Killybeys said:
Update: I hate to say it but there are no signs of any of the babies
They were in my 125g with a bunch of other fish so im assuming they got eaten. I set up a 10g and put the parents in it but ive noticed the male is just sitting at the bottom not moving. Hes still breathing and doesnt look sickly. He just looks tired. Anyone know what this might be? All the water parameters are normal.
I have a 125G community tank with spawning kribs in the tank. The scenerio is as follows for most spawns:
Mom and dad take over a cave (I have about 4 of them in various places in the tank ... some ceramic and some coconut shells), mom lays eggs and stays in the cave while dad patrols. The eggs hatch and a bit after that mom and dad bring the babies out of the cave but they stay in close proximity (usually I see the babies and parents around the wood and plants in my tank as the babies 1st foods are probably tiny infusoria living on the wood and plants).
At the time I see the babies I start spot feeding their area with freeze dried cyclops, bbs, and first bites. I put the food in a couple of times a day, rotating those selections. Mom and dad will keep all predators away and fight fiercely to defend the babies from any intruders. This protective cycle goes on for about 2-3 weeks with both mom and dad being the protectors. Somewhere between 2 and 3 weeks Dad starts to wander a bit and if there is another viable female in the tank his wanderlust takes over and he is off to greener pastures. Mom is left to care for the babies alone which she will also do non-stop for the next couple of weeks. At a little over a month old, I notice that the mothers leave the babies to fend for themselves.
At the one month mark I usually have somewhere between 20-30 fry surviving. At the two month mark I'm down to maybe 2-3 fry from that spawn. In the community tank, as soon as the babies are left on their own, even though they are a little bigger at that time, they become food for other fish in the tank.
Thoughts and recommendations:
Dad probably died defending the group. They are ferocious, even though they are small, in their capacity to be protectors. I have seen my krib male fight with a pleco 4 or 5 times his size to keep the pleco out of his territory.
If you have another spawn (if you have another male) and want to save a lot of fry, remove them to another tank or fry box that contains some wood and plants from the main tank. Use a fry siphon and suck them out then put them where you can feed them at least 3 times a day.
Sorry for your losses and I'm particulary sorry for the male. These are beautiful fish and wonderful parents. Even a fish parent dying to save its young saddens me. Good luck with your next attempt.
