My Orange Lasers Laid Eggs,

[cometcattle]

I had moved my three Orange Lasers (2M,1F) into their own 20g tank about 2 weeks ago, and after the 2nd water change, I noticed eggs today.

1. Are breeding these fish the exact same as breeding "regular" Cory aeneus? I ask because I can't find much info on breeding the "Lasers", and I'm pretty sure these were wild caught from Peru.

2. Should I be removing the parents? Do these fish usually eat their eggs? Will leaving the light off help, or does that not matter?

3. Would covering the filter (AC 200 (50) HOB) intake with a nylon work, or do I absolutely need a sponge filter for the baby corys?

4. My temp is about 70 -71F, is this too low? If the eggs were to hatch, should i be slowly raising the temp?

5. How often do Lasers lay eggs? If these eggs don't hatch, I'd like to be better prepared the next time they breed.

Thank you.

 

[Barracuda518]

I had moved my three Orange Lasers (2M,1F) into their own 20g tank about 2 weeks ago, and after the 2nd water change, I noticed eggs today.

1. Are breeding these fish the exact same as breeding "regular" Cory aeneus? I ask because I can't find much info on breeding the "Lasers", and I'm pretty sure these were wild caught from Peru.

2. Should I be removing the parents? Do these fish usually eat their eggs? Will leaving the light off help, or does that not matter?

3. Would covering the filter (AC 200 (50) HOB) intake with a nylon work, or do I absolutely need a sponge filter for the baby corys?

4. My temp is about 70 -71F, is this too low? If the eggs were to hatch, should i be slowly raising the temp?

5. How often do Lasers lay eggs? If these eggs don't hatch, I'd like to be better prepared the next time they breed.

Thank you.

1). Dont know, I havent started spawning mine yet. Im guessing its the same as the others.

2). I would remove the parents. They will probably eat the eggs and it would be easier to keep the water
cleaner. It will also allow the fry to eat more and grow faster.

3). I always take the filter out after the eggs have hatched. I put an airstone in the tank to keep oxygen in
in the water. I do daily water changes to keep the water clean. I put a sponge filter in after a couple of
weeks after the fry have grown some.

4). The higher the temperature, the faster the eggs will hatch. I keep mine at 74-75F.

5). Dont know, I havent started spawing mine yet, but plan on it one day.

Good luck and keep us updated. Here is a link where Inchworm taught me how to raise the fry. It might help you:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=115010&hl=

 

[Inchworm]

Congratulations, cometcattle The lasers do spawn in aquariums, but it is quite an accomplishment to have them do it. Mine haven't spawned yet either.

Did you do anything to encourage them, or was it spontaneous?

I agree with the advice Barracuda518 gave you. Why not set up another tank and move the filter into it? Perhaps the corys will spawn again soon if you do. You will surely be able to sell all of them you can raise.

Some corys eat their eggs and others do not, but you will need to remove the parents before the fry hatch because they will eat them. Do you have microworms to feed the fry? If not, it would be a good idea to get a culture started right away. They are highly nutritious food for the little fry.

Once you move the parents out, I would suggest slowly raising the temperature to around 74-75 degrees. This will help the eggs hatch and water a little warmer than normal is good for the tiny fry.

If they were mine, I would raise them exactly like the C. aeneus bronze or albino. Lots of good food and daily water changes will help them grow up strong and healthy.

Good luck with hatching and raising them. Please keep us updated on their progress.

 

[cometcattle]

Thank you Barracuda518 and Inchworm.

Barracuda518 - that is a great thread, I will definitely refer to it.

Inchworm - I had moved them from a community tank that was at 78 - 79F, to their own tank, about 2 weeks ago. then slowly dropped the temp to about 70 - 71F. When I did the 40% water changes, I lowered the temp to about 68F, but left the heater set at 71F. After the second water change, I noticed the eggs. I had been feeding them Hikari frozen bloodworms and Hikari sinking carnivore pellets since I moved them. I counted about 54 eggs.

Since I don't have a microworm culture and I need to sort out some tank space, I'll probably wait until their next spawn to remove the adults. I would definitely love to raise these beautiful fish. I know a few LFS that would give me store credit for the fish I can't keep.

I will keep everyone updated.

 

[jollysue]

Congrats on achieving the spawn, comet!

 

[cometcattle]

Thank you, jollysue.

I've noticed that all three seem to swim right over the eggs, which have been laid entirely on the glass. Most are concentrated near the filter intake, but about 12 are on the front glass of the tank, where the stream of water hits from my HOB.

This is an interesting article I found on PlanetCatfish.

I also heard someone say these are related closer to Cory Melanotaenia, than the aeneus.

 

[Inchworm]

I also heard someone say these are related closer to Cory Melanotaenia, than the aeneus.

Hi cometcattle

There is speculation to that effect, but until the scientists make it official, we still think of them as C. aeneus. According to my observations of their behavior and appearance, the green lazers remind me more of the C. melanotaenia than the orange ones do. There's a lot more to it than that, of course.

 

[cometcattle]

I also heard someone say these are related closer to Cory Melanotaenia, than the aeneus.

Hi cometcattle

There is speculation to that effect, but until the scientists make it official, we still think of them as C. aeneus. According to my observations of their behavior and appearance, the green lazers remind me more of the C. melanotaenia than the orange ones do. There's a lot more to it than that, of course.

As a matter of fact, they were specifically the green lasers that were the person mentioned.