Albino Cats

[njomarcum]

My albino cats laid eggs a week ago, now they are gone. They are in a tank by themselves. How long will it take to grow big enough to see.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi njomarcum

Corys are tiny when they first hatch, but if they are in the tank the easiest way to spot them is often just to stare into there until some little movement catches your eye. At a few days of age, they will still not be very active, but when they are they will often make little darting kind of moves from one place to another.

What do you have in the tank? Did you set it up as a bare bottom breeding tank or does it have gravel, plants, etc.? What kind of filtration - if any - are you using? Are you sure they hatched? Are you feeding them?

 

[njomarcum]

I have them in a 10 gallon by themselves ( I took the female and the two males out afer they spawned. I have an underground filter going right now ( shut the outside filter off). I am feeding them crushed up shrimpellets. I have some artifical plants in it and a power filter on one of the underground tubes. I know some of them hatched. I just can't see them. Would a magnifing glass help.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi njomarcum

A magnifying glass might help you see them, but it is their quick movements that you will see first. Try looking in the corners and along the edges for the first few days. Mine seem to huddle there until they absorbed their egg sacks and get brave enough to leave their tiny brothers and sisters.

I'm a bit concerned about your sanitation in that tank. With an underground filter and gravel (?) bottom, the shrimp pellets will be hard to clean up. Cory fry are very sensitive to water quality and if the uneaten remains of their food are not removed, harmful bacteria are likely to breed rapidly in your tank.

I usually recommend breeding corys in a bare bottomed tank.

Please let me know when you spot them.

 

[njomarcum]

I'm kind of a rookie at this, I am going to take the gravel out next time, but what do I use as a filter without gravel. I saw three babies, they are tiny. What do I feed them if not shrimpellets

 

[Inchworm]

Hi njomarcum

I'm happy to learn that you finally found some fry! There might be more in there too,

For newly hatched fry I like to feed a product called Liquifry. It's a liquid food that can be eaten by very tiny fry. It drops to the bottom where the corys can reach it. There are other similar products available too.

When you are ready to hatch your next batch, you might want to look into culturing some microworms for them. These are very tiny nematodes that grow in a container of oatmeal. They are inexpensive and provide a very nourishing live food for them which they can eat after they are a week or so old.

For now, don't add more shrimp pellets or even other food for a few days. As little as they are, they can find and eat bits already in the tank. There are all kinds of microscopic life in there.

Cleanliness is the next most important thing for you to think about. It's essential, even with a bare bottomed tank, to do daily small water changes. (Once you breed them that way you will be amazed at the uneaten food and waste that accumulates in it.) If you can get any dirt out without disturbing the fry, do it.

Good luck with the babies!

 

[ccg]

njomarcum:

I use a large sponge filter in my 10 gallon fry tank, although I raise guppies, and even then I am a rookie to that. So get a second opinion on that one. They are very cheap and can be made yourself easily, search the DIY threads for it.



Inchworm:

I am interested in "culturing some microworms" myself, can you give me a bit more information on this, or point me in the right direction?!

Thanks!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi ccg

Microworms are very easy to culture and provide a seemingly never ending supply for a very reasonable cost. Here's a link that will give you some more information:

http/www.livefoodcultures.com/microworms.html

And, of course I'll answer any questions that I can.