Corydoras pulcher care and breding conditions

schnauzenfisch · Post by **schnauzenfisch** » 10 Oct 2006, 22:36

Hello Friends

I bought some very nice looking C. pulcher (a groups of 6 fishes + 1 one half dead for free).
I keep them in a 1m*40cm*50cm Tank (there are only some Farlowellas in it). Here in Berlin we have hard water (around 18-20dgh ,700-800mikrosiemens ,ph at 7,4 >> in my tank temps are around 25-28Â°C >> night temp. drop). I know that breeding under this conditions might be impossible ,but for spawnig i have a 54l tank . There i can use osmosiswater for getting better breeding conditions.
Is it possible to keep these Corys in much harder water with out causing infertility (some characids getting infertil in to hard water i`ve heard)?
Have anyone kept or breed this Cory ,and can share some experience?

mona o · Post by **mona o** » 18 Oct 2006, 14:50

It's known to be some trouble with the hatching in too hard water. Something about the eggs membrane that needs softer water.

Sorry, I don't remember right know where I read that, but I'll see if I can find it and check back with you again:-)

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 18 Oct 2006, 15:12

Mona,

The theory is that the shell of the egg is harder to break if the water is harder - although it's more the acidity of the water that is the critical factor, but it's VERY rare with acidic hard water, since many of the minerals that make up hard water are also on the alkaline side of things. [This is based on my reading of Eartheaters by Weidner, so I'm applying a orthogonality in the egg-shell, which may of course not actualy apply].

So soft, acidic (lower pH) water will help the shell break when the fry is ready to leave the shell.

--
Mats