Slim to none?

[LizStreithorst]

My number 1 pair spawned yesterday evening. I want to try and raise the albinos this time, but I didn't realize how hard it would be with the eggs in a pitcher of RO.

The theory is that the eyesight of the albinos is very weak so they need near complete darkness at first until their eyes have some time to get stronger. This worked for Cliff once when he went away for 2 weeks, turned off all the lights and came back to find a bunch of albinos attached to the pair.

But these eggs of mine are in a pitcher of RO hanging off the side of the tank. I have to do it that way to get a spawn. I've taken my TDS down to 20 and still had no viable eggs. the pitcher is the only way for me. But how can I tell if the eggs turn white? When do I know that the eggs are about to wiggle and the pitcher needs a WC with regular tap? How do I know when the wigglers free swim? And how long do the kids need to be free swimming before I turn lights on again?

I read that fish have a hard time seeing red light, so I have 2 tanks running with red lights only. It gives me a bit of light to be able so see a enough to walk around the fish room, but not enough to see the progress of the eggs.

This is the largest spawn this pair has given me in quite a while, so I hope I don't mess it up.

[brewmaster15]

My number 1 pair spawned yesterday evening. I want to try and raise the albinos this time, but I didn't realize how hard it would be with the eggs in a pitcher of RO.

The theory is that the eyesight of the albinos is very weak so they need near complete darkness at first until their eyes have some time to get stronger. This worked for Cliff once when he went away for 2 weeks, turned off all the lights and came back to find a bunch of albinos attached to the pair.

But these eggs of mine are in a pitcher of RO hanging off the side of the tank. I have to do it that way to get a spawn. I've taken my TDS down to 20 and still had no viable eggs. the pitcher is the only way for me. But how can I tell if the eggs turn white? When do I know that the eggs are about to wiggle and the pitcher needs a WC with regular tap? How do I know when the wigglers free swim? And how long do the kids need to be free swimming before I turn lights on again?

I read that fish have a hard time seeing red light, so I have 2 tanks running with red lights only. It gives me a bit of light to be able so see a enough to walk around the fish room, but not enough to see the progress of the eggs.

This is the largest spawn this pair has given me in quite a while, so I hope I don't mess it up.

Liz I really think you are making this harder than it needs to be. Albinos absolutely do not need to be in the dark to attach. I know this as fact from when I bred them and have it documented on the forum.

https://forum.simplydiscus.com/forum/simplydiscus-community/homesteader-it-s-your-world-within-our-world/brew-s-world-brewmaster15-connecticut/36460-brew-s-homegrown-albino-alenquers

The theory is that the eyesight of the albinos is very weak so they need near complete darkness at first until their eyes have some time to get stronger. This worked for Cliff once when he went away for 2 weeks, turned off all the lights and came back to find a bunch of albinos attached to the pair.

That Cliffs fry attached under these conditions doesn't mean that those conditions need to occur for albino fry to attach. We also do not know what kind of ambient lighting was in cliffs room. Breeding albinos is done all the time... its really not much different than non-albinos.

When fry go free swimming and attach to the parents they are attracted to dark shapes and the vibrations the parents make. Albino fry react the same way as non albino. You would not want to put a spot light over the tank but if you just have a normal light ,remove dark objects like sponges and drop the water level to parents back the albinos will attach fine.
Also don't forget that your adult pairs eyes function perfectly and they will actively seek out the fry... both albino and non albino.

That is what I have found to work for what its worth.

[LizStreithorst]

I've had this pair for years Al, and every time, the albinos never find the parents and just swim around aimlessly until they starve and die.

Cliff's fishroom is in his basement so once he turned the lights off the room was in total darkness.

[brewmaster15]

I've had this pair for years Al, and every time, the albinos never find the parents and just swim around aimlessly until they starve and die.

Cliff's fishroom is in his basement so once he turned the lights off the room was in total darkness.

Liz, I'm sorry, but I can only tell you the facts I know.

It really makes no sense that albino fry need complete Darkness to attach.. Bright light certainly could be a problem as albinos lack protective pigments in the eyes, but just dim or not to bright lighting should be fine. If the argument is their eyes are weak, being in the dark should make it even harder to attach. I think its probably a light level thing but I know its not complete darkness thats needed.

I am also really surprised that Cliff would leave his discus for 2 weeks in complete darkness. When I go away, I shut my tank lights but theres always ambient light from a small basement window here or I leave on a small light. I wouldn't go away for 2 weeks and leave my discus in complete darkness.

