What kind of plec to put in with fry?

tiffnseve · Post by **tiffnseve** » 07 Jan 2004, 22:07

Hey all,
I'm going to need to set up a new tank in another week or so. Most likely a ten or twenty gallon. I usually just go for it and through it all together but this time I have a purpose behind it. My betta female wass getting pretty chunky after my male died so I bought her a new boytoy. Needless to say the two of them hit it off in a one gallon makeshift job and as I type the male is going into overdrive as his younguns hatch. I want to set up a tank for the babes but I'm not sure what to put in for an algae eater. I have a couple small candystripes plecs, one small clown plec, one small rubberlip, a smaller bushynose, a small sailfin, and a couple small commons. Any recommendations? Its my first time with betta fry. I have some experience with livebearers but none with egglayers.
Thanks

Post by **Coryman** » 07 Jan 2004, 22:54

beta fry are extremely tiny and I would not put anything in with them at all until they are at least 15 mm sl. The female needs to be removed once spawning has been completed and the male once the fry are free swimming.

Ian

tiffnseve · Post by **tiffnseve** » 08 Jan 2004, 23:52

Thanks. I'm thinking of just adding on a sponge filter for the time being to their temporary home. "Mom" is back in with her friends the Honey Gourami Colony. "Pop" is guarding the younguns. I'll keep from adding in a plec. I don't want to disturb them, when they get bigger I'll make changes.

Sid Guppy · Post by **Sid Guppy** » 09 Jan 2004, 14:32

the best thing to put in there is a Ramshornsnail; Planorbis.
v
harmless (I put them in with Syno-fry, Lamprologine fry etc). Once the baby fish are about 1 cm or so, add a baby bristlenose. much better than a pleco and adults stick at only 4"

tiffnseve · Post by **tiffnseve** » 10 Jan 2004, 16:13

Well I think I lost most of the fry. The male is still guarding but there hasn't been much action the lst two days. He's back eating and doens't stay guarding all the time like he was before. So I'll give it a try in three weeks now that I know that I have two that have a hankerin for one another. Next after that is gouramis, then maybe the bristlenose.

Thanks for the suggestions. I have one bristlenose right now but in my area they are pretty pricy. AMine 15 bucks and that was the cheapest out of the local LFS that I went to. He doesn't have much for bristles either. Just a couple little nubs. I'm thinking of looking for a second just to see if it would encourage him to grow some.