can i move my fry

Hi i told you all my BN had spawned . well i got two rounds out of it first set is free swiming but still in the cave the second set is about 4 days older they are almost free swimming but still have a tiny bit of yellow on there bellys. my question is can i take them away from the male now as i dont want them to leave the nest the tank is very clutered and they will be very hard to catch when they come out.

The biggest question i have is where will they go? If you have another tank that is already cycled and good to go them it becomes a matter of water paramenters. If the two tanks are close then go for it. The easiest way is to move the whole cave, male, fry and all in one hit. The male will normally not leave the cave so you should be ok with this. However, as the fry are getting to the cheekie point they may bolt from the cave meaning you have to go hunt them down, and any bristlenose breeder will tell you that catching bristlenose fry in a planted or normal display tank is kind of like repeatadly stubbing your toe while someone tattoos nasty words on your back.

It, however, is not idea to move them at this point. The earlier you move them (at this stage) the better as the eggs are rather impervious to water changes. Once they hatch then moving them becomes a hassle and dangerous. So, firstly, make sure the new tank is well cycled as fry hate ammonia. Then ensure that the water is very similar, best best would be to half fill the new tank with water from the old tank. Then move them across.

Sometimes you get lucky and all goes well, other times you will loose a few fry. Its up to you if moving them is needed. I have had to move young fry before to save them from hungry angels. Of course, once they get to 2cms-ish then you can move them like any other fish

cheers i moved them all in the cave . just in time becoause half of them have come out now. i put them in a new tank with the old water and an old cycled pump

just keep a close eye on the water parameters in the new tank for the first week or so as sometimes the ammonia can sneek up. I always have some prime handy to knock it off

sure you will be fine tho

thx for this info doug, just searched it, as im needing to transfer my fry in2 another tank. hope i dont kill my fry