novafishy Posted October 22, 2005 Share Posted October 22, 2005 How do you guys catch your shell dweller fry? as soon as you put my hand in the N. multifasciatus tank, they dive straight for the shells. I found a link that explains it pretty well: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/unsh...ng_shellies.php But is there another way of doing it? without disturbing the shells? I dont want to disturb the shells, because territories have already been established and shells are already in the position the fish themselves have placed them to be - in line with the oncoming water current. So I rather not mess with their homes. How do you guys do it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViS Posted October 22, 2005 Share Posted October 22, 2005 I've seen people suck them into a bucket with an airline syphon before and it worked pretty well. Other than that, dunno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bijengum Posted October 22, 2005 Share Posted October 22, 2005 Why would you want to remove them they are step breeders and several generations happily coexist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novafishy Posted October 22, 2005 Author Share Posted October 22, 2005 Simple. So I can sell the fry which are getting big enough. Also to transfer them to another tank so I can start another colony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bijengum Posted October 22, 2005 Share Posted October 22, 2005 Not a problem. I took it you were looking to remove them at an early stage. I have heard of people leaving a net in the tank until they get used to it and then a quick scoop during feeding will get some out. Why would you want to remove them they are step breeders and several generations happily coexist. ← Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novafishy Posted October 22, 2005 Author Share Posted October 22, 2005 That could work, but it would take quite a long time for them to get used to. anyone else got a good method? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZ Posted October 22, 2005 Share Posted October 22, 2005 Sometimes the easiest way is to dismantle the tank. Get a bucket of tankwater handy, and start removing shells from the tank and place them in the bucket. Most of your shells should be taken up by adult fish, and the fry/juvies should be left behind. Do this, then you can also move shells from one bucket to another. Each time you move the shells, some fry should be left behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wui39 Posted October 22, 2005 Share Posted October 22, 2005 good suggestion baz! but perhaps a bit time consuming and maybe a little error prone i like the syphon idea but maybe better to use a larger diameter pipe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novafishy Posted October 22, 2005 Author Share Posted October 22, 2005 wont the fry still be cautious of the siphon hose as it enters their territory? i bet the fry will go dashing down within the shells as soon as the hose enters the water level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wui39 Posted October 22, 2005 Share Posted October 22, 2005 the syphon will pull them out of the shell no worry either that or jump in with a net and "shake" the fry out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novafishy Posted October 22, 2005 Author Share Posted October 22, 2005 You are a rather violent person, Wui Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Morelia Posted October 22, 2005 Share Posted October 22, 2005 Would something like an 'Aspirator' work ? Here's a link With one of those, you could suck one out of the shell and into the jar, then put it into something else, then get the next one... But I dunno how big the fry are You might need to use too large a diameter hose for it to be feasible HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted October 23, 2005 Share Posted October 23, 2005 Use the method in the cichlid-forum post. I use it all the time and I have no problems with the fish re-establishing territiory or continuing to breed. It works so well and is so easy to do. Usually over night will do and most of the fish will be on the bottom of the tank in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickvick Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 I have found that some shellies are not always step breeders. I have blue occelatus who's fry would always disappear. I think that it was the non-parent in the trio. So I always remove fry asap. The way that I remove them is quite simple. I have a livebearer enclosure (the plastic ones with the subfloor in them that attach to the side of the tank with suction caps. Available at AOA for bugger all. When the fry are just starting to venture from the shell, I pick up the shell (at which time all fry and the mother will quickly dive in) and place it in the unclosure. As the fry eventually venture from the shell, they fall to the bottom of the enclosure, eventually leaving the mother and the shell in the top of the unclusure, and all the fry at the bottom, at which time you can return the mother and shell to the tank. This has worked well for me for a long time, easy, no stress to me (and minimal to the fish) and no dismantling the tank. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novafishy Posted October 25, 2005 Author Share Posted October 25, 2005 That's an awesome method Michael! I will definitely try that one. Thanks for that! After the fry falls to the bottom of the enclosure, then you move the shell with the mum back to the main tank right? do you try to put it in the same position as before? or do you just randomly place them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickvick Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 No problems. Thats right, straight back into the tank. I leave the fry in the enclosure for a few weeks until they are old and large enough to endure a move to a fry tank. I found that it doesnt really matter where the shell is returned. You will find that if they dont like where it is, they will quiclky move it. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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