[Ramses]

My albino cory is popping out eggs all over the tank (55 gal)... they're on the plants, glass, equipment... everywhere. BUT my giant danios have caught on and have started gulping them up just as fast as she's laying them. What should I do?

 

[jimko]

remove the danios or the eggs.

 

[Ramses]

Ideally I would remove the danios but my spare 10gal is newly planted and still cycling (high ammonia)... If I were to remove the eggs - would it be worth the trouble? - Would I damage them by trying to remove them? Do they need special care (parameters)? Would they even survive?

Apologies for all the Q's but I've been keeping corys for years.... My 1st fish was an albino cory that started as a tank-mate for a turtle (10 gal) - outlived the turtle, survived a 500 mile move, 2 tank upgrades.... there's more, but my point was... That I've never seen them lay eggs - I didn't even think could spawn just randomly out of no-where...

 

[Ramses]

Ideally I would remove the danios but my spare 10gal is newly planted and still cycling (high ammonia)... If I were to remove the eggs - would it be worth the trouble? - Would I damage them by trying to remove them? Do they need special care (parameters)? Would they even survive?

Apologies for all the Q's but I've been keeping corys for years.... My 1st fish was an albino cory that started as a tank-mate for a turtle (10 gal) - outlived the turtle, survived a 500 mile move, 2 tank upgrades.... there's more, but my point was... That I've never seen them lay eggs - I didn't even think could spawn just randomly out of no-where...

I forgot to mention that this all started around 5pm-ish. I first noticed her rubbing against the jungle val (thought she was a he before today btw) and there were the eggs... It's now 3:06am and I can see her continuing to lay eggs from where I'm sitting.

I feel like I need to do something to help - but don't know how??? :frown:

 

[Newf0rm]

get a big bowl or something and put some of your current tanks water in it and put the eggs in there with a air stone or something, cause if you cant isolate them some how then you will just have to deal with the eggs being gobbled up

 

[SpecGrrl]

Can you pu in a temporary divider of some kind? Like a giant breeding box and herd the danios into there for a while?

I am a newb so this might be a totally unrealistic idea.

 

[Siggav]

You can get the eggs out and put them in a breeder box, I did that when I hatched the eggs from my sterbai cories at one point.

Make sure the eggs don't get exposed to air, you can use a shot glass to put into the tank and move htem into that under water.

The best breeder box thing to put the eggs in is one that's a fine net rather than plastic with holes. The holes are big enough that the fry will get out there once the eggs hatch almost certainly. A fine net has better waterflow anyway and your fry are safe in there for a bit.

Doing it this way isn't the best way but it works and it's fun to see the eggs hatch etc. The fry can stay in the net for a while actually you can feed them in there etc. I moved mine to a separate grow out tank once they were starting to change from wigglers to very small cories, can't remember now how long that took.

I raised around 10 fry to adult cories this way, out of probably 30 eggs or so, again not the most efficient or best way of doing it but worked ok for me and was quite fun.

ETA: This kind of breeder net thing is what I'm referring to: http://www.e-aquarium.com.au/images/Aquarium_Fish_Breeder_Net.JPG

The fry will want to hide so will squish themselves into the corners and edges, I thought they were going to get squashed but they were absolutely fine. I put some java moss and java fern in there too and fed them liquifry and powdered flake. No live cultures or food.

Also don't worry if the eggs this time get eaten, get things set up and the cories will breed again later.

 

[Ramses]

Update with Pictures

Thanks for the advice. :thumbsup:

I did a quick google search which led me to this - The Breeding of Corydoras Catfish
A newbies guide

Because they say not to expose the eggs to the open air I rigged up an in-tank hatchery which will hopefully double as a nursery once the eggs hatch (fingers crossed) - using a mason jar, vented lid, airline & stone. I decided to keep them in the tank to avoid temp. fluctuation & reduce the risk of sudden/rapid changes in chemistry in such a small container.

It was no small task so I hope it works... By the time I figured out what to do the only eggs left for salvaging where the ones that were sucked onto to the circulation pump. - #1. I couldn't believe that they were able to cling on - #2. The only reason these guys survived is b/c the Danios wouldn't risk getting close enough to snag them. - #3. They were really stuck on real good (like they're life depended on it). :icon_eek:

After I finished transfering the eggs - one by one - I tested the amonia level in my newly planted very low tech 10gal and it has dropped significantly - so I may be able to use it to raise the fry which would be VERY cool.

Its finally time to get some sleep - but I'll be posting more pics & reporting any new developments.

So tired

 

[Ramses]

The shot glass is a great suggestion. Maybe next time.

I will def. take the breeder net advice... While I was setting up my mason jar rig all I could think of was 'this won't hold them for very long once they hatch'... So that's a great suggestion and I'll have plenty of time to go out and get one set-up properly before they hatch.

I'm so excited... If this works it will be the first time I successfully (albeit unintentionally) spawn non-livebearers in my tank!

 

[BoxxerBoyDrew]

FREAKIN AWESOME!!!!!

Best of Luck to You and Your Cory Eggs!!!
Drew

 

[50089]

I'm sooo jealous LOL Good luck with them! Keep us posted.

 

[HolyAngel]

Nice! And actually for the record, cories love eating eggs too, so no real point in removing the danios

good find though and good luck! I hope they hatch for you!

 

[Kevin4theWin]

Congratulations, I have Albino Cories that are always laying eggs around the spring after partial water changes. Unfortunately I've never had any luck with getting the eggs to hatch. I've tried hatching them inside the tank while protected & outside the tank with some methylene blue & an air stone. They unfortunately always tend to fungus after a week goes by without anything hatching.

The little bit of advice I can share with you is to pay attention to the color of the eggs. If they start to get a brownish color it means those eggs are viable and you'll eventually be able to see an eye in them. If the eggs after a few days are a milky white color those are probably not viable and you can expect them to fungus. It's actually very important that the eggs with fungus don't come in contact with the viable ones from what I've learned.

Also in case you're interested in trying to intentionally spawn them, apparently you have to lower the water temp in tank with a water change a smidge. This apparently simulates rainfall and triggers their instinct to breed.

Albino Cories are one of my favorite fish, I've had my school for about 4 years now. They're huge compared to when they came home with me. Best of luck to you.