corydoras question??

[a.i.m]

Hi Inchworm
Livefood cultures " what a great link that was cheers!!!"
So my micro worm culture will take about 7 days before its ready.

Ill start tomorrow on the large water changes and see how things start to develop.
Also im going to get a few rearing containers of some sort, any ideas on them or advice?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi a.i.m

You will need at least a 10 gallon tank to rear a batch of cory fry. This is why I suggest setting it up as a spawning tank first, then moving the adults out once they are finished.

By doing it that way, you avoid the risk of damaging the eggs when you move them and you can easily clear the little layer of gravel out and raise them in a bare bottom tank.

Cory fry, even though they are tiny and might seem insignificant in a 10 gallon, need lots of fresh clean water to prevent bacterial infections from setting in and devastating the batch. Even though microworms live for a few days in the water, they are messy and will quickly foul the water if they are not removed. If you do get a regular tank and raise them bare bottomed, you will be amazed at the dirt that accumulates in there.

 

[a.i.m]

So Inchworm would you have this 10gal tank empty except for a hand ful of gravel on the bottom?

i just thought the fish would be a bit reluctant to spawn in a tank that doent resemble their natural conditions.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi a.i.m

C. aeneus are fairly easy to spawn because the condition they are most responsive to is the influx of cool fresh water followed by calm and warm water.

In their natural habitat they spawn shortly after the spring runoffs of water from the nearby mountains cools their streams and rivers. This also causes some amount of turbulence. When it is finished, their water again becomes calm and warmer. An abundance of food appears too, which will feed the new fry.

This is what actually triggers them to spawn. They will already have become fat and healthy from the previous season and when things calm down and become normal, they lay their eggs. Their fry will then have a long season of growing ahead of them before the following spring runoffs swell their rivers and streams. By then, they will have matured and be ready to spawn themselves.

When they are triggered to spawn, they don't care about anything else around them.

 

[a.i.m]

Hi Inchworm

Im so pleased of ALL your posts back to me!!!, im just supprised at your reply, as the corydoras seem so easily frightend in a tank that is FULL of plants, stones and sand that you say they are easy to breed in a tank with just a hand full of gravel.

Well ill keep you updated, but im for sure going to breed the next lot ( either masked corrys or pepperd corrys ) in a tank thats just got a hand full of gravel in!!. Im sure its going to be a nightmare to try and remove the corrys eggs from my tank ( too many plants and stones ) and put them in a rearing 10 gal tank but ill give it my best!!!.

Cheers Inchworm.
Speek to you in the next few days for sure!!!

 

[bigfish]

So a.i.m hows the cory family doing any funny stories to tell?

 

[a.i.m]

So today ive bought another tank. B)

Tank 1 full of sand and plants that ive used to bring the fish into condition.

Tank 2 ( spawning tank )with a couple of plastic plants and a hand full of gravel.

Ive put half of tank 1 water into tank 2 so all water perameters are the same, also tested and matched PH .

Ive put the largest female and male into tank 2.

Both tanks are at 27c at the moment,

Ive done a water change at a slight lower temperature on tank2 and will be leaving the heater off for the night, then turning it back on in the morn.

My micro worm has arrived and in the process of growing larger, and white worms have been put into a peet free compost in an ice cream tub.

Also ive a empty 4ft rearing tank ready to go!!!.

So im ready! well almost, i want to get some brine shrimp hatching aswell soon.

But are the fish ready?
The females are large, and you can clearly see a large dark patch where the eggs are in their stomachs. And the male looks a specimen and in great condition.

The waiting begins.....

 

[Inchworm]

Hi a.i.m

It sounds good to me!

The only thing I would suggest that you do differently is to put both females in the tank. That way whichever one is ready will do it. The worst thing that could happen if both spawn is that some of the eggs would not be fertilized. This is not a bad thing in itself and they will probably be ready to spawn again in a few more weeks, if you want them to.

Lots of luck!

 

[a.i.m]

Hi Inchworm

The 1 female looks a degree smaller than the other so what i was hoping to do is spawn them seperately, with a week or so between spawnings ?

what do u think? can the male redo his task that soon?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi a.i.m

It's worth giving him a chance. I would be very surprised if he didn't at least give it a try!

 

[bigfish]

hey thats great news about the corydoras, i'm glad that he is living up to his expectations at the moment... i do have another bronze in my other tank should u require it.

hopefully something should happen while im away in zante!!!

 

[a.i.m]

Well it seems not to be going to plan, the new tank idea seem to make them too unsettled and the male and female were just darting around the tank in short scared bursts.

My fault id left it to late to move them, as they were'nt settling ive put them both back into the tank with all the other corydoras and they resettled quite quickly.

So ive been doing a 40% water change between 5 - 6 pm, the tank temp then would be about 75f ( 24c ) after water change straight from the tap the temp seems to go down to 70f ( 21c ). ive been leaving it till morning then knocking the heater back on in the morning.

My concern is that doing these water changes seem to stress them all out and every one in the tanks seems to just sit still. Im seriously walking around on tip toes as not to stress them or scare them at all.

So any ideas would be a great help.
Ive got the feeling that im over complicating matters too much as other people on this forum seem to have their corrys spawning with out trying!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi a.i.m

If you have done the water changes and temperature drops several times with no results, I think it might be best to give them a period of rest. Keep a close eye on them to be sure they do not come down with a bacterial infection at this point, and at the first sign of one, use a little MelaFix.

The cold water is less stressful for them than the fluctuations themselves, and the sudden warming, when the heater is turned on, is the hardest part.

Perhaps they might still surprise you and spawn.

 

[a.i.m]

Hi Inchworm

Ok ill let the tank settle for a few days, and the temp will stable out at 75f (24c) .

Ive have been feeding quite heavy as well, should i slow this down a bit or continue ?

The 3 new small albinos have had a growth spurt!!!

But all the male and female chasing has stopped for sure.
Ill get some Vitazin tomorrow as well ( vitimin & mineral supplement ) which gives fishes imune system a boost as well.

My microworms are in 2 small butter tubs, carnt see any climbing the sides as yet either. There is a thin film across the surface with a light slight liquid underneath. If i disturb the film i then can see gentle movement, im also keeping the 2 tubs ontop of my fishtank to keep them slightly warm. This seems to cause some condinsation on the inside of the lid is this right? ( the lid does have a good collection of small holes ).

 

[bigfish]

hey there sounds like your having a stressful time of it lately at this rate you will be needing a holiday...lol

Keep us posted with any results, im off to bed for a well earned sleep, these animal care assignments are a nightmare!!!