Monday, October 03, 2005
Paradise Fish - Fry Day 13
Paradise Fish Fry Day 13
Paradise Fish Fry ... now about 1/8th inch or 35-40mm. Having lost their tiny polliwog appearance with the semi-colon look, they have developed silver-gray translucent bodies with symmetrical eyes and developing vertebrae & spine. They swim freely rather than spending most time in still water at the surface. Air-breathers like the adult Paradise Fish, they spend time in full tank dives and surface whenever needed for air.
Food is a combination of powder-ground flake fish food and powdered tubifex worms -freeze-dried variety. One of the flake foods - used for goldfish - contains more vegetable-green mater, something their diet needs (cf. literature). On the vegetation point, the fry also nibble at algae on the aquarium glass, and occasionally anchor there against a mild filter current flow. Food is consumed in small bits and bites at small flakes -as adults do -- spat out when too big or disliked. Have assumed that they are now at the fast growth stage and they are getting larger and swim the entire tank freely. Fry have matured enough that swimming is by full tail motion - very pronounced.
Filtration power in the Eclipse 7 has been increased beyond a minor trickle without ill effects. The sponge on the filter intake has been replaced by a piece of nylon stocking which bars fry being sucked in but increases water flow. The greater outflow roil at one side of the aquariums surface is navigated safely by the fry with an occasional tumble - but no fish loss.
Tank had a partial water change (25%) and the bottom is reasonably clean and will be cleaned again - while protecting the fry against vacuuming with the water siphon.
Fry still number to several score and will be firmly counted as they enlarge. If growth goes as anticipated, they will be large enough to 'sex' in about a month (4-6 weeks age).
Paradise Fish Fry ... now about 1/8th inch or 35-40mm. Having lost their tiny polliwog appearance with the semi-colon look, they have developed silver-gray translucent bodies with symmetrical eyes and developing vertebrae & spine. They swim freely rather than spending most time in still water at the surface. Air-breathers like the adult Paradise Fish, they spend time in full tank dives and surface whenever needed for air.
Food is a combination of powder-ground flake fish food and powdered tubifex worms -freeze-dried variety. One of the flake foods - used for goldfish - contains more vegetable-green mater, something their diet needs (cf. literature). On the vegetation point, the fry also nibble at algae on the aquarium glass, and occasionally anchor there against a mild filter current flow. Food is consumed in small bits and bites at small flakes -as adults do -- spat out when too big or disliked. Have assumed that they are now at the fast growth stage and they are getting larger and swim the entire tank freely. Fry have matured enough that swimming is by full tail motion - very pronounced.
Filtration power in the Eclipse 7 has been increased beyond a minor trickle without ill effects. The sponge on the filter intake has been replaced by a piece of nylon stocking which bars fry being sucked in but increases water flow. The greater outflow roil at one side of the aquariums surface is navigated safely by the fry with an occasional tumble - but no fish loss.
Tank had a partial water change (25%) and the bottom is reasonably clean and will be cleaned again - while protecting the fry against vacuuming with the water siphon.
Fry still number to several score and will be firmly counted as they enlarge. If growth goes as anticipated, they will be large enough to 'sex' in about a month (4-6 weeks age).
