Ursus sapien
Apr 16th 2010, 07:53 PM
This is really geared towards those of you interested in salvaging fry from eggs laid in a community tank. For the serious breeder with large numbers in mind, there are better techniques.
the breeders: Corydoras aeneus 'albino', 1 female and 1 male
tank: planted 33g standard, +/- 22 degrees C, ph <7, soft, low teck
roommates: 5 C. paleatus (peppered cory) and various minnows. The 2 female pepered corys are ravenous egg eaters, as are the danios.
spawning: routinely occurs after water chages IF the new water is a few degees cooler than the tank. Male and female swim closely together, touching frequently, for several hours before spawning. This female typically lays between 25 to 40eggs. Spawning can occur any time, day or night. Eggs are almost always laid on the glass close to hob outflow.
technique: eggs are gatherd as soon after spawnig as possble, while still soft. I break fewer this way. Eggs are gathered by carefuly scraping off the glass with a sharp knife. Note: eggs will be damaged. It's inevitable. However, you get better with practice. Hold the blade at about 45 degrees.
Brush the eggs against some java moss or similar, and transfer to a hatching tank or a floating hatchery in the same tank. I get beter results with the floating hatchery.
The floating hatchery should have an air stone, moss and wood. Also some sand from mom's tank. If using sperate tank for hatching, install a sponge filter in addition to the moss, wood and sand. I also use water from mom's tank.
hatching: takes place over the next 3 to 6 days. Fry emerge tail first then spin until free of the egg. I leave them in the floating hatchery for a few days, then move to the rearing tank. Use a turkey baster to collect fry.
fry care: start on frozen rotifers, then microworms and frozen baby brine shrimp. Fine flake starts at about 5 days (sooner, if you like).
the breeders: Corydoras aeneus 'albino', 1 female and 1 male
tank: planted 33g standard, +/- 22 degrees C, ph <7, soft, low teck
roommates: 5 C. paleatus (peppered cory) and various minnows. The 2 female pepered corys are ravenous egg eaters, as are the danios.
spawning: routinely occurs after water chages IF the new water is a few degees cooler than the tank. Male and female swim closely together, touching frequently, for several hours before spawning. This female typically lays between 25 to 40eggs. Spawning can occur any time, day or night. Eggs are almost always laid on the glass close to hob outflow.
technique: eggs are gatherd as soon after spawnig as possble, while still soft. I break fewer this way. Eggs are gathered by carefuly scraping off the glass with a sharp knife. Note: eggs will be damaged. It's inevitable. However, you get better with practice. Hold the blade at about 45 degrees.
Brush the eggs against some java moss or similar, and transfer to a hatching tank or a floating hatchery in the same tank. I get beter results with the floating hatchery.
The floating hatchery should have an air stone, moss and wood. Also some sand from mom's tank. If using sperate tank for hatching, install a sponge filter in addition to the moss, wood and sand. I also use water from mom's tank.
hatching: takes place over the next 3 to 6 days. Fry emerge tail first then spin until free of the egg. I leave them in the floating hatchery for a few days, then move to the rearing tank. Use a turkey baster to collect fry.
fry care: start on frozen rotifers, then microworms and frozen baby brine shrimp. Fine flake starts at about 5 days (sooner, if you like).