Re: [cynolebias] i got eggs and now what???

[Wright Huntley <jwwiii at pacbell_net>]

Tyrone Genade wrote:

snip...

 >
 > You have to take the peat out of the newspaper before the newspaper
 > absorbs too much of the water. The peat is best stored in a plastic bag
 > which is sealed to prevent too much moisture loss. The petri dish may
 > work, I don't really know.
 >

I do. I hate to see others make all my stupid mistakes, so I'm often here
giving out free advice -- worth every penny, too! :-)

Petri dishes are designed to allow air flow between lid and base. As a 
result, the peat will get much too dry for SA annuals in most cases.

If you seal the edge with vinyl electrical tape, the moisture stays in but 
the oxygen can easily become depleted. If that does not force the eggs to 
hatch in the peat, it usually kills them. I have made it work for 
semi-annuals (WAL, GAR, etc.) by untaping the dish weekly to examine egg 
development (and let in a change of air). Too much pain for eggs that need 
many months, tho.

Use 1.5-mil-thick fish bags for the best water retention and breathability, 
as Tyrone suggests. You can fluff the peat (it should be just dry enough to 
do this) and leave some extra air in the bag, but tape it tightly closed.

Wright

-- 
Wright Huntley -- 209 521-0557 -- 731 Loletta Ave, Modesto CA 95351

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