Hand Spawning

This is the second part of our Ranchu Breeding Article. We will be covering the hand or manual spawning techniques. Please kindly review my last thread for the preparation for breeding for both sex seeds. The steps are the same. I am available for any questions, after, here goes.

1. Prepare the Seeds-Males (remember that you need two males per spawning, it is best if you use the male from the same bloodline) must be in good condition with white spots on pectoral fins. Female must have eggs ready inside, stomach is extroadinary soft, and the ass has turned from white to pink.

2. Put all three seeds together in a pond the evening prior to breeding. Observe the fish and make sure that the males are chasing the female around. This is the beginning of courtship.

3. The next morning at about 5.00am, observe and make sure that the males are actively nudging the female. Prepare a breeding bowl in advance (we use white metal laminated bowl, as seen in most pictures,the size should be big enough for both fish in your hands to be in) Pick up the fish one in each hands, lightly massage (circular motion with the two middle fingers and thumbs on both hands). The ass of both seeds are turned towards each other while squeezing(massaging) the fish. Experience is very important here, cause you cannot do it too hard, you may damage the fish ovary and if you do it too soft you will not be able to bring out all the eggs which can be deadly for the mother.

The males may run out of sperms before the female runs out of eggs, so you need to have the other male close by and ready to be substituted when needed. The eggs will be stuck on the side of the bowl. Make sure you use your hand to stir the water around thoroughly. This is the best way of making sure that the sperms have the best chance of fertilizing all the eggs. This is very important. When you have gotten enough eggs for that bowl, and the fish is not done, you can move to another bowl that you have set aside prior.(You need to prepare a couple,in case that you get a lot of eggs.) As you can imagine, it is very difficult to guage the strength to use in this, you do it too hard you run the risk of damaging the seeds, permanently. The only advise I can give is that you should start learning handspawning from lower quality fish, first. You do not wat to jump in to try it with a really nice fish, because of obvious reasons. After one time trying it, I promise that it will become much easier.

4. Take the containers with the eggs and keep in in a dry cool place, outside of direct sunlight with the oxygen turned on high. You will also need to prepare another bowl of water (same temperature of course) with the eggs bowl. After a half hour,you must replace the original water in the eggs bowl with the new water. This is crucial since the original breeding water is full of sperms and protein which will soil the water easily. The fish will hatch in 3-5 days.

The number one killer of unhatch eggs are fungus. The eggs that are not fertilized will soil and then fungi will start to grow. You have to vacuum the unfertilized eggs out with the oxygen tube. It works really well,but hard for the eyes. This has to be done prior to hatching, as soon as you can tell which eggs are not fertilized. Please check my earlier posting on how you do this. Some people will add a drop of formaline or metaline blue medicine at this stage directly into the eggs bowl to reduce the fungus problem. This is up to you if you want to or not. I have tried both methods and I add a drop of formaline myself usually. Mr.Kitikorn does not. He cleans rather than add medicine.

This conclude the hand spawning techniques by the Absolute Fishery Farm. If you have any questions for any one of us, please do not hesitate to let us know. Sawasdee krap.

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