Breeding Corydoras?

[cooledwhip]

I've tried breeding corydoras for a while now but I have never had success.. I HAVE had success with much harder species ironically, like GBR's and Rainbowfish species. I have 2 schools of different species of cory. 6 of the Green emerald corydoras, and 7 of the Sterbai corydoras. I really want to breed both species at some point. I have a spare 20 gallon long tank I plan on setting up and filling it up about a quarter way and letting them do it in there. Any other suggestions on how I should get them to breed? I have no idea on tank params or tank setup. Please help

Also, only answers from experienced people PLEASE. I don't want someone going up and googling information and having no experience with this topic... anyone could do that. Thanks

 

[nic1]

My corys spawn after a cool water change.
They have been together for a while now in a group of 11 and its always the same female who spawns.
I have a 300L and change about 1/3 of the water every sunday, I use slightly cooler water (not too much of a temp change or it shocks my tetras) and then again on a Thursday, this usually triggers all the corys to get jiggy.

 

[cooledwhip]

My corys spawn after a cool water change.
They have been together for a while now in a group of 11 and its always the same female who spawns.
I have a 300L and change about 1/3 of the water every sunday, I use slightly cooler water (not too much of a temp change or it shocks my tetras) and then again on a Thursday, this usually triggers all the corys to get jiggy.

Do you condition with live food?

Do I need lots of hiding spots for them or can I set them up in a half filled bare bottom tank with a small sprinkle of sand on the bottom?

Also what are your water temps of the regular tank before the WC?

 

[NickAu]

What you need is a nice table for 2 some mood lighting a nice bottle of wine and some Barry White. Oh yeah.

 

[nic1]

Haha!! Along with a bit of Barry White, I feed them on a variety of foods, I do this regularly rather than conditioning them.
They get normal flake and sinking catfish pellets, tubifex fried worms, blood worms (live) fresh veg and algae wafers.
The tank is heavily planted mainly in the middle of the tank, with crystal wort covering the surface, drift wood and a big piece of slate. I don't think they need hiding places, if they have had enough of each other they usually go their separate ways- but the fry may benefit.
They do mainly lay their eggs on the glass on the upper half of the tank (I have a tall tank) so I think fill the tank up to the top.
The temp of my tank is 24 degrees, and after a water change it decreases by 2 degrees, the corys go mad for each other even with this slight change.
I also have sand in this tank, and it's probably best to have sand in your tanks also, although some people argue it's easier to clean the bottom without sand-but corys love sand so I always keep it in.
If you was to set up the 20gallon then I would just fill it with sand and some plants so there's some microorganism a for the dry to eat, the corys will fell more secure with a more natural environment.
Water stats on my tank:
pH 6.4
Nitrates 5-10
Temp 24 degrees-
it is also next to the window so a lot of sunlight shines on to it, and thinking about it, they like to lay their eggs on the cleaning magnets that are closer to the top of the tank.

 

[nic1]

Tubifex dried not fried!

 

[cooledwhip]

Ok cool. I will put some sand but I can't really plant any plants. I have lots of moss I can t hrow in though. Would that work? It seems so easy for everyone else but I've always had trouble. Thanks

 

[cooledwhip]

Also how important is light? I can't afford to buy another $40 light for the 20 gallon I plan on breeding them in. I know other fish need like 12/12 hour cycles of on/off. Do cories need a light schedule? or will ambient room light work. Thanks.

 

[nic1]

Java Moss is what I used in my fry tank, tons of it, and also when they were about 3 days old I took some mulm from the main filter and put it in their tank, they pick off loads of good stuff from it, raised corys before this and they didn't grow as fast as the mulm cories.
Light... I have mine on for 8 hours a day, but it's mainly for the plants to grow- I don't think it's that important in a fry tank, they will still hatch if everything else is ok and day light should do.