Danio margaritatus Fry Cover

[PaulineMi]

My CPDs are in a heavily planted 10 gallon tank that they share with cherry shrimp. In addition to the live plants there is also an artificial plant mat thing in a back corner. It's supposed to be good for fry cover. However adult CPDs are so small I'm not sure that the mat will actually provide shelter. The CPD wolf pack pack has learned to hunt down shrimp in every nook and cranny in their tank.

Would having floating cover of some kind serve any useful purpose?  I'm not expecting a big fry survival rate but wondered if a few babies could make it in this tank. I'm just curious as I'm not going to tear down the tank to move adults.

[BallAquatics]

Hornwort or Guppy Grass (Najas guadalupensis) would both work well Pauline.

Dennis

[BillT]

Maybe not the solution for you Pauline, but I have used a variety of sizes of Matala to provide cover for baby fish. Matala is used for pond filtration.
It can be heavily bleached to clean/sterilize it.

http://www.matalausa.com/prod38.html

Normally it floats but it can be weighted down by pushing marbles in to it.

A more normal alternative would be to use something like java moss.

[PaulineMi]

Hornwort or Guppy Grass (Najas guadalupensis) would both work well Pauline.

Dennis

Hornwort fell apart for me when I tried it in the past. I don't know why. I'll see if I can find guppy grass or maybe a super thick bunch of java moss to float.

Maybe not the solution for you Pauline, but I have used a variety of sizes of Matala to provide cover for baby fish. Matala is used for pond filtration.
It can be heavily bleached to clean/sterilize it.

http://www.matalausa.com/prod38.html

Normally it floats but it can be weighted down by pushing marbles in to it.

A more normal alternative would be to use something like java moss.

I think I may have something like this in my stash of fish supplies that I hoard. Thanks.

[Mugwump]

Don't forget this option too.....Dennis posted it a while back....

http://danionins.com/diy-egg-trap

[PaulineMi]

Thanks Jon.  I did forget about that.  I had even saved a small container to make one.

[Mugwump]

Thanks Jon.  I did forget about that.  I had even saved a small container to make one.

me too.... ...

[BallAquatics]

I have never really had much luck providing cover for CPD fry.  As Pauline mentioned, the adults being so small, can navagate their way right through most cover and find the fry.  Who would think such tiny little fish would be such ruthless hunters?

Dennis

[PaulineMi]

I have never really had much luck providing cover for CPD fry.  As Pauline mentioned, the adults being so small, can navagate their way right through most cover and find the fry.  Who would think such tiny little fish would be such ruthless hunters?

Dennis

Ruthless hunters they are.  That's what I like about having them in the planted tank with shrimp.  Watching them literally form a pack and make their way through the plants and tangle of java moss is quite entertaining.

[Mugwump]

I have never really had much luck providing cover for CPD fry.  As Pauline mentioned, the adults being so small, can navagate their way right through most cover and find the fry.  Who would think such tiny little fish would be such ruthless hunters?

Dennis

Ruthless hunters they are.  That's what I like about having them in the planted tank with shrimp.  Watching them literally form a pack and make their way through the plants and tangle of java moss is quite entertaining.

LOL...even my little ones from Dennis do that...altho not quite so tiny any more.....they forage like jackals.....

[BallAquatics]

Let me know if you need some guppy grass Pauline.  It grows like a weed for me.

Dennis

[Mugwump]

here too........we've got a few tanks that bulge with it...LOL...it likes regular  incandescent lights especially 

[PaulineMi]

Let me know if you need some guppy grass Pauline.  It grows like a weed for me.

Dennis

Yes Dennis, I'd like that.  PM sent.