keeping blue acaras

[sweetpot]

I've got a pair of RiverKais in one of my tanks, they've just spawned and there's about 50 fry, only 3 days old. Should I leave the parents to it and see if they'll raise them, or will they start eating them after a bit. I'm thinking of siphoning the fry out to be safe, but I'd rather give the parents a chance if they'll actually care for them. Thanks

[waveborn]

These South American fish are actually in the wrong section, by the way. My neighbor breeds them, so you're in luck. Both parents will take care of the young and shouldn't try to eat them. They might become aggressive towards other fish, but since they're alone, that's not a problem. For the young, I'd recommend feeding them artemia - baby brine shrimp - for the first 7-14 days. Freshly hatched, they're best, but after 24 hours or so, the nutritional value drops. If you refrigerate them after hatching, that timeframe gets a bit longer. Similar small live foods would be good for ensuring their survival. A single pair can spawn several times a year, sometimes even while still caring for a previous brood. I'd leave them alone and let nature take its course. And congratulations on the new fry!

[sweetpot]

Thanks for replying waveborn