[canadawest]

Troy, the final count this time is only 8.

I'm a little dissapointed with the seemingly high mortality rate but my understanding from reading other's experiences with tank raised fish suggests this is a normal experience in nature as well as captive breeding.

I really thought that I was going to see 12 of the original 20, as that is how many were left after the first few days. (survival of the fittest) The count remained at 12 for about a week, then one by one each morning the count would be one less.

I suspect that perhaps some of the larger aiptasia in the nursery tank may have caught some of the fry, so for the next brood I intend to have the aiptasia gone. I don't think any of the hermit crabs are viable predators.

So with the aiptasia gone for the next brood, we'll see if it was predators or mother nature at work reducing the numbers.

On a positive side, the remaining 8 are very healthy, active, and growing much faster than the first brood were. That's why I suspect these ones will be ready for new homes at 6 weeks rather than the 8 weeks for the first brood.