SterSter
- Thread Starter
- #41
Ok i've thought about this a bit and have come up with a plan for you based off my own experience with these fish.
I've compiled them in a step by step guide below...
1. Gutload males and females together in the main tank by supplementing diet by feeding frozen or live foods
(You can only be able to put the males and females together to gutload them if you don't have a large amount of densely packed fine leaved plants like java moss. If you have a lot of Java moss like plants in your tank you would need to get them moved out. If you don't then the CPDs will start to lay their eggs everywhere and you won't be able to harvest them. You can use some of it though as spawning medium though)
2. After 3-7 days before bed put a container full of java moss/other fine leaved plants in the main tank
3. In the morning take the container with plants out and rinse the plants out in a medium sized circular container. You can then rearrange the plants in the container and put it back in the tank.
4. After rinsing take a turkey baster and swirl it in a circular motion in the container
(This will cause all the eggs to congregate into the middle where you can then suck up all the eggs easily. You may have to do this a few times)
5. Place all sucked up eggs in a smaller container and place them in a container or HOB breeder box.
(I recommend an HOB breeder box because success rates are higher but if you can't afford one then I recommend getting a container that can hang inside the tank, the one that they use at pet stores while catching your fish.)
Something like this but probs one that is like 5 bucks lol:
Amazon.com: Lee's Convalescent Home/Specimen Container - Large: Pet Supplies
(You can just use a tupperware container and float it in the tank but you run the risk of the container tipping over and losing all your eggs)
(If you use a container siphon out water from near the bottom of the tank and put the water in a small container (you can use the same one that you used for moving the eggs). Shine a light from your phone under the container to find any eggs you may have sucked up and put them back into the container. You can then dump the water back in the tank or dispose of the water some way else.)
(If you use a HOB breeder box clean it the same way as a container but you would be able to clean it less because it is dripping in fresh water constantly which is the reason why I like it so much)
6. Once the eggs hatch and are free swimming you can the take them out and move them to a bare bottom 5-10g tank with a sponge filter.
(For HOB breeder box you can suck them up with the turkey baster or by scooping them out with a small container that fits inside the breeder box)
(For a container you can just dump them in the tank)
7. Once the fry are a size that you are positive won't fit in the parent's mouth you can put them back in with them in the main tank.
(You can feed the fry fine crushed up flakes, hikari first bites, infusoria, and once bigger you can start feeding them Baby Brine Shrimp (BBS))
(I can't say the exact size the fry will need to be in order to be moved back to the main tank. You will need to eyeball it. Listen to your gut)
8. Keep repeating placing the container with moss in the tank and harvesting eggs until you notice your CPDs female's tummy's become less round. You then take out the container with the moss and gutload your CPDs again, repeating the cycle.
There are other ways in doing this that involves 3+ tanks but I feel that this way would maximize your fry gain while minimizing the amount of space needed.
I hope this helps you in your breeding endeavors if you have any more questions don't be shy please let me know and i'll be happy to answer them when I get the chance!!
If you also have any questions during your breeding process ask it in this thread and i'll answer that too when I get the chance.
I've compiled them in a step by step guide below...
1. Gutload males and females together in the main tank by supplementing diet by feeding frozen or live foods
(You can only be able to put the males and females together to gutload them if you don't have a large amount of densely packed fine leaved plants like java moss. If you have a lot of Java moss like plants in your tank you would need to get them moved out. If you don't then the CPDs will start to lay their eggs everywhere and you won't be able to harvest them. You can use some of it though as spawning medium though)
2. After 3-7 days before bed put a container full of java moss/other fine leaved plants in the main tank
3. In the morning take the container with plants out and rinse the plants out in a medium sized circular container. You can then rearrange the plants in the container and put it back in the tank.
4. After rinsing take a turkey baster and swirl it in a circular motion in the container
(This will cause all the eggs to congregate into the middle where you can then suck up all the eggs easily. You may have to do this a few times)
5. Place all sucked up eggs in a smaller container and place them in a container or HOB breeder box.
(I recommend an HOB breeder box because success rates are higher but if you can't afford one then I recommend getting a container that can hang inside the tank, the one that they use at pet stores while catching your fish.)
Something like this but probs one that is like 5 bucks lol:
Amazon.com: Lee's Convalescent Home/Specimen Container - Large: Pet Supplies
(You can just use a tupperware container and float it in the tank but you run the risk of the container tipping over and losing all your eggs)
(If you use a container siphon out water from near the bottom of the tank and put the water in a small container (you can use the same one that you used for moving the eggs). Shine a light from your phone under the container to find any eggs you may have sucked up and put them back into the container. You can then dump the water back in the tank or dispose of the water some way else.)
(If you use a HOB breeder box clean it the same way as a container but you would be able to clean it less because it is dripping in fresh water constantly which is the reason why I like it so much)
6. Once the eggs hatch and are free swimming you can the take them out and move them to a bare bottom 5-10g tank with a sponge filter.
(For HOB breeder box you can suck them up with the turkey baster or by scooping them out with a small container that fits inside the breeder box)
(For a container you can just dump them in the tank)
7. Once the fry are a size that you are positive won't fit in the parent's mouth you can put them back in with them in the main tank.
(You can feed the fry fine crushed up flakes, hikari first bites, infusoria, and once bigger you can start feeding them Baby Brine Shrimp (BBS))
(I can't say the exact size the fry will need to be in order to be moved back to the main tank. You will need to eyeball it. Listen to your gut)
8. Keep repeating placing the container with moss in the tank and harvesting eggs until you notice your CPDs female's tummy's become less round. You then take out the container with the moss and gutload your CPDs again, repeating the cycle.
There are other ways in doing this that involves 3+ tanks but I feel that this way would maximize your fry gain while minimizing the amount of space needed.
I hope this helps you in your breeding endeavors if you have any more questions don't be shy please let me know and i'll be happy to answer them when I get the chance!!
If you also have any questions during your breeding process ask it in this thread and i'll answer that too when I get the chance.
