Black Neon Tetra - Eggs On Glass?

[mark4785]

I'm very perplexed by the sudden appearance of a few hundred small salt-sized dots which have appeared on all of the panes of glass in my aquarium.
 
Here is a picture that I have taken of just one pane of glass:
 

 
 
If somebody can positively identify them as black neon tetra eggs of which are fertilised, what action must I take to safeguard them? The white dots pictured are situated next to some power-heads and are in an aquarium with mature black neon tetras which will eat anything that may wriggle out of the eggs (presuming heavily that they are indeed eggs).
 
 

 

[fluttermoth]

I can tell you they're not eggs from you black neons; they scatter eggs in plants and don't stick them to the glass at all.

 

[mark4785]

I can tell you they're not eggs from you black neons; they scatter eggs in plants and don't stick them to the glass at all.

 
Ok, well the only other species of fish in the aquarium are Corydoras cat fish, but I don't know how they could have deposited eggs that high up on the aquarium glass.
 
Could I be dealing with something more sinister here?

 

[greenmumma141]

Cories are known for sticking their eggs to aquarium glass. Im willing to bed that's where the eggs are coming from

 

[mark4785]

Cories are known for sticking their eggs to aquarium glass. Im willing to bed that's where the eggs are coming from

 
But how would they have gotten the eggs 30-35cm above the lowest region of the tank that they never leave?
 
If they are eggs, do I need to set-up a separate aquarium with specialist filter and transfer the eggs to that new aquarium? I guess this is a dumb question since there are 2x power-heads next to the eggs which are very hazardous.

 

[fluttermoth]

Corydoras actually breed in a really interesting way.
 
The females lay eggs, then pick them up with their pelvic fins and carry them to a flat surface that they stick them onto. It is very common for them to stick their eggs high up in the tank.
 
Yes, if you want to raise the fry you would probably need a separate, heated and filtered tank, but you never know; I often have cory fry survive in my community tanks. Not many, for sure, but the odd one or two pop up every now and again (and I have plecs in those tanks that, you would think, would make short work of any eggs!)

 

[mark4785]

Corydoras actually breed in a really interesting way.
 
The females lay eggs, then pick them up with their pelvic fins and carry them to a flat surface that they stick them onto. It is very common for them to stick their eggs high up in the tank.
 
Yes, if you want to raise the fry you would probably need a separate, heated and filtered tank, but you never know; I often have cory fry survive in my community tanks. Not many, for sure, but the odd one or two pop up every now and again (and I have plecs in those tanks that, you would think, would make short work of any eggs!)

 
My goodness, they have been busy behind my back haven't they? They have covered every pane of glass with eggs which I've never seen them swim to.
 
Are there any ways of telling if the eggs are fertilised and do you know the length of time that it takes for them to hatch? 
 
I do have a spare 20 litre aquarium that I'd be willing to use if I have fertilised eggs but obviously won't want to go through the effort of setting up a whole new aquarium if the eggs are unfertilised.

 

[blackops]

what type of corys are they

 

[mark4785]

what type of corys are they

 
I'm not totally sure. They are grey coloured with brownish thins. I think they can be referred to has the armoured Corydoras.
 
The eggs are around 0.5mm in diameter (very small) and the Neon Tetras are swimming next to some of them as though they are protecting them.

 

[fluttermoth]

Black neons don't protect eggs, even their own.
 
The eggs, if they're fertilised, will soon develop a slightly translucent pinky colour with a dot in the middle; if they're infertile, they'll go opaque white, and possibly fluffy with fungus.
 
If you only have a 20l tank available, I wouldn't bother. That wouldn't be big enough to raise any fry properly, IMO. They'll spawn again (and again, and again!), so you can always set yourself up with a breeding tank in the future

 

[greenmumma141]

Im guessing you have green cories (c. aeneus)

 

[mark4785]

Im guessing you have green cories (c. aeneus)

 
I will get a picture of them for you. The reason I don't know their exact name is because I never intended to stock my aquarium with Corydoras. I was in my LFS and noticed how the Cories were filtering the fine sand through their gills for food and thought that this would be a good asset for my own aquarium since my German Blue Rams hated any detritus/ammonia build up in the sand. The only thing I did know about Cories at this time was that they would be compatible with the tank water chemistry.
 
I will get that picture after doing the water-change, which is due today.

Black neons don't protect eggs, even their own.
 
The eggs, if they're fertilised, will soon develop a slightly translucent pinky colour with a dot in the middle; if they're infertile, they'll go opaque white, and possibly fluffy with fungus.
 
If you only have a 20l tank available, I wouldn't bother. That wouldn't be big enough to raise any fry properly, IMO. They'll spawn again (and again, and again!), so you can always set yourself up with a breeding tank in the future

 
Thanks for this information. They have been white for 2 days now.

 

[greenmumma141]

Good to know that your cories are happy enough to breed

 

[mark4785]

I think I may have the following species of Corydoras: http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=470 .
 
It does state there that their eggs would be 2mm in diameter; I think the eggs I have are much smaller.
 
 
I took a quick picture of the corydoras I have after my W/C:
 http/img823.imageshack.us/img823/8748/dsc05909jm.jpg

 

[mark4785]

Good to know that your cories are happy enough to breed

 
I think I have either 2x female or 2x male Corydoras because their dorsal fins are the same size. Apparently, their is some difference in size of this thin between sexes.
 
So the eggs will most likely be unfertilised unless I just haven't noticed the 0.05mm size difference in the dorsal fine haha