Eggs!

[LisaLQ]

My cories have just laid eggs in my big community tank, and I want to save them - what do I do? I have a spare 2ft tank set up, how do I get the eggs out, what temp do they need, what filtration etc - I have no idea what I'm doing but this is the fisrt time they've spawned and I really want to save them!

The tank has a power filter, which I can remove, air stone and a light covering of gravel. What do I do with the eggs - they're on the glass of the big tank, hubby's going to attempt to remove them now - but do we lay them on the gravel or on a rock or what? Just plonk them in?

 

[LisaLQ]

Update - hubby got the eggs out, he collected them in a glass, but they're so sticky he didn't want to push them back out, so we've laid the glass in the tank near an air stone. That ok? I'm guessing this batch wont hatch as we had no planning - but it's definitely confirmed what I want to do with my 2ft tank

We've left the little power filter on (it's the one that comes with the Rena 60l tank - a Filstar 1 I think) for now, but if that's wrong, let me know and I'll turn it back off. I'll do water changes to keep the tank clean - as we had no prior warning, it had two 1" JDs and a baby plec in - they've been moved to my main tank but the water in the 2ft could do with a change. How much shall I do?

 

[Coryologist]

Update - hubby got the eggs out, he collected them and we've laid the glass in the tank near an air stone. That ok?
Hi LiasLQ. That sounds good, so far.

I'm guessing this batch wont hatch as we had no planning.
Well, if the eggs are fertile and do not develop fungus, I'd expect at least a few wigglers, in a few days. Best to prepare by getting a "first food" ready.

We've left the little power filter on but if that's wrong, let me know and I'll turn it back off.
I would remove the power filter and replace with a sponge filter. I would recommend one that attaches to the side of the glass. The ones that rest on the bottom can easily crush a wiggler. Additionally, they manage to not sit flush enough to just make make it possible for mung to accumulate under it.

I'll do water changes to keep the tank clean. How much shall I do?
Well, you talk about your tank as 2 ft. We would need to know the capacity in gallons to give you a good answer. In a 10 U.S. G. tank I recommend 35% daily. If you are using a 2.5 G. tank, then you might want to replace up to 75% of the water. Make sure your replacement water is from the same seasoned source. A water change of that size can kill all the fry if the water parameters are much different. That goes for temperature, also.

All of the questions that you still have can be found on this site by doing a search and if you google "corydoras+fry" you wil find more information than you will ever be able to read. Good luck. - Frank

 

[LisaLQ]

The tank is 15g, 60L. I cant get hold of a foam filter at the moment (it'd mean ordering offline and my paypal/card aren't working), so if anyone's reading with a spare one in the West Yorkshire area that could drop one off - give me a pm! Failing that - are there any other ways of getting round that? More water changes, home made filter or something etc?

When you say water from the same seasoned source, are we talking about tap water (with dechlor) or are you meaning taking it from my other tank? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose? Food's not a problem, I have liquifry somewhere for them to start on.

She laid loads more, so we removed them with a razor blade, and stuck them to the side of the 2ft tank, about 2" off the bottom. That sound ok?

I have a spare 3ft tank for the fry should they hatch, as I read the 2ft wont be big enough, it'll just mean setting it up if they hatch and moving them over when they're ready.

 

[Coryologist]

The tank is 15g, 60L.
Then I would go with the 25-35% daily.

I cant get hold of a foam filter at the moment. Failing that - are there any other ways of getting round that? More water changes, home made filter or something etc?
You can use a box filter until they hatch. When they do, you would need to wrap the filter in pantyhose, which sort of defeats the purpose of a box filter. This is the problem when you get eggs unexpectedly. It's difficult to successfully hatch and raise them, if you are not prepared. Even using a sponge filter, it should be one that has been well seasoned and is loadied with beneficial bacteria. Plopping a new one in the tank is better than nothing, but not much better.

When you say water from the same seasoned source, are we talking about tap water (with dechlor) or are you meaning taking it from my other tank?
However you do your water changes is up to your source. I have well water, so I don't worry about chlorine. If you use tap, now, that's fine, but aged water is always a safer bet.

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose?
Not if done properly, but again, you have to be set-up beforehand for it to be done properly.

Food's not a problem, I have liquifry somewhere for them to start on.
Uh, OK, but be very careful using that stuff as a little goes a very long way and nothing will foul your tank quicker. I don't think there's anything worse you can use, but again, if you're not prepared, it's better than nothing.

She laid loads more, so we removed them with a razor blade, and stuck them to the side of the 2ft tank, about 2" off the bottom. That sound ok?
That's fine, just keep that airstone close by, especially if the eggs are close to the bottom.

I have a spare 3ft tank for the fry should they hatch, as I read the 2ft wont be big enough, it'll just mean setting it up if they hatch and moving them over when they're ready.
They won't be ready for quite awhile. The less you mess with them, the better off they will be. - Frank

 

[Barracuda518]

Congratulations on the eggs

What kind of cories are these?

