Do Platy/swords Eat Cory Eggs?

[fishnovice]

In the tank with the corries who have just laid eggs I also have two very big female platy (or swords) who are heavily pregnant with dark gravid spots and almost squared off. Planned to keep them with the corries til they gave birth as I have angelfish in the community livebearers tank so newborn fry won't stand a chance there.
DILEMMA -should I transfer platy to livebearers tank where fry will be eaten OR keep them in with corries till babies are born and risk platy eating cory eggs.
1. Do platy eat cory eggs stuck on glass or cory fry?
2. How long do cory eggs take to hatch assuming they are fertile?
3. Should I remove cory eggs or fry or leave them with parents? I've never had cories before and these are my first cory eggs

 

[Inchworm]

Hi fishnovice

Yes, the platys will probably eat the eggs and/or fry. Some corys will eat their own eggs but most of them don't. Once the eggs hatch and the tiny fry drop to the ground most corys will eat them. They might not realize what they are doing. In their natural habitat, they will probably be nowhere near them at that time.

It will take 3-4 days for them to hatch. I suggest moving them to another container and adding an airstone to circulate the water over them until they hatch. This way you will have time to prepare a place for them. Just roll the eggs off the glass and onto your finger. Quickly reverse the process and transfer them to the side of a small container. (A deli container will do if it is clean and partially filled with tank water.) If they are too fresh they will break. If you waited too long they are apt to float away instead of sticking to your finger.

 

[Harlequins]

My livebearers when i had them were terrors for eating any cory eggs.

Good luck with your eggs

 

[fishnovice]

I've taken your advice and removed the cory eggs with my finger. A few fell off but managed to save most of them. They are now in parents tank but safe in one of those floating fry cages which i've fixed near the filter outlet for max circulation. No more eggs visible but some corries (Both species) are very fat, presuably females full of eggs so I should have more eggs soon -fingers crossed!

What shall I do with cory fry when they hatch -keep them in that fry cage? I don;t have room for any more tanks, currently have 8 including cory hospital tank and prison for unwanted CAE who's too dangerous to put with angels, livebearers or gourami

Finally, how big are newly hatched cory fry AND what do they eat? I have some finely ground fry food which I have reared livebearer fry on successfully including newborn endlers. May also have some First bites I was given but never used.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi fishnovice

I know some people have raised a few corys in breeding nets until they were big enough to put into their tanks, but even a small tank would be better. They need a clean substrate and lots of food and water changes.

Your fry will be absorbing their yolk sacs for the first day or two. Then, if you have a small tank, you can rinse one of your filters over them. They will eat the micro organisms in it. After that, First Bites would be a better choice than food for the much bigger livebearers. They can also eat microworms (if you can get them) or baby brine shrimp. In a few weeks, as soon as they can physically manage it, they can eat anything full grown corys can. I like to move them up to finely shaved blackworms and bits of Hikari sinking wafers.

Good luck with them.