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I have some blackwater extract, does that trigger albino cories to spawn?

Doubt too many catfish people use blackwater extract but I highly doubt it. I have used it before on tanks in the past and have not found it to trigger anything to breed. I would try using 2/3 RO water to 1/3 tap and do a lot of water changes. Also add some frozen bloodworms or cut up earthworms a few times a week. That's about all it takes! Also requires that your fish are sexually mature as well. If you search the forum you will find all sorts of info about various triggers. Don't think Blackwater Extract is going to show up though.

well I did a water change and brought the temp down to about 69 degrees. Is there a certain amount of time before they will start to spawn?

How big are they?

two of them are about 1 inch, another is 1.5 inches, and the last one is 2 inches.

I would think that 1 inch is certainly too small. These (assuming we're talking about the regular Albino, ) grow to a good two inches standard length, so I wouldn't expect them to be mature enough until at least 1.5 inches for a male, and around 1.75 for a female.

Are you sure you have both male and female (see the link above for sexing guidelines, as well as the Sticky on the subject at the top of this forum).

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Mats

Would it help if I added some big mature ones? Yeah I am pretty sure I have both male and female.

If you have mature fish, the mature fish may well breed. It won't, obviously, make the immature fish grow any faster...

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Mats

I was going to go to the local fish store later today, and get a few big ones. Right now I have two mature cories, and two immature cories. How many matures do you think I should get? And since there are some immatures in there, would that effect the other cories from breeding?

I wouldn't think that juvenile (immature) cories will affect any breeding effort.

The generally accepted ratio of fish is 2 males for each female. So how many you need to get is dependant on what you have already got. Groups of 3 or 6 is usually used for breeding - I don't believe bigger groups are better.

But don't expect your new fish to breed immediately - there's something called "conditioning". This is the name of the time when you feed the fish heavily and make it "ready to spawn". The fish you get from the local shop will not be conditioned, as they have been kept by exporter, importer, wholesaler and LFS, and unlikely to have been well feed during any of that time...

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Mats

I've also heard of people using albino's to trigger other fish. They might release hormones triggering the other cories to spawn. Just a thought.

yeah I know what conditioning is, its always said that white worms are really good for them, but I cant get white worms. Would bloodworms be a good substitution?

Yes. you looking for a high protien diet to subsitute and condition. I take live blackworms and just dump a heep in the tank.

how often do you put them in there? I heard that bloodworms should only be fed a few times a week.

When I was breeding them I had 6 10g tanks. I put water in all of them. The fish were kept in a tank heated to 76f and conditioned for about 1-2 weeks with a constant supply of black worms. The tank next to it was just filled 100% new tap about 66-68f. the fish were moved, they'd lay then they would go back to the original tank. It wasn't hard and I got tired of man made fish so I stopped breeding them.

I have also heard that albino cories will pair off too. Is that true? If thats the case then I might have a pair, I got 2 new cories, and those two and 1 other big cory always swim together and nudge eachother. Do you think that is some sign of breeding? and I just did a cool water change too.