Keeping the eggs and fry clean
Keeping the eggs and fry clean
I was so worried about nr 14 in my batch. I had given him up, but left him in the fry trap as I didn't had a heart to get rid of him until there was absolutely no life left in him.
He was covered in empty egg shells that stuck to him, he had slimey bits stuck to his youlk sack, and he looked like he was about to get attacked by fungis. he was a mess
Then I noticed two snails in the fry trap. I decided to leave them there, as I know they *should* only eat dead stuff, so I thought "got nothing to loose anyways... *sob*" kind of thing you know
Now, after 6 hours, the fry trap is cleaned of any remainder of gunk and egg shells. And - the fry's youlk sack is clean, and there's life in the little sweetheart! I'm beginning to believe that he will indead pull through!
The snails are the small black ones that are considered a pest in most tanks. I keep them for harvesting as an extra delicious snack for my clown botia that lives in a different tank (yes, I'm out catching flies for my African Butterfly fish as well )
So this makes me wonder, is it possible that one might be able to trust these snails to clean the eggs and fry? Anybody got any experience with this?
I'm very well aware of what happened might be a fluke only, so I will in no way reccomend to allow the snails to be together with the eggs and fry, but can't help wonder....
He was covered in empty egg shells that stuck to him, he had slimey bits stuck to his youlk sack, and he looked like he was about to get attacked by fungis. he was a mess
Then I noticed two snails in the fry trap. I decided to leave them there, as I know they *should* only eat dead stuff, so I thought "got nothing to loose anyways... *sob*" kind of thing you know
Now, after 6 hours, the fry trap is cleaned of any remainder of gunk and egg shells. And - the fry's youlk sack is clean, and there's life in the little sweetheart! I'm beginning to believe that he will indead pull through!
The snails are the small black ones that are considered a pest in most tanks. I keep them for harvesting as an extra delicious snack for my clown botia that lives in a different tank (yes, I'm out catching flies for my African Butterfly fish as well )
So this makes me wonder, is it possible that one might be able to trust these snails to clean the eggs and fry? Anybody got any experience with this?
I'm very well aware of what happened might be a fluke only, so I will in no way reccomend to allow the snails to be together with the eggs and fry, but can't help wonder....
HI McEve
it is true, I've used water louse in the past, which do the same as the snails. They only eat the dead matter, and keep the live things clean.
Aparently it is quite common to use them in corydoras breeding.
I used them in a batch in stead of Methylyne blue, and they worked wonders.
cool
rob
it is true, I've used water louse in the past, which do the same as the snails. They only eat the dead matter, and keep the live things clean.
Aparently it is quite common to use them in corydoras breeding.
I used them in a batch in stead of Methylyne blue, and they worked wonders.
cool
rob
Useful little buggers in other words
Nr 14 did pull through, and have now joined the group in the other fry trap. It's really quite amazing, he was so covered in gunk that I didn't think he had a tail. I could see his head moving when trying to wriggle, which is why I left him, hoping against all reason that he might have a chanse.
I was amazed when he after only a few hours was all clean
Happy ending so far!
Nr 14 did pull through, and have now joined the group in the other fry trap. It's really quite amazing, he was so covered in gunk that I didn't think he had a tail. I could see his head moving when trying to wriggle, which is why I left him, hoping against all reason that he might have a chanse.
I was amazed when he after only a few hours was all clean
Happy ending so far!
I heard about using snails for this purpose a while back but quickly dismissed it as a myth for fear of them eating the eggs. I have some corys in the hatching process at the moment and I may well give it a try. All I need now are some snails, I'm sure I spotted a few small ones in my Endlers tank.
I had a horrendous snail problem in two of my tanks about a year ago, I didn't fancy a chemical solution and opted to catch as many as I could on a daily basis but I couldn't keep up with the prolific little buggers. I introduced a couple of clown loach in each tank and they had the problem licked in under a week.
I had a horrendous snail problem in two of my tanks about a year ago, I didn't fancy a chemical solution and opted to catch as many as I could on a daily basis but I couldn't keep up with the prolific little buggers. I introduced a couple of clown loach in each tank and they had the problem licked in under a week.
Those are the same little buggers that I have, it's good to have finally found a use for them. I have already used them on some C.Sterbai eggs and they did a great job. I'm now farming them in my Endlers tank, got quite a colony going. I have a clear out now and then, I throw a load in the community tank for the clown loaches.