Breeding Corydoras
Breeding Corydoras is a relatively simple task compared to breeding other fish.
Males and females can be distinguished by their body shape. When viewing from the top, females have a rounder shape to their midsection and males have a more pronounced taper from the abdomen to tail.
Normally Corydoras are quite calm and shy. However, as they prepare to breed, the whole school becomes exceedingly active, hastily chasing each other around the tank.
Spawning Process
The spawning process begins when the males start to erratically chase the female throughout the tank. When the female is ready she will then turn the tables and begin chasing the males.
When primed for fertilization to initiate, the female releases a small clutch of eggs and holds them in-between her pelvic fins.
The male, usually the strongest and largest of the pack, will assume the “T” position. With the two fish posed at a 90-degree angle, the male will release sperm onto the eggs.
After the eggs have been fertilized, the female will then pick a safe spot to lay them. Usually on broad leaves or the walls of the aquarium.
The female quickly cleans the chosen spot with her mouth, deposits her fertilized eggs, then repeats the spawning process over again until all of her eggs (usually around 200 -300) are laid. The fry will hatch after five days.
It should be noted that like other fish, corydoras do eat their eggs.
So if you are interested in successfully breeding these fish, it may be necessary to separate the adults from the eggs. This can be done by gently removing the eggs and placing them in a breeder box, or moving the adults into another tank.
Plecostomus Breeding
The ultimate success of breeding Plecostomus in an aquarium varies from species to species. However, one item that is always needed for successful breeding is a cave. The cave can be either man-made or store-bought but needs to be large enough for the male to comfortably fit, as he will be guarding the eggs after they are laid. It is also important to make sure there is adequate water flow into the cave to properly oxygenate the eggs and young.
Once you have readied the tank for young, it is time to select your breeding group. It is advised to have one male for every 2-3 females. 1-1 pairs can also be bred, but it will be a slower, less assured way of breeding. Keeping multiple males in a single breeding tank is not advised. The males become very territorial and will fight over caves and even eat the other male’s young.
To encourage the fish to spawn, first make sure the water is pristine. Lower the temperature a few degrees and increase the water circulation around the entrance to the cave. This will entice the female. The exact spawning behavior is not well understood. But the eggs will be laid in the cave. Afterward, the female is kicked out of the cave, leaving the male to care for the eggs until they hatch (around 5 to 10 days).
