Controlling Fungus on Fish Eggs
By Dwight D, Moody
TFCB Summer time, 2014
Many of us that breed fish eventually suffer from fungus on fish eggs. We feed our breeders plenty of live foods to obtain them into condition, setup the best conditions for breeding, they begin acting like interested and VOILA! We've eggs. We wait to allow them to hatch and they get furry ° the dreaded fish egg fungus. Maybe some hatch but we lose lots of eggs to fungus, sometimes the whole batch is really a total loss. Frustrated, we question if there's in whatever way we are able to save our precious spawns in the dreaded egg fungus. Fortunately, there are many methods that may be useful.
The very first technique is to make certain that people really have men and women within the breeding group that really lay and fertilize eggs. Sometimes, a supposedly fertile pair happens to be two females. Other occasions, for a number of reasons, either the eggs weren't fertile or weren't fertilized through the male, who might not have been mature enough to spawn. Other occasions, the pair may spawn and they consume the eggs. Sometimes which means that the eggs weren't fertilized, sometimes the pair is simply unskilled. In some instances, making certain there's a multiple mating selections for each female can ensure a effective spawning. In some cases, for example with Corydoras catfish, getting multiple males for every female appears to become essential for success, since the multiple males make sure the female is correctly stimulated plus you will find multiple possibilities to make sure that a fertile male is active in the spawning activities.
After you have a effective spawning with fertile eggs, the following issue is to avoid fungus from attacking the eggs. Some fish will require proper care of this by regularly washing the eggs in addition to fanning the eggs to make sure sufficient waterflow and drainage, each of which have a tendency to limit ale fungus to obtain established on the top of eggs. In other fish, for example tetras, Corydoras catfish, etc. the mother and father provide no proper care of the eggs. Frequently, the eggs are laid where there's sufficient waterflow and drainage to avoid fungus, but departing them within the aquarium might not be possible. I've discovered that fungus is especially common in water with alkaline pH, and fungus isn't keen on low pH environments. So a great technique to prevent fungus would be to lower the pH from the breeding tank. This may be easily completed with aquarium chemicals that lower pH, or use among the Blackwater Extract fluids to complete exactly the same factor, that has the additional benefit of adding organic acids that could further hinder fungus growth.
In case your fish and eggs have to be maintained in an alkaline pH, there are many commercially accessible chemicals that might help. Probably the most generally used and traditional anti-fungus aid is methylene blue. Methylene blue is rather proficient at stopping egg fungus, however it has issues connected using its use. First, it stains EVERYTHING it touches, so you need to be careful not to have it on whatever you don°t want stained dark blue, including hands, clothes, etc. Next, additionally, it has a tendency to eliminate your biological filter, so that you can save eggs simply to have your fry die of ammonia poisoning. If at all possible, make use of the Methylene Blue like a dip, then rinse the surplus. It'll stain the egg covering but shouldn't affect all of those other tank much. Methylene Blue could be acquired from Kordon ( world wide web.kordon.com ).
Another alternative egg treatment methods are Acroflavine. It has the benefit of getting anti-yeast effects and it is especially good at greater pH levels. You are able to not to be great for plants. Like Methylene Blue, it'll modify the biological filter but is definitely removed by activated carbon. It might be utilized as a dip or perhaps a short-term, temporary treatment, just take away the filter media, add some Acroflavine, take it off either right before or simply following the eggs hatch with fresh activated carbon for 3 days, adding during the old filter media that will restore the biological filter to avoid fry loss because of ammonia buildup. Acroflavine can be bought online at AquaBid ( world wide web.aquabid.com ), National Fish Pharmaceuticals ( world wide web.nationalfishpharm.com ) or in a tiny dropper type bottle from Pet Solutions ( world wide web.petsolutions.com ), the second option to be the cheapest cost choice for individuals who just have a restricted quantity of Acroflavine.
Other chemicals which may be employed for fungus control are Seachem°s Paraguard at ° dose (world wide web.seachem.com), Mardel°s Maroxy, that is a sodium chlorite solution, which can be used just a couple of drops per 20 gallons. Pimafix has additionally been reported by internet surfers as the second solution which may be attempted, that has the benefit of as being a natural tincture as opposed to a manufactured chemical. Many of these solutions could be acquired at local fish stores, PetSmart, Petco an internet-based retailers.
To conclude, the easiest method to control fungus is to produce a lower pH atmosphere, whenever possible and achievable to do this. The following best answer is by using a compound dip along with gentle water movement. Finally, make use of a chemical that affects the entire tank but take away the filter media, place it into another tank to help keep it active, then use activated carbon to get rid of caffeine right before or simply after hatching, then re-install the initial filter media in the end the harmful chemicals happen to be removed to revive the biological filter and stop fry loss because of ammonia poisoning. By utilizing one of these simple methods, you'll be able to manage egg fungus and make sure that your spawns have a very good number of eggs that hatch. Best of luck, may your spawns lead to you getting plenty of fry to boost and tell other fish club people!