I obtained a group of Corydoras bilineatus from a good friend of mine. They were
set up in a 20 gallon long tank that had a sponge filter, heater and a sand
substrate. And the tank was planted heavily with hardy plants. I kept the
temperature at 78 degrees F. I had this group for about 8 months before I tried
to spawn them. During that time the water changes were done every third day at
50% and I fed them pellets, flake foods, brine shrimp or blood worms twice each
day.
After seeing the females grow fat, the time had come to do
an 80% water change. The next day I checked for eggs and didn't see any. "So" I
fed heavily with black worms and did a 20% water change, checking for eggs the
next morning . I found none. Seeing no eggs I moved the group to another tank
that was close to a window. This would allow sunlight to set on the tank. The
first tank I left empty, but had plans to place Calico Bristlenose in it
shortly. Just as I was about to drop them in I noticed some movement on the
bottom of the tank. I set the bristlenose aside for a moment. Got a bright light
and when I spotlighted the tank I got a big surprise. About 40 or 50 fry were
dashing about.
To the internet I went to read more about this cory. To my
surprise it said that C. bilineatus is somewhate of a plant spawner. So the eggs
were in the plants and the sand on the tank bottom. Luckily I didn't add the
calico's a week before.
I keep a tank of green water so I started adding 2 cups
green water to the tank along with live baby brine shrimp. Two weeks passed and
crushed flakes were introduced to the frys diet. They are about 1/8 of an inch
now so I moved them to a smaller tank with a bare bottom. Two months have passed
and most of the fry have made it thus far. ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL! NEXT UP,
ROYAL FARLOWELLAS!