Retic breeding questions (and photo)

[Arco]

Finally! My retics are finally showing an interest in breeding and I have some questions.



How long do the eggs take to hatch?

Someone in my tank (all albino retics bar one young fulica) has laid a single egg. I'm presuming this means it's a 'test-lay' and the 'proper' egg laying will come later. Should I wait until they have laid a proper clutch before trying to let them hatch or is it ok to let this single test egg hatch? I'm asking because if test-eggs are reknowned for resulting in dodgey snails I'd rather dispose of this one and wait, but if they're fine I'd love it if the first ever egg did hatch.

I'm planning to transfer the egg/eggs and surrounding coir to a small pot and them replace in the area they were laid - is that the best way to do it or are other methods better?

How long after mating do the snails lay fertilised eggs? Do they ever lay unfertilised eggs? I'm asking because approximately 24 hours after witnessing mating the first egg appeared. It surprised me that it was that soon after and I'm wondering if maybe I missed a previous mating and the egg is from that?


Here's a photo showing my guys are finally 'all growed up' and getting interested in adding to the tank population...

[feebix]

Don`t move the eggs if you want them to hatch. They should hatch in about three weeks or so. The tester eggs don`t really hatch anyway, I`ve tried many times! ;D

[Arco]

Don't move them at all? Won't they get smooshed by big snails climbing over them? How long do they usually take to hatch?

[laurent]

Hi,

I've always removed my Retics eggs from the tank because mine at least were impressive diggers. My fist batches of eggs were so badly treated by the snails, they only produced 1 hatchling. There is also the possibility that most of batch was a tester one, but I didn't want to take the risk.

LAurent