Pygmy cory spawn =)

[nguyendetecting]

I just set up a new tank for my pygmy cory, they were in a 20tall with krib fry/juvies and they just weren't happy. So I broke out the 12 gallon and redid the lighting again. And within a 2wks they spawned!

you can see a baby krib in the picture. He was trapped in a filter, I had him in the tank to strengthen him up but he started to attack the eggs, little crazy guy. I only see a few eggs but I'm sure they will be more. I don't intend to isolate the eggs, I'm going to just let them do their thing since it is a cory only tank. I love these cories but they sure are timid. Only reason I found the eggs were because I was doing a snail check in the tank.

[happypoet]

Awesome!
Can you post your water parameters and a full-tank pic, please?

[fishycat]

Oh man, those are so cute... I agree, FTS please! + more pygmy cory pics, there are not enough of them to go around.

[nguyendetecting]

It's a school of 8 pygmy cories I got from the LFS for some kribs I traded in.

Tank temp is 78ish degrees, Ph 8, my water is super hard probably liquid rock on the scale. I do 50% water changes a week, I turn off the filter daily when I feed them. thats about it. The tank is still pretty bare plants need to grow in and I need to add a few more things.

What do ya think about leaving the eggs and fry in there?

[happypoet]

Thanks for the additional info!
I'm getting some pygmy cory soon, and I'd love it if they bred.
I've read on several forums that it's ok to leave the eggs in with them.
I've also read that someone literally watched an adult Hastatus (as similar a fish to the Pygmaeus as one can find) eat a newborn.
So that's all the info I have about it.

Good luck, and please keep this thread updated! I'll be watching!

[nguyendetecting]

thanks for the post I will keep it updated though I don't have high hopes for the fry, I believe some members of AC have had lots of trouble with raising fry. I just have the time right now, but I will keep an eye out

[fishorama]

Congrats on the spawning! Pygmys sure are cute and who knows, maybe you'll find some fry 1 of these days.

[pinkertd]

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!! You can keep the eggs and fry in the tank, but you're going to need some very dense thickets of plants like java moss. They'll eat the microorganisms out of the moss and they still want cover even if they are safe with the parents. Keep us posted on the progress....and lots of pics!

[nguyendetecting]

thanks for the post all! Glad to see you post also Debbi I know you have great experience with most cories.

The egg on the glass was gone the next morning but the one on the leaf stayed for another day. No signs of fry, I do have some moss in there I might redo the tank. I added more anubias but that's about it so far.

Just wanted to update and post a pic of one of the cories I took not too long ago looking at it now I can see she was gravid at the time of the pic IMO.

[Jerzboi]

too awesome, congrats on the spawn and keep the updates coming

[fishycat]

thanks for the post all! Glad to see you post also Debbi I know you have great experience with most cories.

The egg on the glass was gone the next morning but the one on the leaf stayed for another day. No signs of fry, I do have some moss in there I might redo the tank. I added more anubias but that's about it so far.

Just wanted to update and post a pic of one of the cories I took not too long ago looking at it now I can see she was gravid at the time of the pic IMO.


Nice shot! :thm:

Is the Krib still in the tank? Hopefully with him out you'll have better luck the next time your pygmies spawn!

[nguyendetecting]

yup krib is out added more anubias and 2 assasin snails to fend off some ram snails I got from somewhere?? no other tanks and added no new plants?? anyhow

got a new egg today and took an awesome picture not like last ones lol I tried saving it this time in a specimen container.... maybe I'll let it hatch and absorb it's eggyolk and add it back in the tank..

[LiL GinGeR]

wow that's awesome :)

[nguyendetecting]

ok my egg that's pictured has hatched the following morning. I found 4 more eggs and they're hanging n a fry enclosure I put together. I'm finding eggs everyday I hope I can find something to feed them. All I have is first bites how long should I wait?

anyone?

[pinkertd]

They are the smallest fry ever! I was told to keep lots of moss which harbors microscopic organisms that they can eat, and not to have a "clean" tank. They'll get down into the gravel and eat microscopic things too. I'd give then 3 days after hatching and then offer a very teensy amount. Not sure they can handle the size of it. Wouldn't hurt for you to mortal and pestal the first bites to smitherines first,

[nguyendetecting]

thanks Debbi!

[Bubbles2112]

Soooo Awesome!!! How are they doing????

[nguyendetecting]

well the 3year old fry swam out of my enclosure >=/ but at least he was strong enough to swim out maybe he'll make it in the tank. I have about 6-8 eggs I have found in the last 2 days. I have to make a new fry type deal for the tank, I'm slaughtering my anubais everytime I see an egg I cut the leaf off lol. But I have plenty of it. I'll know more in a wk or so if these eggs will make it, the 3day old fry was awesome looking I didn't get picks though.. Imma look for him tonight, he swam out this morning....

[nguyendetecting]

well 2 eggs hatched today with dead fry =( I think maybe the water is too hard? but the tail was all wrinkled and the fry was lifeless. I have 2 more eggs that are about to hatch and I think will be dead when they hatch also. The one free swimming one is no where to be found but I did find a pic of it.

[fishycat]

Do pygmaeus really eat their own eggs? I thought it was safe to keep them together? Bummer about the still borns... good luck with the new eggs!

[fishorama]

Wow, great close-ups! I wonder if water hardness effects the hatching/egg hardness, dunno. Too bad though.

[nguyendetecting]

well 1 of the eggs pictured has hatched and fry is free swimming other free is ko'd. Still about 4 more eggs to hatch so we'll see. It's like 50/50 right now, with only 1 egg not fertilized.

[nguyendetecting]

3 fry are going really good, not seeming to eat though? hopefully they don't die on me. Been dropping first bites daily near them but no bites. They have been living inside the fissedine, hopefully they are eating off that stuff.

[Kerry121774]

OMG sooooo cute!!! Good luck!

[fishorama]

Awww!

[fishycat]

Good to hear! I can't see anything in those pics (glasses+monitor far away=much squinting)... wait they've got black speckles? I see 2... I think. :laugh: but I'm sure they're finding infusoria in the moss!

[nguyendetecting]

lol yes they're 2 in the picture and yes they have black specs