Who Gives A Fish Forums

My Kirby's tp always spawn like clockwork every month, no issues there. The real challenge for me starts about three weeks in - that's when the fry usually kick the bucket. I've been feeding them newly hatched brine shrimp, and I know they're eating since their bellies turn orange. I'm stumped, though - does anyone have any tips? The tank's got plenty of plants and hiding spots, so I don't think that's the problem. Any advice would be a huge help, thanks.

Do you keep the fry with the parents or move them to a separate rearing tank?

They're with the parents, who keep a close eye on them, always watching over them like hawks.

My experience with Kribs, as well as some other cichlids, is that the parents do a great job looking after the fry, but only until the male is ready to breed again - which, in my case, seems to be around 3 weeks or so. I've found that removing the male and leaving the female with the fry works well, but it's almost as if the male develops a taste for them once he's ready to breed again. I've noticed this same behavior with my convicts, green terrors, and angels - maybe I'm just unlucky, or maybe it's just a coincidence. Are there any other fish in the tank, by the way?

Other than the Kribs, I have some small schooling fish, they're pretty peaceful.

Mine just spawned as well, found a bunch of little ones hiding in a plant pot. Not too fussed about rearing them, they're in with my cherry barbs and otos.