Re: Spawning media for peat divers

["William Vannerson" <William_Vannerson at ama-assn_org>]

>>>...Spaghnum (sp?) moss... not sure though if it'll decay in water or whether it's suitable for egg incubation. Anyone tried this before?<<<

Spaghnum is different than peat.  Spaghnum is collected by picking live moss plants and drying them out.  It's used mostly as a planting media (i.e., orchids).  Peat is the fiberous muck that forms as the dead moss slowly decomposes in the bog.

Although I haven't tried spaghnum, I would suspect that the fish would readily lay eggs in it.  However, I don't believe it will store as well as peat nor protect that eggs as well.  Peat works well because it's highly acidic and is loaded with tannins, which seems to help prevent eggs from fungus.  Spaghnum would not do this as well.  Also, if you are storing eggs that require a long incubation period, I suspect that the spaghnum will start to decompose and destroy the eggs in short order.





Bill Vannerson
McHenry, IL
http://vannerson.home.att.net/

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