I've got wrigglers

In the words of Piglet.... oh d-d-d-deeeear!

I've got a pair of angels that seem to be spawning every 10 to 14 days. They've been doing this for about 3 months now, and to date, they have not been very good "parent". The eggs usually only make it to about day 2. By then either they have eaten the eggs, or a hungry Ancistrus has discovered them before they can get any further than the egg stage.

On Friday I did an 80% water change, as well as introduce Purigen into my tank to try and get rid of the green tinge I've been struggling with for a few weeks now. (See my thread here-> http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?t=2656 )

I noticed this morning about 40% of the eggs had turned white, so they were not fertilized, or went "off". So my plan was to come home this evening, rub the rest of the eggs off the filter (where they laid them) and start a 3 day blackout.

As I was about to rub the eggs off, I noticed that the eggs had turned into wrigglers. Now I can't do a blackout (I don't think)... and the tank is resembling the water that comes out the Hartebeespoort dam!

I guess the only consolation I have is that the greem water will provide ample hiding space for the new fish... if they survive that is!!

And in another character's famous words.... "Oh Bother..." (Winnie the Pooh!)

 

Well Congrats on the Wrigglers hope they make it.

 

green water makes good fry food

 

congrats

 

Damn... Maybe try find some Daphnia... I know Derek has a daphnia culture going. Stick them into a breeding net in the tank. They chow green water... I highly doubt they will eat it all, but heck, it couldn't hurt...

You can still do a black out, just make sure there is a little ambient light in the tank. From either room light (during the day) or a light on in the room (for night time). That way, you get your black out and the parents can still tend to their babies.

 

Thanks Slagter. was thinking of only doing "half" a blackout.... my only concern isI would sustpect something like this would ned to be longer than a full blackout, and would this have any effects on the plants?

 

Nah dude... I'd just do the black out. Do a fairly big water change and then black out.

I have a feeling that you have too little plant mass or you are using too many ferts at this stage. I'd do the change, do the black out and do another water change. It should help get your plants back on track with less algae.

A full blackout will have an effect on plants. Any really sensitive plants might take a knock, but 3 days it short. They should bounce back just fine.