artificial hatching

["Ed Pon" <edpon@hotmail.com>]

One trick I learned from a discus breeder is that if the eggs are given 
a rinse in hydrogen perioxide (the type you get from Walgreens) the 
fungusing goes way down.  I have also heard that some killifish breeders 
like to change the water to tap water which contains chlorine, also to 
prevent fungusing--this probably won't work well with apistos unless the 
ph is adjusted.

Regarding someone's post on changing the environment so that apistos are 
more likely to guard their eggs and fry until the fry are well 
established--I have thrown pairs of apistos into 5 gallon tanks that 
were overgrown with java moss and have found fry in the tank.  I believe 
the additional cover increases the likelihood that fry will live long 
enough to be independent.  Eating the eggs may be a survival-enhancing 
trait in which the fish is better off eating the eggs, and thus using 
the energy, if the environment is not conducive to the successful 
rearing of fry.  Dr. Ron Coleman's studies have indicated that type of 
behavior exists in larger cichlids.

Regarding the better growth rate of fry when kept with the mothers--I 
have also observed this phenomena.  I believe that mothers are 
constantly rummaging around in the substrate and stirring up food matter 
for the fry to eat.  Artificially raised fry only get a few feedings a 
day.  Mother-reared fry are probably constantly eating during daylight.