E. evergladei

I just noticed two tiny slivers in a ten gallon with two pairs of Elassoma evergladei. Of course I'm not prepared and these guys are tiny I'm surprised I noticed them. Any suggestions on what I could do for food quick. I noticed them when searching for the second male and a movement caught my eye as one sliver struggled towards the top of the tank and just caught the light right.

Mike Lucas

The best thing I've found for these when they are tiny is greenwater. Go down to the local pond or creek, get some water, put it in full sun and drop a few fish food flakes in it. Perhaps a tiny splash of fertilizer. You'll have green water in no time. Then, just add a squirt or two per day to the tank. When they are large enough, you can feed them Daphnia moina, which you can culture right along in your greenwater. Once you have some greenwater going, I can send you some if you need. but you may get some with your water from the pond. The fry should grow really well on these.

A good way to get greenwater in a hurry is to once again go to a pool or pond, and this time dunk a bunch of plants into a jar, and also scrape some plants along the inner lip of the jar. The water will turn murky green in no time flat. Then, let the jar sette for awhile, during which the green will concentrate at the bottom, leaving clear water above it. Pour off the clear water, and you then have concentrated greenwater ready to feed.

Something I have used in the past that is quick and easy is the yolk from a hard boiled egg. I take a small piece of yolk and put it into nylon stocking. I then dip it into the tank and swirl it around. You may have to slightly apply pressure. You will know when everything is right because you will see a yellow cloud suspended in the water. This will stay suspended for a couple of hours.

B. Flowers

Something I have used in the past that is quick and easy is the yolk from a hard boiled egg. I take a small piece of yolk and put it into nylon stocking. I then dip it into the tank and swirl it around. You may have to slightly apply pressure. You will know when everything is right because you will see a yellow cloud suspended in the water. This will stay suspended for a couple of hours.

Innes called this "egg yolk infusion". It worked then and it works now!

How often would you need to change the water after adding the egg yolk infusion and how much do you change?

Where do you get your fresh water from?

I have gone 2 -3 days between water changes and using the egg yolk. Of course I also use corner filters and they tend to filter it out over time. I am lucky enough to have a well and my water is untreated. I normally let the water stand till room temperature and then do a water change.
If you are worried that the fresh water is different then the water the fish are in - you can set a container of water above the tank and use airline to drip the fresh water in over a period of time. This will give the fish time to acclimate.

Bill Flowers

I have gone 2 -3 days between water changes and using the egg yolk. Of course I also use corner filters and they tend to filter it out over time. I am lucky enough to have a well and my water is untreated. I normally let the water stand till room temperature and then do a water change.
If you are worried that the fresh water is different then the water the fish are in - you can set a container of water above the tank and use airline to drip the fresh water in over a period of time. This will give the fish time to acclimate.

Bill Flowers

I'm worried about waste build up more than anything. I'm also curious to see if you felt it was important to use water from the "host tank" or tank the eggs/fry were removed. I'm guessing that much of the yolk is wasted in that only so much can be consumed by the fry. This makes me think large water changes would be in order. Don't mind me, just picking your brain on the subject. I failed to feed my zonatum fry properly this spring and lost them. I expect to have more this winter/spring and want to kepp the fry in good shape.

In my experiance or maybe better put " in my husbandry" I have had little need to feed newborn Elossoma fry in my tanks. As long as one has a good aged sponge filter with a very good growth of plants enough food exists untill you can get the fry to a size where BBS can be used. I feed this to the adults as well so sooner or later the fry pick up on it also.
I also have a habit of using aged oak leaves from a local pond in my tanks. This adds alot to the available fry food items.
If available this is highly recommended.

I should note I typically raise Elassoma fry in the tank with the adults. It is not much of a concern that the fry will become prey to the adults.

I personally would avoid the egg yolk idea and try more natural foods. Egg yolk works sometimes but often just screws your water up and ends up messing up your efforts more than helping.

Edit: BTW Teleost They are spawning already and a good number of eggs and fry have been observed They also are not acting Shy at all and are quite active and regularly swimming and displaying right out in the open. These are the best
E. evergladei I've ever seen. These fish are awesome and very unlike many of the Elassoma I have kept in the past.