Frank's Aquarium

[apistomaster]

Seems a shame this space was empty so let me add that among other Corys. Dwarf Corys are great additions to nano-fish tanks.
I'm raising spawns of Cordoras hastatus and Corydoras habrosus.

The C. hastatus began spawning while still being kept in a cherry shrimp breeding set up. I thought the eggs were all being eaten bu I do have quite a few surviving fry. They are still small but have taken on the appearance of miniature adults.

C. habrosus were initially set up by themselves but some snails got in there. I tore down their tank and also set up one for the C. hastatus and I found many habrosus fry among the driftwood and PVC pipe sections so I have fry from them also.

Now they are both set up in sterilized tanks free of snails and well stocked with acrylic yarn spawning mops. Probably some fry hiding underneath all the yarn. Just haven't looked yet. I know they've continued to spawn but both species adults eat some of their eggs if laid on the glass insead of the mops.
I feed the breeders black worms and microworms. That way hidden fry don't go hungry.
_________________
Larry Waybright
Hobbyist breeder. My main interests are wild Discus, breeding rare Brazilian Hypancistrus spp, L260, L333, L46 Zebra and Peckoltia sp L134 plecos. Also SA. Dwarf Cichlids, Apistogramma.
Fly fishing for Trout.

[waterfaller1]

Are you still a frequent member here? Do you still keep corydoras habrosus?

[apistomaster]

I am an infrequent visitor lately but I am still raising C. habrosus and C. hastatus. The latter species has been more prolific. I am still using a natural species set up and my numbers of new fry steadily increases.

If I can answer any questions you may have I would be glad to do so.

I have recently bred Peckoltia species L134, leopard Frog Pleco, my first fancy dwarf pleco success. I have been raising Sturisoma aureum also and lots of discus.
_________________
Larry Waybright
Hobbyist breeder. My main interests are wild Discus, breeding rare Brazilian Hypancistrus spp, L260, L333, L46 Zebra and Peckoltia sp L134 plecos. Also SA. Dwarf Cichlids, Apistogramma.
Fly fishing for Trout.

[joenichols]

Larry

Do you have to do anything to trigger them to spawn. I have a group of pygmeaus and hastatus I would like to get going. Thanks

[apistomaster]

Hi Joe and All,
I have modified my approach to breeding dwarf Corydoras somewhat from my original post.
I stopped making war upon the pond snails because I came to the conclusion that they were not eating a significant number of catfish eggs.
Here is a description of my current method and tank set ups. These are permanent natural breeding set ups where fry are allowed to grow up in the presence of the breeders.
1. 20 gal Long, 10 to 12 breeders, about 2 males per female. Male competition stimulates spawning.
2. Substrate is a thin layer, >1/4-inch fine white silica sand and 1 liter of Ehfimech or equal, hollow ceramic cylinder biomedia. Corydoras larvae tend to have higher survival rates when the bottom is covered. Some believe the bacterial film is hazardous to larvae health. The ceramic hollows provide many refuges for the larvae prior to their transition into the full Corydoras form. At that time the fry join the breeders and older juveniles.
3. I provide a few potted plants, Kleiner Bar Sword, Ozelot Swords and/or Anubias. Then I also allow a lush growth of Ceratophyllum aka Hornwort.
This dense floating plant is a major repository for egg placement.
4. Temperature is maintained at 76* to 78*F except when trying to stimulate breeding. A water change using cool water that is cool enough to cause the temporary drop down to 70*F to 72*F, then allow heater to warm it back to the original temperature. Egg laying often begins within minutes among ripe fish.
5. I feed black worms to the breeders every day but any cultured worms like Grindal or white worms are very good. I also feed live bbs daily supplemented by earthworm sticks. I have stopped using microworms for the fry.
6. I now feed my fry chilled live brine shrimp nauplii or chilled fresh dead brine shrimp nauplii. Chilled fresh brine shrimp nauplii fall to the bottom where the fry and the adults can catch or find them. This food may be preserved in clean salt water in the fridge in a plastic shoe box with only about 1/2 inch deep water for two days. They also find and eat small particles of earthworm sticks that the older fish miss.
7. I am also raising red cherry shrimp along with the dwarf Corydoras.

I am using only my city water treated with Prime, made by SeaChem.
The pH is 7.4 and the total dissolved solids measure 340 ppm. ~6-7 GH.
I have found that this is a much more enjoyable way to raise Dwarf Corydoras than some of the more stark and sterile environments some breeders use. Watching the size of my schools of Dwarf Corys growing ever more numerous and consisting of all sizes is very pleasing. The Cherry shrimp add color and help to control algae. They just all go together well. I try to make two water changes of at least 50% each week.
My last suggestion is that when you siphon water out for changes that you should not try to remove the bits of crud that may build up among the ceramic hollows. There are both catfish fry and microorganisms that are their first foods in the detritus.
I forgot to mention that I use two pedestal style sponges filters per tank and one air stone. If you use a HOB power filter be sure to cover the inlet with a sponge or filter media bag as a prefilter to prevent loss of any fry or shrimp larvae to your filter.
_________________
Larry Waybright
Hobbyist breeder. My main interests are wild Discus, breeding rare Brazilian Hypancistrus spp, L260, L333, L46 Zebra and Peckoltia sp L134 plecos. Also SA. Dwarf Cichlids, Apistogramma.
Fly fishing for Trout.

[waterfaller1]

A+ write up! Thanks so much!

[lljdma06]

Agreed, this is a great write-up, especially since I now have two good-sized groups of C. pygmaeus and C. habrosus.

Sorry for bringing back an older topic, but I only joined the forum recently.

llj