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Damn it!

I was off work sick today so spent most of the day lounging around the house. Fed the wee guy in the trap and then went for a nap. When I woke up about 2 hours later I went to check on the tanks and found the wee guy dead in a wee pile of food. The only thing I can think of is he chocked somehow on the food. I have some photos I will upload later and his wee belly does look swollen right enough. I'm so gutted and feel somewhat responsible. What a harsh lesson in the long term dream of breeding these wonderful fish!

I'm so sorry to hear that Dr_P That happened to one of my fry too, found him in a pile of food, but thought it incidental. It might look as though they might indeed not know when the tummy is full?

At least you have two more in the tank!

Titch! WE hardly knew ye!

Dr. P,

so sorry for your loss. I wonder if this was caused by to much food left over causing a rise in ammonia in the baby tank.

Sorry to hear it Dr.P,

I know with all the fish that have spawned for me there has been a certain rate of natural attrition, regardless of tank conditions etc. I don't have this kind of experience with zebras, so I can't say that's what it was, but no matter, losing fry always hurts.

Val

Dr P,

Sorry to hear about your loss.
Although tragic, the parents should be breeding again soon.
By the way what were you feeding him?.
I too lost one of my four fry in the first few days.

Regards,
Des.

Hey Des,

I was feeding a combination of frozen bbs, crushed king british flake, crushed tetra prima and a couple of different fry food supplied by ZM Ltd (Zebrafish Management Ltd.)

Hi Ken,

I very much doubt that the uneaten food would have caused a problem for the deasesed fry. There was alot of water movement in his fry trap (housed in the main tank), causing much of the food to escape the trap inadvertantly feeding the fish in the main tank. The tank is well over filtered and the water parameters always stay well in-check.......even better than my heavily planted, severiely understocked planted tank.

Honestly, I think they fry choked on a bit of food a little too big for him to easily swallow and digest.....my fault entirely . I have pics of the poor wee fella after he had departed that only cement my thoughts on why wee titch lead such a short life.

Hey Val, your damn right it hurts.....more that I had imagined. For me, breeding the L46 has been a life time ambition. This has been a big blow. I think I may give up keeping fish and take up Morris Dancing.

Oh no talk about giving up. Not gonna happen.
You must be a bit older than 15 or so?;)
NO MORRIS DANCING, whatever it is, thenkyew?!

Just a little over 15 mate (10 years)

I aint really gonna give up tho , this last couple of months have been some of the most exciting times in my fish keeping history. From such a high to such a low in such a short time takes it out of you tho.

Focus on the two you have left Dr. P Even though they are not Titch, they are still precious too!

Word!

Dr. P.

Take care of the two you have left. Don't give up, they will reward you again. I am sure within a month or two you will have more.

Breeding zebs is very exciting.

Ken

You guys do know I was joking about quitting fishkeeping and taking up Morris Dancing right?

And by the way.....this is Morris Dancing!....

What the heck is that guy in the last pic doing?!

He's worn himself out prancing about the garden dressed like a gnome, that's what...