Putting this project together over the last while, been preparing it. Going to be documenting my process here, for my own future reference and for others who may be interested. No telling at this point of posting if the end result will be successful, as anything can happen with fry before reaching large enough size to move into a community setup.
Anywhere, I've been prepping for about 1.5 months now to get even to this point.
Species:
Hemigrammus erythrozonus (glowlight tetra)
Supplies:
Distilled water
Empty jugs
Reptile grade coconut fiber brick
Oak leaves/sticks
Water Lettuce
Sußwassertang
Air Pump
Heater
Digital Thermometer
Sponge filter w/cycled media
Vinegar eels
Artemia and hatching jar
Drip acclimating tubing and container to transfer fish
Breeder net for later
Small aquarium (I am using a 2.5 gallon as that is what I have on hand currently, for the early days I prefer to keep newborn fry in small enclosures to keep them closest to food sources, upgrading as they outgrow it)
I acquired a group of 8 adults, already at mature size upon purchase. For the first month of owning them, they have been treated with fenbendozole laced food to deworm them as a precaution. They have done well with this and have been in fantastic shape.
A male from the main group:
A female from the main group:
They're suitable for my tap water (pH 7, GH 5°, KH 3°) and they'd have likely spawned just fine in my tap, however, I wanted to aim for the best hatch rate possible for this species, so I set up their spawning tank to reflect that.
I used pure distilled water from the grocery store to have negligible GH and KH. To lower the pH. The pH is unreadable off of my API master test kit unfortunately so cannot give an exact number, though is below 6.
Added some of the coconut fiber brick to the spawning tank as substrate to lower the pH, causing a very dark tannins release.
In separate jugs of distilled water, I also added coconut fiber to them to reduce the pH on those for the same water parameters to prepare for water changes once fry are involved.
Added oak leaves and sticks as shelter and infusoria source.
Put in filter and heater. Monitored temperature to ensure it was where I needed it.
I let this sit for the entire time I had the adults. Letting this sit has enabled the water to mature better and the organic materials to grow a sustainable infusoria population as a first food for the fry.
The day of moving a conditioned pair of adults over, I added Sußwassertang and water lettuce to use as spawning mops.
To move the adults, I netted out the fattest female and a male from the community tank and put them in a bowl with a bit of the water from the community. I then slowly drip acclimated them for an hour before moving them into the spawning tank. I moved them over during the afternoon of October 19th 2024.
The adult pair was left in peace to adjust to their temporary vacation, though with how dark the water is, they are difficult to observe.
The following morning, the day I am currently starting this journal, there were eggs observed among the roots of the water lettuce.
Later this evening, the adults will be removed from the spawning tank and drip acclimated back into the community tank to join the rest of the adults. With luck, in 24-48 hours, I shall observe some fry beginning to hatch. A few days later they should be free swimming.
Anywhere, I've been prepping for about 1.5 months now to get even to this point.
Species:
Hemigrammus erythrozonus (glowlight tetra)
Supplies:
Distilled water
Empty jugs
Reptile grade coconut fiber brick
Oak leaves/sticks
Water Lettuce
Sußwassertang
Air Pump
Heater
Digital Thermometer
Sponge filter w/cycled media
Vinegar eels
Artemia and hatching jar
Drip acclimating tubing and container to transfer fish
Breeder net for later
Small aquarium (I am using a 2.5 gallon as that is what I have on hand currently, for the early days I prefer to keep newborn fry in small enclosures to keep them closest to food sources, upgrading as they outgrow it)
I acquired a group of 8 adults, already at mature size upon purchase. For the first month of owning them, they have been treated with fenbendozole laced food to deworm them as a precaution. They have done well with this and have been in fantastic shape.
A male from the main group:
A female from the main group:
They're suitable for my tap water (pH 7, GH 5°, KH 3°) and they'd have likely spawned just fine in my tap, however, I wanted to aim for the best hatch rate possible for this species, so I set up their spawning tank to reflect that.
I used pure distilled water from the grocery store to have negligible GH and KH. To lower the pH. The pH is unreadable off of my API master test kit unfortunately so cannot give an exact number, though is below 6.
Added some of the coconut fiber brick to the spawning tank as substrate to lower the pH, causing a very dark tannins release.
In separate jugs of distilled water, I also added coconut fiber to them to reduce the pH on those for the same water parameters to prepare for water changes once fry are involved.
Added oak leaves and sticks as shelter and infusoria source.
Put in filter and heater. Monitored temperature to ensure it was where I needed it.
I let this sit for the entire time I had the adults. Letting this sit has enabled the water to mature better and the organic materials to grow a sustainable infusoria population as a first food for the fry.
The day of moving a conditioned pair of adults over, I added Sußwassertang and water lettuce to use as spawning mops.
To move the adults, I netted out the fattest female and a male from the community tank and put them in a bowl with a bit of the water from the community. I then slowly drip acclimated them for an hour before moving them into the spawning tank. I moved them over during the afternoon of October 19th 2024.
The adult pair was left in peace to adjust to their temporary vacation, though with how dark the water is, they are difficult to observe.
The following morning, the day I am currently starting this journal, there were eggs observed among the roots of the water lettuce.
Later this evening, the adults will be removed from the spawning tank and drip acclimated back into the community tank to join the rest of the adults. With luck, in 24-48 hours, I shall observe some fry beginning to hatch. A few days later they should be free swimming.
it sucks, but hey I can try to improve things ever so little as far as the fish hobby goes.
