BULLDOG Fry- Genetic Or Environmental

[TwoTankAmin]

This subject has been pretty much laid to rest as to the cause not being genetic. A number of people have collected sunubbers, grown them out and spawned them and gotten perfectly good fry with no snubbers.

I am a hobby breeder and since my breeding group started spawning for me in May 2006 I have had about 500 fry perhaps more. I have gotten 4 or maybe 5 snubbers all told. I normally give/send them to Barbie on the west coast as she is one person who has dealt with this issue for a longer time than I have.

Basically, the accepted thinking is that this problem is associated more with eggs being too thick/hard for the fry to push through and break free initially or else from being pressed into the rear of a cave with flat surfaces.

To the best of my knowledge there are no snubbers captured in the wild according to the fishermen who have been interviewed.

New dads often take a spawn or two to get it right. if you are having eggs come out of caves you can place something under the fron end of the cave so it has a slight tilt towards the rear.

When I am forced to pull eggs/wigglers I now usually use this air powered hang on the front trap which recirculates tank water:


http://www.kensfish.com/aquarium-suppli ... large.html

[fasttalon94]

Interesting. I left these eggs in the separate tank for a few days and then artificially "hatched" them. A few of them popped out of their shells just fine but some took some doing by blowing on them with a pipette. The best way I can describe it is if you have ever taken a frozen pea and popped it out of its skin/shell. I'm sure the male does this in nature so I figured I'd better be the one to do it.