C. Schultzie (black) Have Spawned Again!

[Inchworm]

This morning, on another thread, jollysue said:

Inchworm has to share how she spawns her blacks.

We, that is the fish and I, are most happy to oblige.


First, I took them out of one of my cory communities and moved them to a 10 gallon tank of their own. They will occupy the tank on my kitchen counter closest to the sink. It's a good place for fry or fish that need frequent water changes. For those of you who haven't seen them, here's the picture of them during the transfer on Sunday, Oct 7:

On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights they had water changes of about 40%. I used cooler water from the tap, but since the tanks are only about 72 degrees F., it didn't lower the temperature very much. During this time I fed them morning and evening with live blackworms (on Monday) and frozen bloodworms the rest of the week.

This morning I found them at it:

You might see some of the eggs that have been placed in 3 of the corners. At the time I left the house they were still going about it, and I expect to have some more pictures this evening. At that time I'll try to get some close ups of the eggs.

Please wish me luck with this batch!

 

[kewskills]

congrats and good luck

 

[Coryologist]

Please wish me luck with this batch!

Good luck, Inchworm. I have some 2-day old wigglers. About 30 from 300+ eggs. I'm hoping half, at least, survive. I hope you get a good hatch. - Frank

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Great news Inchworm

Good luck and look forward to more updates and picks. Gorgeous bunch you have there. I take it the two massive fish are the girls.

 

[Barracuda518]

Congratulations. I know you are proud.

Good luck with the eggs

 

[Inchworm]

Thanks for your good wishes, everyone!

Just as a little background, this is only the second time these, once prolific, fish spawned since late last fall. The first time was at the start of August. It was a big batch, with a good percentage hatching. Unfortunately, I lost all but a handful of them at 3 weeks of age. That day I added sand and a brand new sponge filter to the tank of healthy fry. By evening they were all dead or dying. I rescued the remaining fry and moved them to another little tank with a few young fish. I still don't understand what happened to cause this disaster, but I will never again make such a drastic change to the environment of such young fry.

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Hi Coryologist

I hope your little fellows all make it!

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Hi AlexAndCarmen

Yep! The big ones are the girls. Here they are from a different angle:

The fish with them is a C. nattereri.

 

[jollysue]

Outstanding! And congrats, Gramdma!

I have several times lost fry by making sudden changes in their envirironment. Now I leave the fry in the breeding net until they are ready to spawn!

Not quite, really, but I do wait until they are quite juvie fry.

This is just great! I am sure it is a welcome home gift for coming back to share with us all! They want you to help us through our blunders to further the race of Blacks and spread them near and far.

 

[Inchworm]

This is just great! I am sure it is a welcome home gift for coming back to share with us all! They want you to help us through our blunders to further the race of Blacks and spread them near and far.

What a nice thing to say! Thanks, jollysue!

 

[jollysue]

Where do you guys get your white sand?!!! I finally found some, put it in all my tanks, and then found out it was marine sand!

Can I order it someplace?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi jollysue

It's just play sand from Home Depot. It does seem a little whiter than other play sand I've bought there in the past, though.

 

[Inchworm]

Here are a few pictures I managed to take this morning while I was getting ready to go to work:

T-position:

Again:

Mama cory placing eggs on the glass:

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When I arrived home this afternoon, I found a smaller spawn than usual with some of the eggs having already been picked off. They are not usually egg eaters, so I will have to wait and see what this might mean for them.

I'm cleaning up the tank now and will post pictures of the eggs later on.

 

[Inchworm]

After many useless pictures, I finally got some that actually show all of the eggs. I'm sorry for the poor quality, but it seems like it's the best I can do.

Front Right

Left Side

Back Right

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Great pics Inchworm.

Loving the "T"ing pics. Really great to see them in action. Those girls are huge in comparison. I finally got hold of 6 a couple months back. They're still babies but growing so fast by the day. You're lucky getting such clear pics of them. Mine are so fast and the camera battles to focus on them.

Keep us updated.

 

[jollysue]

Wonderful thread!

Great pics!

 

[ICEEGRL]

Absolutely beautiful fish!!!
I hope they all live so you can share with us!
Keep us up on how it is going. I can't wait to see the little ones.