Paleatus Breeding Questions

PepperedGary · Post by **PepperedGary** » 08 Jan 2006, 22:09

Hey all. I've poked around this site quite a bit, but never posted before.

I have five breeding age peppereds - 3 nice fat females and two males - one still what you'd probably call juvenile. They've only all been together for probably four or five weeks.

I've read all about spawning behavior and how to trigger it. So I've done several cool water changes and seen some spawning behavior, but so far no eggs.

Lots of nuzzling, chasing, and bumping of the females - and the juvenile one will get in front of a female and back up into the T position as if trying to tell her what he wants. So far, the females have not gotten as fired up about it as the males.

My question for cory breeders - particularly peppered breeders - is:

Since they've been together a short time, how long would you think after witnessing the above behavior do you think they might actually spawn? I'm sure it varies, but I'd really like to hear some specific experiences.

Also...

I've read sooo much contradictory info on the net...can someone who has bred Peppereds tell me...

- What temp do you keep them at normally?

Mine is now at 74f with an occasional cold water change to 64f. I've read things that said this is fine...others say don't use a heater at all & then do cold water changes.

- Much literature indicates that soft & slightly acidic water is preferable (very hard to pull off here)...and I read another post that said this guy breeds them in tap water because his are used to chlorine???

What experience do you have with Paleatus and temperature, hardness, and pH?

Thanks!

Post by **corybreed** » 08 Jan 2006, 22:25

Most of the C. paleatus sold in shops today are commercially bred. As such hardness and pH are not a big factor with there fish. I have spawned paleatus at different temperatures, from 74 down to the mid 60's. In the mid 60's it took almost 10 days for the eggs to hatch out. pH of 6.5 to 7.5 and average hardness is fine. Keep doing large water changes, more than 50 percent and if you have access to live Black Worms give them a try. Best of luck.

Mark

PepperedGary · Post by **PepperedGary** » 08 Jan 2006, 22:30

Thanks Mark!

I feed them almost exclusively frozen bloodworm which they love.

Where might I find blackworm? LFS? Online? I've never seen them anywhere before.

Post by **corybreed** » 08 Jan 2006, 22:36

In New York local shops sell Black Worms. They are also available by mail.

Mark

lotsabettas · Post by **lotsabettas** » 08 Jan 2006, 23:09

try asking your LFS about blackworms,ours doesnt advertise that they have them but ask and they have them in the back...
My aeneus have been breeding like crazy and finally this week my palateus have bred for the first time turns out I have one female and 3 males...They have been eating regular food and live blackworms the last couple of weeks....
My temperature is 75 degrees,no real water changes to induce spawning,, they are in a room next to an open window and I normally find a weather change outside is normally enough to get them going...although my palateus spawned after a huge water change this week,they laid eggs within an hour of the water change

PepperedGary · Post by **PepperedGary** » 08 Jan 2006, 23:57

Lotsabettas:

Love your pic...I'm (sadly) an adult Simpsons fanatic myself.

So how about this question....

Everyone says to "fatten them up" -- how frequently does everyone feed their Corys to condition them?

lotsabettas · Post by **lotsabettas** » 09 Jan 2006, 00:59

I was lucky in my tank, a couple of blackworms slipped through on a feeding and inadvertantly bred in my tank...So there was live food ready when ever they wanted it...Theyre spawning again as we speak lol....

(and dont worry about being an adult simpsons fan,i'm 30 and sitting here with it on tv in the background lol)

PepperedGary · Post by **PepperedGary** » 09 Jan 2006, 01:14

38 and watching right now too.

DVD Seasons 1-7 here. Everyone needs a guilty pleasure, I guess.

Thanks....hope mine breed soon!