Using fungicides for eggs

[flame angel]

Can't seem to get a consistent answer for this...I guess everyone has a different opinion.

Do you guys add any chemicals to prevent fungus growing on eggs? Advantages/disadvantages?

I'm breeding peppermints (attempting to), and I've heard they are known for kicking eggs out, was wondering if its worth adding something like protozin in a weak dose when they are in the egg tumbler, what do you guys think? or even if they don't get kicked out? I know some people use methylene blue but that will kill off bacteria as well hey.

 

[Zebra Pleco]

I add alder cones or indian almond leaves to prevent fungus of eggs. Nwever add chemicals into water, always try and use natural products. Google the benefits of almond leaves or alder cones.

Rare Aquatics do a good deal, speak to Jo on here for more advice.

 

[Irene0100]

I use cherry shrimp or water louse, they eat fungal spores so any eggs that are infertile and spoil will be eaten and not infect the rest.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
I like any combination of Red Cherry shrimps and/or Water Louse Asellus and Alder cones and/or Indian Almond leaves as well. They are both better than Methylene Blue, and they don't have the side effects.

If you use cherry shrimps or water louse, you need to turn the air in the tumbler fairly low. I don't know what your set up is, but I've just used an aquarium net with an air stone and RC shrimps. Ingo Seidel uses this method and that is a pretty good recommendation.

cheers Darrel

 

[Bigjohnnofish]

i have at times had to use meth blue as the above mentioned methods dont seem to be very efficient and reliable...

but very low dose and only in early stage of eggs.. full 100% water change twice daily also....

have experimented with b/n fry also - very young ones - ones that have just used up their egg sack.... must say better result than shrimp/snails...

 

[MUTLI]

I always figured that they fungessed for a reason... if thier infertile for example or some other fishy reason lol. Just my thoughts

 

[Joby]

I never use anything specifically but always have alder cones and almond leaves in the tank anyway so I guess that helps prevent it

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I always figured that they fungessed for a reason...

They do, but it could depend upon a number of factors. One is parental care, the male pumps water over the eggs to keep them oxygenated, if your water is lower in dissolved oxygen than it should be, or the male not very diligent, eggs may die and then be attacked by bacteria and fungi, which can then spread to potentially fertile eggs.

The second factor is water quality in the broader sense, for example fish from black water habitats have evolved in water with virtually no hardness or conductivity, which is full of tannins and organic acids which act as a natural anti-microbial. In this case normal good quality water eggs may not hatch, because of the higher dGH, or the much greater range and number of micro-organisms. In the case of higher calcium levels (dGH), this causes physical thickening of the egg wall, which may stop the egg hatching successfully.

This is one reason why black-water fish normally need soft acid water to breed successfully, even if they can be maintained in much harder water.

If you can add tannins and anti-microbial compounds to the water with leaves, Alder cones, sphagnum peat etc it will limit the amount and diversity of micro-organisms and reduce the likelihood of spoilage.

The Asellus, MTS or Red cherry shrimps are slightly different in that they will pick off any fungal hyphae and perform a similar function to the male plec when he mouths the eggs.

The egg tumbler mimics the males finning and provides higher levels of oxygen.

I've never tried using "Melafix" (from the Tea Tree (Melaleuca)) instead of methylene blue, but that will provide anti-microbial compounds as well and may well work. I expect some-one else will have tried it, and will be able to tell you whether it works or not.

Cheers Darrel

 

[Brengun]

Unless my water is really pristine which is when I will use an egg tumbler, I much prefer to just stick the eggs in a cup and clip it to the inside of the tank to keep them warm.
I might drop a bit of meth in, diluted in other water to a suitable dose first and then add it to the cup.

Eggs as long as they have pretty clean water and good water circulation with a low airstone don't really need the whole cycled tank thing. Eggs don't poop and unless there are several eggs which are 'off', which you should separate and remove immediately, the water stays pretty good if you just change it out twice a day.

Once I see those little eyes and the start of tails hatching, I like to transfer to an egg tumbler where they have a bit more room to spread out and I can turn up the current a bit to help them cast off the shell casing a lot easier.