[Killietalk] 100-strand green mops (was Re: Fp. oeseri)

[Wright Huntley <whuntley at verizon_net>]

margaret collins wrote:
> Where do you find 100 strand green mops?
> I understand from this thread = My killiefish need these in order to breed successfully.
> Later,
> Marge
>
>   
Marge,

Find them right on your counter, when you finish making them. :-D  
Almost all of us just make our own. They are so easy to make it is one 
of our best hobby bargains.

Buy the softest acrylic yarn you can find at any fabric store. I like 
black or dark green as that makes eggs easier to see. YMMV.

Make 50 wraps around a book, the long way. Tie all strands together at 
one end with a piece of yarn. When you cut the strands at the other end 
of the book, you have a 100-strand mop.

Dunk in a Pyrex measuring cup full of water, and heat just barely to the 
boiling point in the microwave. Don't overdo it, as some acrylic can 
lose softness if boiled for a while. Boiling is needed to get rid of any 
last little bit of cleaning compounds that may have clung to the yarn. 
The water may also have a tint of dye, too, so always discard it and 
rinse the mop well in tap water.

If you want a sunken mop, use it as is. Best for oeseri and other Fp. If 
you want a floating mop (better for most Aphyosemions, Epiplatys and 
Lampeyes) tie it to a wine cork where the strands are tied and let the 
loose ends dangle. Any float that doesn't harm the water will work. A 1" 
slice from a "Water Weasel" makes a flat float that Rivs love to climb 
out on. For Lampeyes that are crevice spawners, you can bunch the mop 
into a bundle with a couple of rubber bands, and they will inject the 
eggs deep into the wad.

I have found that thick mops (200 strand) work a lot better than skimpy 
ones. A floating mop whose strands reach the bottom of the tank usually 
produces more eggs than a short one. For 5 or 10G tanks I use a bigger 
book to get the strands long enough. A paperback is usually too short. 
There are lots of variations on this theme. I hope this gets you 
started, Have you checked out the beginners' pages at www.aka.org? Lots 
more info there.

Good luck,

Wright

-- 
Wright Huntley - 805 Valley West Cir., Bishop CA 93514 
whuntley at verizon_net 760 872-3995. Cell 760 937-2276

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