Care for my otto's eggs

FerretSizedPiano · Post by **FerretSizedPiano** » 10 Aug 2003, 08:06

Well, I've been noticing what I thought was a new funky type of algae in my tank (I've had it all lately. Light green, dark green,brown, black, red, you name it), but as the week wore on, and I took a good close look, looks to me like eggs. I spoke with a friend and we theorized it's the ottos. Well, actually we're pretty much certain. The only other egg layers I have are cories, and as far as I know they don't stick their eggs on the glass.

So. Now I have...oh, six different clutches of otto eggs all stuck on different parts of the tank (the clutch right behind the filter intake didn't make it, sadly). Thinking back, they've done this before. Bout every month or so. Unfortunately the eggs always...well, the best way I can describe it is "dissolve". I'm not sure if it's because of the pH (I live in Arizona just a mile or so from a salt mine. The water isn't toxic, but it does make for a high pH. Appx 7.7) or what. But if someone is familiar with the requirements for keeping otto eggs healthy, I woud really appreciate it. And no, I don't have the current specs on the water at this time. I'm heading to the LFS Monday to get it tested. Oh, yes. 20 gallon tank. 4 ottos, 5 cories, 2 dwarf malobar puffers, and 3 adult and scads of baby guppies. (yum yums for the puffers

)Thanks in advance.

Post by **Silurus** » 10 Aug 2003, 10:38

Are you sure the puffers haven't been having a go at the eggs?

FerretSizedPiano · Post by **FerretSizedPiano** » 10 Aug 2003, 19:11

Sadly, I think you're right. If not the puffers, then someone else. But I'd like to see some of them hatch. Someone else said that it could just as easily have been my cories laying eggs on the glass. That would be cool, too, but only if I can get them to hatch.

polkadot · Post by **polkadot** » 11 Aug 2003, 01:04

Can i know how big are your otos when they spawn?

FerretSizedPiano · Post by **FerretSizedPiano** » 11 Aug 2003, 05:43

Well, I've had my otos for about a year. The eggs started showing up about five to six months ago. So, half a year old. But, I'm beginning to think it's the cories. I don't recall the last time, but this time, the eggs showed up after a large, cool water change. Either way, my fishies are spawning, and that=good.

HayWire · Post by **HayWire** » 11 Aug 2003, 11:51

honestly i think it is your cories

Post by **Barbie** » 11 Aug 2003, 18:24

I've had two or three types of cories that would definitely stick the eggs right to the glass. They were real exhibitionists compared to most of my catfish. From pygmeus to aneus, actually, they really weren't shy. If the cories are larger types, you'll notice the eggs look far too large for a oto to lay easily. The eggs themselves are adhesive, and I actually had good luck touching them with my finger and moving them to a small tank filled with water from the same tank and sticking them back to the glass. I had better than 70% of them hatch that way, although its definitely not the recommended method.

Good luck

Barbie

agallarini · Post by **agallarini** » 18 Aug 2003, 04:35

I'm new to this board. Hi

I have had a pair of Peppered Corys for about 6 weeks or so. I originally got them to add some life to a 10 gallon snail tank. Apparently I picked up a male and female, because they are laying eggs all over the place! I had noticed that the snails were not quite as active, I now attribute that to the defensive stance of the Corys. I noticed that I my gravel vacuum was being closely watched by the smaller one. So close in fact that I was worried he might get sucked into it.

I finally witnessed them performing the act after turning out the main lights and turning on the little LED spot lights. The female carries a few eggs around by squeezing two of the fins together underneath her body until she finds where she wants to lay them. I'm not sure if I've seen the fertilization act correctly or not, but it looks kinda kinky

Barbie, you said you were able to move some eggs by just sticking them to your finger, but that wasn't the best method... what is the best method of collecting the eggs? I'd like to see them hatch!

kwalker · Post by **kwalker** » 18 Aug 2003, 04:56

i must agree that it is the cory's. the few times i spawned my c. aeneus they did spawn on the side of the tank glass.

ken walker

Post by **Barbie** » 18 Aug 2003, 18:41

The best method for the eggs would be to move the other fish out of the tank and allow the eggs to hatch without fear of predation, in my experience. Moving them out of the tank was the only option I had though, and it really was effective. I just made sure to move them into a tank that had the same water parameters by taking water ouf of the main tank when I took the eggs.

Barbie