 

[LisaLQ]

Just aeneus, but I couldn't sit there and watch my angels eat them

Coryologist - I'm trying to make the best out of a tough situation - if they dont hatch/survive, then that's life, but I'm certainly not going to beat myself up over it because I dont have certain things on hand for situations like this. I didn't plan this, I just wanted to give it a go while I had the opportunity - therefore I didn't have a sponge filter handy (I have no need for them in either my plec or community tanks - they're neither use nor ornament), I only have liquifry for now - but have read that's fine - along with crumbled up flake food, I cant get to the LFS immediately because I'm currently not very well - what else can I do? I dont think there's any need to speak to me as if I'm some lesser mortal for not having the full cory breeding set up at hand - we're not all prepared for these things, or made of money to get them in the blink of an eye

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Some great advice there Frank .

Breeding nets are maybe a good option in existing tanks with existing filters. Great for when one gets those unexpected cory eggs. That's how we hatch and raise our cory fry for the first 10-14 days before releasing them into the tank. Although our tank does have two sponge filters.

I agree that Liquifry seems to be a major killer with fry. They definitely don't benefit from commercial foods and you get a better growth and survival rate with live foods, such as microworms. I know it's difficult to get hold of these and I bought a culture off ebay. They only take about 3-4 days before the culture is up and running, by which time the fry will be old enough to eat. And microworms live for about 24 hours in water, so they don't pollute as easily as commercial foods. Their egg sacs feed them for the first 3-4 days. Feeding before will just pollute the water.

 

[LisaLQ]

My problem is I cant get to the LFS and I cant order offline like I said. I guess the general concensus is I should have left them for the angels

In which case, we'll just play it by ear, and if/when I decide to do it in future, I'll have these things handy.

 

[NEONCORY]

You can always start the green water. The frys won't need to be fed for few days. It depends on the temperature, speicy(sp) .,etc. You can start infusioa by put the water in the jar(pint or so) with banana skin or bruised lettuce. I'm sure there are many other way to do. And sit it on the sunny window sil without lid. And few days it will get cloudy and another day or so it will clear out . Then it is ready to use.
Or quickest micro food for the frys is little dirty looking squeezed water from your matured filter. Just get the filter material from the other tank running and swish it in the parents tank water. It may look dirty water but there are enough micro organism in it. And fry can eat them. However, just like anything else don't use too much to foul the water.
You may try the brine shrimp, they should hatch in 24~36 hrs. You could use hard boiled egg york but this is just like liquor fry food so denger of fouling water.
Personally, I feed my Cory frys walter worms(smaller microworm I heard) and vinegar eels. Although I tend to use vinegar eels to tetra frys more.
And about the sponge filter, I didn't have any until recently. I use the air bubble from air pump and water change. Or corner filter. Or I even used the HOB power filter but I always made sure to cover the inlet with sponge, floss or nylon stocking. But I also wash those thing with old fish water before I use. Most likely water from the parents tank. Just in case, those material had contact with detergent is not good news for the little frys.
Although I never had the spawn of 100's since I only have many spawn of Pandas and they only lay ~30 eggs or so. And I can collect those eggs and hatch in the small container with just air bubbles from the air pump.
Anyway, good luck with 'em eggs.

 

[Coryologist]

Just aeneus, but I couldn't sit there and watch my angels eat them

Coryologist - I'm trying to make the best out of a tough situation - if they dont hatch/survive, then that's life, but I'm certainly not going to beat myself up over it because I dont have certain things on hand for situations like this. I didn't plan this, I just wanted to give it a go while I had the opportunity - therefore I didn't have a sponge filter handy (I have no need for them in either my plec or community tanks - they're neither use nor ornament), I only have liquifry for now - but have read that's fine - along with crumbled up flake food, I cant get to the LFS immediately because I'm currently not very well - what else can I do? I dont think there's any need to speak to me as if I'm some lesser mortal for not having the full cory breeding set up at hand - we're not all prepared for these things, or made of money to get them in the blink of an eye

Hi. I'm sorry if my post came across that way. It was not my intent. I was just trying to illustrate how difficult is is to help someone, when they don't the the needed materials at hand. It's as frustarting for the person trying to help as it is for the person looking for help. That's all. - Frank

 

[puddle_inc]

yeah, go ahead and get the first food ready. i don't know if they can eat luqiifry because i'm not a cory expert, but i think they would like new born brine shrimp.

 

[LisaLQ]

No point getting the food ready, they grew a lovely coat of fungus through the night. I'll be cleaning the tank out later, should have left them for my angels like I said lol.

Never mind.

 

[MHunt]

Don't worry if it's the first batch, i only have one survivor from the first spawning of around 100 eggs. The second spawning however, i only saved 50 eggs ish, and most have hatched. I now have 50 ish strong fry in a little (I think it's a 1 gal and i haven't counted less than 40 fry yet!) tank with a little sponge filter. Here's a link to my thread and you can see what's been working for me so if they spawn again (If they have once they probably will again, mine have just put their third clutch in the tank but i'm going to leave them to the luck of the tank) you will have a better idea of what to do. I know people have said that liquifry is a poor first food for fish but in my albeit limited experience so far it hasn't done them any harm, and baby brine shrimp are also perfectly ok for cory's. Mine eat as much as they can so they can't move almost!

Good luck if you get any more eggs, it's loads of fun trying to breed them properly, my only problem is what I am going to do with all of mine. I can feel a thread in the buy sell swap forum coming on in a couple of weeks!