unknown eggs

wildgator25

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Jun 6, 2004
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just noticed today on the underside of my java fern, clusters of little white eggs. only having my aquarium with fish in it for two weeks, i have no idea what they are. i have the following in my tank, danios, platys, gourami, corys, ghost shrimp, two ramshorn snails, and two black mystery snails. are these snail or fish eggs?
 
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Well, they don't quite look like any snail eggs I've seen, which usually look like little round packets of clear jelly with dots inside, but it could be that they look like that and I just can't see the jelly part in the picture...
Going through process of elimination:
I can tell you almost certainly it's not the danios (they scatter theirs), or the platys (they're livebearers). Gouramis make bubble nests on the surface and place their eggs in it, so the only way the eggs could be theirs is if they've been building a nest (believe me, you would know), laid the eggs, and some fell out and somehow stuck to the leaf. So it's probably not them either. Corys DO lay eggs on things; sometimes it's glass, sometimes it's rocks or a leaf, but I have no idea what their eggs look like, having never seen any myself. I'm assuming the shrimp reproduce something like other crustaceans, and don't just leave eggs on things, so it's PROBABLY the snails. They are by far the most likely thing, they're always laying eggs. I'd say you'll know for sure when they hatch!
Hopefully someone else knows more than I do. I'm so curious, please post and let me know what was in the mystery eggs when you find out.
 
I currently have my first batch of fish eggs sitting in a breeder's net and they look exactly like your eggs.

They are cory eggs. One dozen clear eggs in a jelly like substance.
 
Yes, they are definitely Cory eggs, but chances are, unless you take them out, you are never going to see the babies. They are so tiny. Most likely your Gourami will find them before you do.
Last time my Cory laid eggs, I put them in a small bowl with an airstone, and 3 or 4 days later I had dozens of baby cories.:)
 
One thing to keep in mind:

If any of the eggs turn from clear to white, remove that egg. The ones that turn white are unfertilized and have a tendency to "fungus" which can harm the other eggs.

I have read of breeders adding an anti-fungus to them and/or keeping the lights off to help prevent it. But further research is needed to clarify all of that.
 
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