Hatching Annual Killifish Eggs
You will need:
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Margarine tub,
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Air pump and airline,
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20g grow out tank.
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Lots of aged water.
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Live plants such as Java Fern and java Moss.
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Live foods such as Baby Brine Shrimp and Micro Worms.
Note. Before starting to wet
the peat make sure you have a good supply of infusoria.
When you receive your eggs they should have a
collection date and a hatch date. Please note the hatch date, as this is
when they will start to be ready. You can tell when they are ready by
inspecting the eggs. Using a magnifying glass you should be able to see
the eye surrounded by a golden ring. If this is visible then you can
start wetting the peat.
Take a good-sized margarine tub (white is best
for seeing the fry) and float it in the main aquarium with about 30mm of
water in the tub. Cooler water is better 68’f to wet the peat in and
allow it to equalize to the main tank temp 74’f. Not all of the fry will
hatch at once. Wet the peat for 2 days. When the fry hatch remove them
with an eyedropper or piece of airline tubing to another waiting
margarine tub. (Same temp) Remove and squeeze out the water and then
leave it to dry out a little on kitchen towel. (About the same
constituency as rolling tobacco.) And return it to the sealed bag. Leave
it somewhere warm for 2 to 3 weeks and then repeat the procedure. You
may find you have more fry on the second time of wetting.
The fry tub should be supplied with an airline
set to a very slow trickle, and also plans such as Java Moss or Java
Fern. You Infusoria culture should also be added to provide the fry
their first few days of food. You can now start feeding them freshly
hatched bbs or Micro Worms. Feed the fry at least 4 times a day and
remove any uneaten food with and airline being careful not to suck up
any of the fry. Each day perform a water change, gradually increasing
the water depth by 12mm a day.
Annual Killifish grow very fast and you should
be able to start sexing them after about a month. As they are growing at
different rates remove the larger ones as they may make a meal out of
their smaller siblings. When large enough move to a larger grow out
tank. Annuals can be fussy eaters and may only take live or frozen food
and dry food is usually snubbed.