Harvesting Julis

[sschind]

I have pairs of Julidochromis regani and Julidochromis transcriptus that have finally started to reproduce. There are at least 24 baby reganis about 3/4 of an inch in the tank, and the transcriptus about as many but smaller (separate tanks of course) I would like to move them to a growout tank but as soon as I go near the tank with a net the scatter and head for the rocks and caves. I don't want to mess with the decor too much as I have heard that it can disrupt the pairs. Does anyone have any ideas for fish traps or the like that make it easy to harvest babies or am I being too paranoid about moving decor?

I've toyed with the idea of making the setups simpler but the transcriptus are in a pretty simple setup already with fine gravel substrate a sponge filter and two half flower pots stacked. The regani are in a more elaborately setup tank as I had a bunch of fry that I let grow up so I had the tank a bit more decorated. Same substrate and filter just more caves and hides. The problem is if I move them now how long, if ever, will it take to get them back in the mood. It's still an option I am considering for the regani though.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Steve

[ThatGuy]

When I was breeding them in the past I had a very simple setup. The pair bred in a simple stacked slate arrangement in the middle of the tank. I took out the fry at night after the lights had been out for several hours. You have about a minute to catch out juvies before their eyes adjust. There's no risk of the older juveniles eating the younger ones, they all live together harmoniously.

My opinion, there's two types of breeding setups.
Show Breeding Tanks: These are arranged with nice rockwork and meant to be a centerpiece. The rockwork makes it unfavorable for collecting out the fry but looks great.
Sale/Breeding Tanks: If you are looking to breed and sell the fry and be efficient at it, a simple setup is best. Simple but effective decor that is easy to remove to collect fry.

Up to you what you want to do but I'd try the "lights out" technique. Seemed to work pretty good and the pair didn't divorce because of it.

Nick

[sschind]

Thanks Nick, I moved them to a new tank about a month ago and I see new babies now so when they get big enough I will try the lights out trick. The tank will be much easier to get them out of also.

[ThatGuy]

Oh right on, good luck with them! =)