sterbai Corys spawned

That's good news indeed - always an exciting time when new eggs start to hatch, it's almost magical!
Let us know how things progress.

John

They are just about ready to start being fed now - the yolk-sacs are almost depleted. The main reason for their inactivity is that they don't start shuffling around much until they are what the experts say is 'free-swimming'.
Newly-hatched brine shrimp is by far the best started food (in my opinion - if you can get some Seahorse Aquariums should be able to help you out there) or microworms as a second option.
Of course you can feed proprietary fry food, but be very cautious not to overfeed. You can carefully syphon off the uneaten stuff using a short length of aquarium airline.
Well done, and thanks for keeping the Forum informed of the progress.

John

ck1 wrote:

well done.love these fish have 7 in my tank would love if they spawned

It really isn't rocket science (although back in the days of yore we hadn't realised quite how easy it is to 'trigger' them).
Basically - and this is what I do with Corys (it doesn't always work mind, especially with wild-caught ones) is to skip a water change and reduce the flow from the filter/aeration then during the second week do a fairly large percentage water change but with much cooler water - even as low as 60f won't harm them. This, as has been suggested mimics a sudden downpour and will set off a reaction in the fish. I think this is because, in the wild, a sudden increase of water will flood the plants at the water's edge and it is on these plants they will lay their eggs out of the way of many, but not all, predators. This is why, I think, Corys will lay their eggs on whatever the highest object is in the tank, mostly the upper sides of the tank.

Now comes the part where you can intervene, collect as many of the eggs as possible - but here is a tip, leave them for a couple of hours before you try to collect them. during this period the eggs will 'harden' and be a lot easier to harvest then (I have tried to collect them almost as they are laid and they are very vulnerable to bursting at this stage).

I used to use one of those netting breeding traps but will now experiment with a hew breeding yoke I've obtained for future attempts (watch this space).
When the eggs start to hatch and little tails are seem wriggling out of the eggs is time to set up your brineshrimp hatchery. The fry won't be looking for food until they are actually on the move though, so don't be tempted to offer any food until that stage. They subsist on the reserves of nourishment from within the egg - called the 'yolk-sac'.

However, once they are 'free-swimming' they are constantly on the lookout for food and really (if possible) need feeding very often throughout the daylight hours (or when you have your tank lights on).
I really love to see the fry which have gorged on brineshrimp - you can see their little bellies extended and the pink colour of the shrimp showing through their belly walls!

That's about it - when they have grown large enough to no longer be considered a mouthful of grup to your other tank residents you'll be able to release them back into your tank then start all over again.

Give it a try, it's pretty easy (and extremely enjoyable to witness).
And don't forget to tell us here your experiences (with pictures for those who want to see them!).

John

Addition:
These are only my method(s), I know we have other well-respected Forum and Club members who also regularly breed Corys - your observations are cordially welcomed as well.

When I have needed to rescue the eggs from other tank mates (not to mention the Corys themselves when they take a break from their vigorous activities) and the eggs are still at the 'soft' stage I tend to use what we used, in the old days, know as a 'safety razor blade (ie it's a sharp bladed one side with a protected edge on the other). I found I could do less damage to them this way and most of the still-adhesive eggs will stick onto the blade.

John

Edit,
One Forum member - who used to breed many many Corys would put a couple of Amano Shrimps in with the collected eggs (once hardened) and these would 'tend' to the eggs very well, keeping them clean and devouring the infertile ones as they started to deteriorate. I have done the same but using Cherry Shrimps and found they would do the same job admirably.

That was really good see - thanks, Helen, for finding it and for sharing it with us.

John