Chris Yew
20th February 2003, 09:58 AM
Artificial hatching:
There are times when the male fails to take proper care of the bubblenest, and lets the bubblenest fall apart and the eggs sink onto the tank bottom. Sometimes, some males may start to eat the eggs, for reasons unknown to us. These cases require action to be taken, lest the whole spawn goes to waste. This is when the male is removed and artificial hatching of the eggs performed.
The initial step is to remove the male from the main tank. The water level in the tank is then lowered by removing water, through a hose, from the end furthest from the nest. Try to remove the water slowly, without disturbing the eggs. Should any of the eggs fall out of the bubblenest, leave them be, for trying otherwise would only cause more problems. The final water level in the tank should sit around ? of an inch. This is done so that the eggs, should they fall to the bottom of the tank, will always be near the water surface. It seems that the eggs require both water and air to successfully hatch, thus the lowering of the water level in the tank.
In either case, store some of the water from the original spawning tank as a precaution. During the next 36 hours before hatching, ensure that the water does not dry up. This may occur if it is a very hot day. Should the water level drop drastically, slowly refill from the water in the original spawning tank. DO NOT use tap water, or the eggs will be covered in fungus soon enough.
Should all go well, the eggs will start to hatch in approximately 36 hours. Hatch rate will usually be only about 60-80 % and not a full 100% as some eggs will inevitably be lost to fungus.
:D - compliments from Alvin Ho
There are times when the male fails to take proper care of the bubblenest, and lets the bubblenest fall apart and the eggs sink onto the tank bottom. Sometimes, some males may start to eat the eggs, for reasons unknown to us. These cases require action to be taken, lest the whole spawn goes to waste. This is when the male is removed and artificial hatching of the eggs performed.
The initial step is to remove the male from the main tank. The water level in the tank is then lowered by removing water, through a hose, from the end furthest from the nest. Try to remove the water slowly, without disturbing the eggs. Should any of the eggs fall out of the bubblenest, leave them be, for trying otherwise would only cause more problems. The final water level in the tank should sit around ? of an inch. This is done so that the eggs, should they fall to the bottom of the tank, will always be near the water surface. It seems that the eggs require both water and air to successfully hatch, thus the lowering of the water level in the tank.
In either case, store some of the water from the original spawning tank as a precaution. During the next 36 hours before hatching, ensure that the water does not dry up. This may occur if it is a very hot day. Should the water level drop drastically, slowly refill from the water in the original spawning tank. DO NOT use tap water, or the eggs will be covered in fungus soon enough.
Should all go well, the eggs will start to hatch in approximately 36 hours. Hatch rate will usually be only about 60-80 % and not a full 100% as some eggs will inevitably be lost to fungus.
:D - compliments from Alvin Ho