Successful Corydoras eques spawn
Posted: 09 Jun 2021, 02:31
I have tried several methods over the years to make C eques spawn to no avail. Frustration set in me for a while, disappointment settled in and I focused my attention to other species, and a diffent family of catfishes, I was even to spawn a few species of Hypancistrus including the elusive L046 zebra pleco. After all the efforts C eques remained on my cannot spawn list.
This is what I did in the last few months and somehow worked out for me.
They were in a 29 gallon high ( 30x18x12 in) half filled with a good amount of oak leaves and driftwood, and kept temp very high @ 85F, TDS 78 and pH @ 5.8 for a while without much movement in the water, beside an airstone and low light. I would add water to the half line every 2 weeks. I was trying to imitate a dry season.
Feeding took place every other day; light amounts of foods. I got no results after 2 months of trying.
Then, decided to transfer them to a different tank after not even seeing them and much less any kind of activity.
They were put in a 20 Gallon long (30x12x12 in). Tank got completely cycled and water was crystal clear. Water changes: once a week with 60/40 RO/Tap water. Temp @ 72F, TDS 155, pH 7 and equipped with HMF
I increased the temp @ 75F, increased the feedings and the flow as well on HMF. Driftwood and java moss where added to the sandy bottom. After 2 weeks on these parameters, a water change was in order. I changed my mind and did not refill, tank was half full.
Then, I made the tea water with oak leaves, @20 leaves in a small bucket and 2 liters of water with a rock on the leaves as weight. A week passed by and added the 2 liters of the tea leaves. A couple days went by and fill the tank with a mix of 50/50 RO/tap water. A few days later, 30% water was changed and filled with aged tap water, added more of the tea leaves extract.
Increased feeding, white worms, blood worms, Repashy and freezed dry blackworms, live blackworms, flakes and BBS
Less than a week went by and saw them more active, dancing up and down and swimming against the flow. I mentioned to a friend that came by and visit, and he ditched the idea. The fish kept at pre-courting ritual for 2 more days, female was cleaning her spots and male was right behind the female.
I noticed that only a pair was participating on the activities out of 6 specimens,. I continue to see them courting, but I thought it was wishful thinking. Then one Monday night after work, I checked the tanks and was gonna start the feeding ritual. Looked at the C eques tank and saw them in T-position, I almost crapped my pants and brought a chair over! I focused on them and took me a while to notice the eggs.
I saw the other big female chasing after them and thinking ORGY! Well, not quite. Big whale was eating the eggs, fat pig. I scared the whale and got my container to start taking out the eggs.
I was able to scoop out 149 eggs and most of them looked fertile.
Water Parameters
pH 6.2
TDS 122 ppm
75 F / 24 C
M Martin Ortiz
This is what I did in the last few months and somehow worked out for me.
They were in a 29 gallon high ( 30x18x12 in) half filled with a good amount of oak leaves and driftwood, and kept temp very high @ 85F, TDS 78 and pH @ 5.8 for a while without much movement in the water, beside an airstone and low light. I would add water to the half line every 2 weeks. I was trying to imitate a dry season.
Feeding took place every other day; light amounts of foods. I got no results after 2 months of trying.
Then, decided to transfer them to a different tank after not even seeing them and much less any kind of activity.
They were put in a 20 Gallon long (30x12x12 in). Tank got completely cycled and water was crystal clear. Water changes: once a week with 60/40 RO/Tap water. Temp @ 72F, TDS 155, pH 7 and equipped with HMF
I increased the temp @ 75F, increased the feedings and the flow as well on HMF. Driftwood and java moss where added to the sandy bottom. After 2 weeks on these parameters, a water change was in order. I changed my mind and did not refill, tank was half full.
Then, I made the tea water with oak leaves, @20 leaves in a small bucket and 2 liters of water with a rock on the leaves as weight. A week passed by and added the 2 liters of the tea leaves. A couple days went by and fill the tank with a mix of 50/50 RO/tap water. A few days later, 30% water was changed and filled with aged tap water, added more of the tea leaves extract.
Increased feeding, white worms, blood worms, Repashy and freezed dry blackworms, live blackworms, flakes and BBS
Less than a week went by and saw them more active, dancing up and down and swimming against the flow. I mentioned to a friend that came by and visit, and he ditched the idea. The fish kept at pre-courting ritual for 2 more days, female was cleaning her spots and male was right behind the female.
I noticed that only a pair was participating on the activities out of 6 specimens,. I continue to see them courting, but I thought it was wishful thinking. Then one Monday night after work, I checked the tanks and was gonna start the feeding ritual. Looked at the C eques tank and saw them in T-position, I almost crapped my pants and brought a chair over! I focused on them and took me a while to notice the eggs.
I saw the other big female chasing after them and thinking ORGY! Well, not quite. Big whale was eating the eggs, fat pig. I scared the whale and got my container to start taking out the eggs.
I was able to scoop out 149 eggs and most of them looked fertile.
Water Parameters
pH 6.2
TDS 122 ppm
75 F / 24 C
M Martin Ortiz
