wich is about the average loss we had with previous broods that were moved into a grow out.


BUt they all go for the cracks when anything comes in the tank, parents food, net, siphon anything so they are still in with the rest. they like to fight over brine shrimp.

Last time I talked to her, she had fry coming out the gills...something like 300 of them at 1/4 inch and another brood that just became free swimming...