Amazing Cory Hatching

[Guppyman]

Greetings All,

I thought I would relate a very interesting occurrence that just took place. I have close to 200 - 10 G. tanks of fancy guppies. I generally keep 6 to 10 Corys per tank, depending on their size. For years I've watched them lay eggs and then watched the guppies and the Corys themselves EAT the eggs. I always figured I was busy enough with the guppies to worry about it.

A couple of months ago I had to break down a tank that was in need of a good cleaning. After removing the fish and the plastic plants I use for fry cover, lo and behold - a couple of hundred eggs were on the back glass. I decided what the heck, I'll just put in a couple of drops of Meth Blue and see what happens. About 3 days later I have a couple of hundred albino fry scurrying around the bottom of the tank. Very cool! About 150 of them are now about 2 months old and doing great.

So, I'm breaking down another tank last week, get it completely emptied and discover about 150 eggs on the rear glass that I did not spot until all the water had been removed from the tank. I quickly spun the tank around so I could see the eggs and placed the original water that was luckily in a 7 gallon bucket on the floor bank into the tank. I added a little fresh water to cover the eggs and again, a couple of drops of MB. A few days go by and nothing happens. It appears that these eggs are smaller than the albino eggs that had hatched and they were pinker - or actually more of a "rust" color than the others. A couple of more days go by and still nothing. So I assumed that although they were not attacked by fungus, they probably were not viable. Since I really needed the tank I decided to forget them and put some guppy fry in it. Upon going back into the main fish room I spot this huge spread of eggs in a tank and already the Corys and the guppies are going after them. I decided to try to save them and move them to the other tank with the bad eggs. I have never tried to move Cory eggs from one tank to another before. I took a tiny brine shrimp net and gently scraped them off the glass and actually got most of them in a couple of passes. I dash to the small room and while I'm putting them in the tank I realize that the old eggs look different somehow. At least half of them, anyway. Unbelievably - in the 5 to 10 minutes I was in the other room - the old eggs started hatching and I have a few dozen grey fry whirlygigging all over the bare bottom of the tank. After dropping in the new eggs I pulled up a chair, put on a pair of high-powered reading glasses and actually watched the fry bust out of their egg casings. I've been raising tropicals for over 40 years and it was one of the coolest things I have ever witnessed. Within an hour or so 90% of the eggs hatched and I only saw 1 dead fry.

Hope you enjoyed my little tale of joy! - Guppyman

[Allivymar]

Daaamn Guppyman; you've got the most fertile fish I've ever heard of. Whats in the water over there?

Pics!! Can you get any? I know its tough with such wee lil guys, but would be neat to see

[e-cat]

good story, iv also see fry come out of there eggs, neat huh? mine where convicts hatching in a cave and makinghtere first swim too the bottom from the side of the cave.

[Guppyman]

Hi Allivymar - It was easier with the albino fry. These are grey fry on a barebottom tank and they are even smaller than the albino cory fry were. I mean they are tiny. All my tanks are painted dark gray or black. Since the weather is going to be nice tomorrow, maybe I'll paint a new tank with a white bottom and give it a try. No one likes new pictures more than I.

As far as the water goes - I have a 200 ft. well into the best guppy raising water I have ever had. The Corys love it too, it seems. - Guppyman

[Guppyman]

Not too great! - Guppyman

[mattrox]

What a great post. I love hearing stories like that. The photos ARE great.

[Allivymar]

Eeeeee!! Lookit those cute lil buggers!

[acronym:0258510fbc="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:0258510fbc] Those are awesome pics Guppyman; thanx!

[myriam]

Guppyman, you have the BEST stories and pix! I am always very interested to see your posts because it usually means something cool and exciting like this. Congrats! Man, you are doing an amazing job with your fishies.

[Guppyman]

Hi, - I was wondering where you wuz hiding. Lots of fun stuff going on. Taking a break for the holiday and then it's full speed ahead. I really am having a great time, but I'm bushed. There's one new pic in my photo gallery of a German Gold. Very pretty fish. I'm looking into a new camera. I need a digital SLR if I'm going to get good pics. I have already taken over 250 pics to get one useable image due to "shutter lag." The worst feature of digital cameras. Very tiring. I LUV buying myself Christmas presents. - Guppyman

[myriam]

Hehe, I'm still here, just sometimes I get so busy I don't get to pop in here till later in the day. It's my "escape" from the hubby and kids, ya know

God, I bet you are pooped out! I can't imagine how you get any sleep with all those tanks to tend to. I will check out your new pix, too.

Hey I'm going to post a question on taking pix...I will bet you would have a helpful reply (hint, hint).

P.S. You deserve TONS of Christmas presents