Cory Eggs! How Long Do I Leave Them?

[eaglesaquarium]

Don't forget the cooler water change, especially as a low pressure front comes through... That will REALLY get them going.

 

[greenmumma141]

Yep!!! I think all the wc's I've been doing lately is what kick-started this whole thing.  We're supposed to get a good rain today, maybe I'll do a small cool water change this morning

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Couldn't hurt.

 

[greenmumma141]

!!!!We have eggs!!!!!!!!    Woke up to a lot of dancing this morning and eggs starting around 11:00 am.  After several breeder net purchases that left me pretty disappointed, I came up with my own little DIY breeder box/mini tank. "Big Mama" was pretty great about laying most of the eggs on leaves this time, so all I had to do was snip them and toss them in the mini tank I'll do a real count later, but Im guessing I've got about 50 eggs in there
 
 
Day 1:

the mini tank
 

close up, you can see the eggs on the leaves
 

Silly Big Mama gave an egg to our snail
 
I was pretty bummed, I wanted to take a video of all the action, but the glare was really bad this morning, you could see me in my bathrobe 

. So the video didn't happen lol. It was pretty fun to watch though, the other smaller females were bustling around, cleaning all the anubias leaves off. And the male kept chasing all the pesky barbs off! 

 

[Blondielovesfish]

That's so exciting!!! Good luck to you and let's hope these ones survive!!!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Coryman (aka Ian Fuller - a leading coryologist) suggests using a very similar method of hatching the eggs.
 

3. How do I hatch them?
There are several ways to consolidate a spawning, but it is spawnings in community aquaria that initiate the most requests for help. The easiest only requires a small shallow, 1.5 litre plastic container, something like a sandwich box is ideal, and an air stone. The container is three quarters filled with water and floated on the surface of the main aquarium, the eggs can be removed from the aquarium sides with the aid of a clean razor blade and put into the container, where eggs have been placed on plant leaves the leaves can be cut from the plant and placed into the container. The air stone ensures that the water is both fully oxygenated continually moving, which helps to prevent damaging particles from settling on and contaminating the eggs. At this stage one or two drops of a propriety anti fungal preparation added to the water in the container can also help to prevent fungal spores from attacking the eggs. If medication were used then I would recommend that 50% water changes be made to the container each day for the first three days. Use replacement water from the main aquarium, this will dilute the medication in the container, so that by the time the fry hatch the water will be the same as the main aquarium

 
 
Link to the full post. (from Planetcatfish)

 

[snazy]

Great stuff. The best of luck.
Did you make some holes at the bottom?

 

[greenmumma141]

Thanks for the info Eagles! Good to know I'm going about this the right way
 
Snazy, I didn't make holes at the bottom, I have some super teeny ones on the sides though... I'm thinking about moving one of my air stones into the container, I just don't have the kind of pump which you can turn down  I would hate for the bubbler to knock the eggs around. What do we think???

I have some Fungus Cure, what would the appropriate dosage for this be?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Ian says one or two drops - I'd stick to one drop - better to underdose than overdose...
 
Try tying a knot in the airline to cut down the force of the bubbles. 

 

[snazy]

Yeah, a knot on the air line will do. I have no clue about the medication though.
Do plenty of water changes when the corys are born, without disturbing them much as they freak out. I haven't used a box with holes on the sides though, not sure if it provides enough circulation between water change times and holes in the bottom will keep the sand healthier too.  Also, remember that without water surface movement there's no oxygen too in the box but I think with proper care they'll be fine. The best of luck and keep us updated.
I probably killed more cory babies by accident than anything else. This includes sucked up by clown loaches, knocked into the tank, taken out on a moss ball and left to dry out, squishing a few...

 

[greenmumma141]

Yeah I squished a few eggs in the mad rush to them from being eaten, oh the irony
 
I have my airstone in the box now, so I feel much better about the circulation. It's on full force and circulating the water well but not moving the eggs at all. Once they hatch, I might try the knot method, thanks for the tip Eagles
 
Once i get the wee ones to bed I'll get a good egg count.
 
Thanks for all the help and advice. You guys are swell

 

[greenmumma141]

73 eggs  

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You're going to need a bigger tank!

 

[greenmumma141]

Eagles, I'm still in the disbelief stage lol. I'll be amazed if I get one baby to make it

 

[This Old Spouse]

I think you have a definite advantage that so many were laid on leaves! I think I might have up to a couple dozen that hatched and are growing at alarming rates. I give a big hats off to my RCS who have been the perfect nursemaids!
 
Good luck!