Traps/screens for egg scatterers

[nikirushka]

Just wondering what everyone uses when they attempt spawnings I've got gold and cherry barbs in excellent condition, males and females have been separated for a few weeks to condition and they are looking fantastic, I'm just struggling a bit to find a good trap or screen to use. I've got a pond net which I've tried previously with the cherries, the males were happy to try and spawn but the females found it a bit too restrictive and just got stressed and hid in the spawning mop (it's about 10" x 8" x 8"). Lights were low but they weren't happy.

So, what do you use?

 

[Glabe]

i've read marbles work well

 

[kissofcrimson]

i've read marbles work well

That's actually a good technique to use for egg scattering fish. Just setup a small tank and use large marbles as substrate. The eggs will fall through the cracks and just remove them when they're done spawning.


Sent from my iPad using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[BallAquatics]

I like to use plastic canvas. I've found I can see the tank bottom much better and monitor the spawning process much better than I could when using marbles.

Best of luck with your breeding project!

Dennis

 

[Glabe]

those look pretty nice!

 

[henningc]

Where did you get the plastic mesh and what is it sold as?

 

[BallAquatics]

I get most of mine at Hobby Lobby, but you can get it almost anywhere, W-Mart, K-Mart, Target, etc. I've always called it plastic canvas, but it probably goes by other names as well.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Darice-215800-Plastic-Canvas-7-Count-12-inch-x-18-inch-Clear/24894448

Using some nylon yarn, it's very easy to build a basket to hang in your tank. The basket pictured is sized to completely fill a 5.5 US gallon tank, but the wings that support it stick out far enough that it will also work in a 10 US gallon tank as well. I only fill the tank so that there is about 2” of water in the basket. This way the eggs don't have far to fall before they fall through the bottom of the basket and the fish can't circle back and eat them.

Another way of using the plastic canvas involves just cutting it so that it fits the tank snugly from front to back, but it is left wider than the tank so that it forms a U when inserted into the tank. You can use a sponge filter or just some PVC pipe to hold the canvas up off the bottom of the tank.

I prefer the canvas to other methods because you can clearly see the eggs after the fish have spawned, and once you remove the canvas, you have easy access to the tank bottom for cleaning, water changes, etc. The canvas can be dipped in a mild bleach solution for easy cleaning between uses.


Dennis