Care Of Eggs
About an hour after spawning, I take several steps to minimize the growth of fungus. I increase areation and restart mechanical filtration. I have also used methylene blue at 2 PPM to inhibit fungus with good results. Fungus attacks unfertilized eggs but will spread and engulf fertilized eggsas well, preventing them from hatching.
At a temperature of sixty-eight degrees, the fry hatch in about five days. Temperature has an effect on the male to female ration; at temperatures higher than sixty-eight degrees, more males are produced. A day or so before hatching, I stop filtration and decrease areation, to reduce turbulance at hatching. I also lower the water depth to 6 inches, so that the young fry hatch in shallow water. This is critical, as they must fill their swim bladders with air at the surface, and deep water will hinder this.