C74's. I'm telling you the truth. Really!

Coryologist · Post by **Coryologist** » 21 Sep 2006, 16:53

So here is my story. I had 2 "proven breeder" colonies of fish - C. nattereri and S. prionotus. Had these fish for almost 3 years, with nary a sign of any spawning behavior. I was aware that there was a S. prionotus mixed in with the C. nattereri and vice versa. No big deal I thought. One day, feeling particularly energetic, I decided to get all the fish in the proper tanks. Within 24 hours of making that switch BOTH groups spawned, successfully. I'll say it again - 24 hours - after 3 years of nothing. Coincidence. I didn't know.

So, I had this other tank. It contained 3 young adult C. axelrodi, a trio of C35's and 4 of C74. The C35's had spawned (never successfully) and never in this tank that they were put in while I scrubbed their old tank. Yesterday morning, I checked the tank thoroughly for eggs, as I do all my tanks. Was really only looking for C35 eggs. Nothing! As usual. No problem. I bagged the 3 C. axelrodi up and shipped them out in an order from AB. I had 4 boxes to ship, so I was out for 2 hours or so.

I come home from the post office, start to feed the fish and look for more eggs. So what do I find? Howzabout 15 eggs from the C74's? Can't be the C35's. They lay larger eggs in clumps, generally on the tank bottom or on the glass, very close to the bottom of the tank. These eggs were smaller, deposited mainly in the roots of floating java fern and water sprite, with a few on the leaves and 2 eggs placed on the glass, near the surface. I was flabbergasted! Were talking a total of 3 hours from the time I last checked the tank 'til the time I found the eggs. I placed the 15 eggs in groups of 5 in 3 different tanks. My best shot of seeing some fry, I figured. Coincidence? Well, maybe for the first 2 species, but by the third occurrence - I think not. All I know is, I'm never mixing any Corys in any tanks for any reason, once they reach spawning age.

I am curious to know if anyone has ever experienced anything like this. TYVM. - Frank

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 22 Sep 2006, 00:30

Frank,

That's pretty interesting. Maybe a good trick is to keep Corys mixed while they mature and then separate them out as a spawning trigger. HOWEVER, you need more controls on your "experiment", it could just be something else in the new set-up / water that caused the action? Or maybe you can discount that?

Jools

Coryologist · Post by **Coryologist** » 22 Sep 2006, 00:37

Jools wrote:Frank,

That's pretty interesting. Maybe a good trick is to keep Corys mixed while they mature and then separate them out as a spawning trigger. HOWEVER, you need more controls on your "experiment", it could just be something else in the new set-up / water that caused the action? Or maybe you can discount that?

Jools

Hi Jools. A little confusion I think. I removed the C. axelrodi and left the C74's where they were. So, the only "change" they incurred, was 3 less non-related tank mates.

I hope you are well, sir.

Frank