Last week, I noticed a number of small eggs on one of the Anubias leaves. The sole surviving female cichlid—Aeon—protected that leaf like it was gold.

Today, as I was preparing to vacuum the gravel and change the water, I noticed that several small shapes were swimming below Aeon, who looked a little battered, not to mention extremely focused on her job of protecting the fry from tetras and the large Checkerboard male.

Since my experience with breeding has been limited to shrimp, who survive quite well on their own (despite filter deaths or death by being eaten!), I wasn't sure how to proceed with fish fry. I called my LFS, Justin, at Ocean Aquarium, who instructed me to remove the fry with a turkey baster. He said to place them in a protected container that could float in the main tank. He said to use the water they came from and to feed them baby brine shrimp 2 or 3 times a day.

So, I've isolated the fry. Here they are.



Although checkerboard cichlids aren't mouthbrooders, I noticed that Aeon would scoop into her mouth the sole fry I left behind in the main tank, carry it a few inches, and eject it. Fascinating. What's also fascinating is how the fry, before I separated them, stuck to her like glue. Their rhythms as a tiny school mesmerized me.

A few hours after isolating the fry, I fed them finely chopped frozen brine shrimp. I may buy some infusoria or other very small food tomorrow. I have no idea, otherwise, what I'm doing. Hopefully, my pleas for help on the FishProfiles.com breeding board will yield some clues to the healthy and productive raising of my new tank friends.