Best I can do is share what I know to work here and raise questions like I have. I hope you are successful though.

al

[LizStreithorst]

Al, did you have lights over the tanks?

[brewmaster15]

Liz I always have a light over my breeders. When I have fry about to attach I move the light to one side and create a light gradient. I never use bright lights.. when I bred the albinos they were just your standard fluorescent aquarium lights.

[LizStreithorst]

Maybe my lights were too bright in conjunction with the 2 4 bulb fluorescents on the ceiling of the fish room. I'll keep the ceiling lights off as well as the light over the breeding tank, but will turn on the rest of the tank lights in the fish room. At least then I'll be able so see the progress of the spawn and care for my other tanks as normal. Thanks for your input, Al.

[jeep]

I seem to have better success with my PB's attaching if I keep the lights off in the tank and leave a light on across the room at night. In my current case, it's an empty tank with the light on. I also removed the black filter this time because the fry always attach to it. The theory being that fry are attracted to dark objects due to poor eyesight. Leaving the night light and removing the filter makes the parents the only objects in the tank, and since this pair can't turn dark (as albino's can't) and kind of give up trying to corral them, the attachment seems to be the fry's job. My new spawn should begin to go free swimming today so I'll see if I get more attaching this time. In the last spawn, I didn't even know I had any survivors because they must have been hugging the back of the filter. I ended up with 15 out of almost 100. I don't think any level of lighting plays a factor until they go free swimming.

Good luck Liz!!

[LizStreithorst]

That helps, Brian. Thanks. And good luck to you too.

[CliffsDiscus]

My number 1 pair spawned yesterday evening. I want to try and raise the albinos this time, but I didn't realize how hard it would be with the eggs in a pitcher of RO.

The theory is that the eyesight of the albinos is very weak so they need near complete darkness at first until their eyes have some time to get stronger. This worked for Cliff once when he went away for 2 weeks, turned off all the lights and came back to find a bunch of albinos attached to the pair.

But these eggs of mine are in a pitcher of RO hanging off the side of the tank. I have to do it that way to get a spawn. I've taken my TDS down to 20 and still had no viable eggs. the pitcher is the only way for me. But how can I tell if the eggs turn white? When do I know that the eggs are about to wiggle and the pitcher needs a WC with regular tap? How do I know when the wigglers free swim? And how long do the kids need to be free swimming before I turn lights on again?

I read that fish have a hard time seeing red light, so I have 2 tanks running with red lights only. It gives me a bit of light to be able so see a enough to walk around the fish room, but not enough to see the progress of the eggs.

This is the largest spawn this pair has given me in quite a while, so I hope I don't mess it up.

Liz, Your pair spawned last night(Sunday) the fry should be free swimming on the coming Sunday. The eggs should hatch out around 72hours. What I do normally is to change out all the RO in the pitcher.

I have a extra pitcher with tank water just pull out the cone with egg and transfer it to the extra pitcher, this should only take a few seconds. Do this if possible one hour before hatching.

Lights, I don't have lights over the tanks, this is because the expense of lighting over 50 tanks. I use one shop light during the days when I am at home.

[LizStreithorst]

OK Cliff. I'm kind of taking advice from everyone here and choosing my own method from the advice. I did turn turn on the overhead lights. With them on, I don't need tank lights, but when this is over I'll turn them back on. My overheads are 2 4 bulb fluorescents. I'll try to see if I can take out the bulbs on the overhead light nearest the breeding tank, I used to be able to do that, but it will be hard now that my back is betraying me. I'm going to have to learn as I go.

[LizStreithorst]

Done, and I didn't fall off the step stool and break a bone again. I feel better now that there is less bright light close t them.

[Vanman]

I am sure that you can do this, Liz. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

[LizStreithorst]

I won't be able to unless I try. I'm envious of how easy it was for Al. It will be easier for you than it is for me if you get pairs that both carry the gene. You have good water for breeding. If it doesn't work for me this time, I'll try again. But this is such a big fine spawn, all bunched together like we like that my hopes are pinned on it. Nothing to do but wait and see.

I appreciate everyone's advice coming from their personal experience.

Any news yet on your PB's, Brian? I have a good friend waiting for some of their kids .

[brewmaster15]

Liz it wasnt really easy for me on the albinos if you go to that thread I linked I even said they were a real pain. Those fry are where I learned to drop the water down to the pairs back. I dont think I ever did that before them. I don't know if you ever tried it with your albino fry but The technique really works great for any pairs.. remove dark objects and take that water down until pair is barely upright.Once they attach increase the water to normal levels. Ironically I use the technique all the time now.