Albino Cory Eggs

[penguin22]

I have recently found Albino Cory eggs in my 65 ltr tank, they have laid eggs before (so have the sterbai) but none have ever hatched. I have read the pinned article on this topic and I would say mine are more white than beige, so they are probably not fertalised. I have the following questions hope you can help.

1. If there is no male present would a female lay eggs?
2. Does the male fertalise the eggs before or after they are scattered?
3. My definete female is pretty fat right now and seems to be breathing heavily, should I be worried?
4. I have an airstone in my other tank and considered putting it under the eggs as suggested in pinned article but the three albinos are always under the eggs and I dont want to disturb them, what would you do?
5. Can I still do a water change as I dont want to disturb the fish or eggs too much?

Some of these questions may seem stupid to you cory experts especially question 2 but I really dont know, please help I would love to have some baby corys swimming about the tank. Thanks.

 

[jollysue]

Questions are never stupid. Sorry for taking so long to reply. Thank you for reading the pinned topic.

1. yes

2. I don't exactly know.

3. I have seen mine breathe heavily when they are very gravid. But I have only had one female die suddenly w/o a known cause. I have many for many years. I seldom loose Corys. They are in general a very hearty fish and long lived.

4. Corys like air stones. Add a a big one and they will love it.

5. Yes do cool water changes. Be careful not to let the eggs get dry.

If the Corys are still young and have not been breeding long, it may take them awhile to give you many viable eggs. But often 1 or 2 will hatch if the others don't fungus them.

Good luck!

 

[penguin22]

Thanks a lot jollysue, great reply, 2 of the albinos are young and ive had 1 for just over a year, I will add the airstone tomorrow. Havent got too much hope for this batch hatching and its bad news they will lay eggs with no male present. I hope 1 of them is a male but if these dont hatch im pretty sure they will spawn again as they seem pretty happy. Thanks again I will keep my fingers crossed.

 

[jollysue]

The males will be easy to spot as the females mature. But if their ages are relatively similar, you should be able to spot the differences now. The males are much slimmer and usually smaller as well as less bulky.

 

[penguin22]

Thanks again jollysue, I think I have 2 females and a male but not sure. Bad news though just got in from work and before I could add my airstone to the tank the eggs have been eaten. I think that a small pest snail is the culprit although thats a big meal for just him(he was crawling over the remains and is now no longer in the tank). There are about 3 eggs left 2 being white but the other does have a black spot in its centre! I dont hold too much hope for these eggs but will be better prepared next time. I think next time I will move the eggs to a hospital tank, Im pretty determined to breed them now.

 

[jollysue]

If they are in the tank with the adults, any that are not hidden well, may get eaten. Put a net over them or somthing to protect them. I suppose it needs to be something that will hold it's shape...???

Save that black spot egg if you can! Jerryrig some protection--also for the fry when it hatches.

 

[penguin22]

Havent got any kind of net that will fit round eggs and hold its shape but the last 3 eggs are very well hidden on the underside of a leaf. Im quite confident they wont get eaten but I bet they wont hatch either. Next batch of eggs are going straight into a hospital tank with an airstone next to them.