Crevice spawning collector

Since some have expressed information on various DIY projects for keeping native fish. I thought I would post one of my setups for spawning crevice spawners. It works well with Spotfin Shiners and I am looking forward to trying it on other crevice spawners.
The spawning apparatus is nothing more than 3) 6" Quarry tiles held together by a nylon bolt and nut. These items can all be purchased at your local lumber yard. The items I used are 3) Quarry tiles, 2) plastic washers, 1) nylon nut and bolt set. The hole in the center was drilled with a 5\16" Masonary bit. When I drilled the standard glazed ceramic tiles, I did drill from the backside. It seems the Masonary bit couldn't cut the glaze. The hole in the plastic washers had to be drilled out to fit the nylon bolt. Since the first one I have found some plastic washers at Low's that have the correct hole size. I also added a length of 50 lb test line to the nylon bolt and then to a float on the top. This way I do not need to get my hand into the water to get the egg collector out. I hope the pictures are self explanatory.

 EggCollector1.JPG   17KB   2 downloads

 EggCollector7.JPG   10.51KB   3 downloads

 Final1.JPG   25.58KB   4 downloads


If all goes well and the fish are happy, this is what you should be getting every couple of weeks or so. This was from one 2 week period between checking for eggs.


 SpotfinEggs1.JPG   21.43KB   4 downloads

 SpotfinEggs2.JPG   12.55KB   4 downloads

 SpotfinEggs4.JPG   14.74KB   2 downloads

Bill F.

Wow! That's awesome Bill! Thanks for sharing! I can't believe all of those eggs on the tiles!

Since some have expressed information on various DIY projects for keeping native fish. I thought I would post one of my setups for spawning crevice spawners. It works well with Spotfin Shiners and I am looking forward to trying it on other crevice spawners.
The spawning apparatus is nothing more than 3) 6" Quarry tiles held together by a nylon bolt and nut. These items can all be purchased at your local lumber yard. The items I used are 3) Quarry tiles, 2) plastic washers, 1) nylon nut and bolt set. The hole in the center was drilled with a 5\16" Masonary bit. When I drilled the standard glazed ceramic tiles, I did drill from the backside. It seems the Masonary bit couldn't cut the glaze. The hole in the plastic washers had to be drilled out to fit the nylon bolt. Since the first one I have found some plastic washers at Low's that have the correct hole size. I also added a length of 50 lb test line to the nylon bolt and then to a float on the top. This way I do not need to get my hand into the water to get the egg collector out. I hope the pictures are self explanatory.

 EggCollector1.JPG   17KB   2 downloads

 EggCollector7.JPG   10.51KB   3 downloads

 Final1.JPG   25.58KB   4 downloads
If all goes well and the fish are happy, this is what you should be getting every couple of weeks or so. This was from one 2 week period between checking for eggs.
 SpotfinEggs1.JPG   21.43KB   4 downloads

 SpotfinEggs2.JPG   12.55KB   4 downloads

 SpotfinEggs4.JPG   14.74KB   2 downloads

Bill F.

Bill,

How do the shiners deposit the eggs between the plates? Around perimeter?

Yup pretty much. It's a crevice, they don't care that it's not in a piece of bedrock or between some large rocks, a crevice is a crevice. I googled "cyprinella spawning video" and the first hit was a you tube video. I've also seen video of white shiner spawning in rivers.

Yup pretty much. It's a crevice, they don't care that it's not in a piece of bedrock or between some large rocks, a crevice is a crevice. I googled "cyprinella spawning video" and the first hit was a you tube video. I've also seen video of white shiner spawning in rivers.

Yes the fish actually makes runs along the crevices and deposit the eggs. One of the males will pick the crevices as a spawning site and defend it against all the other males. After a few "test" passes from the male, females will start to make passes with him depositing eggs. I have tried video taping the event, but the low light prevents me from getting a good shot. Hoping to add more light this weekend and try again.
What has amazed me is how prolific these fish are. This is probably the 5th or 6th spawn I have collected this year. I quit trying to hatch them all and am now feeding the eggs to other fish. All I am feeding the parents are pelleted and flake food. Hate to see what i would get if I fed them a steady diet of frozen or live food.

Bill

Would they use the pre-made crevice device if you put it on end so a crevice was oriented on top more in light for photography?

Would they use the pre-made crevice device if you put it on end so a crevice was oriented on top more in light for photography?

They probably would since they will spawn on two clay pots held together and laid on their side. I am making another strip light with some CFL in it to increase the light. Should have it done later on this week. That should get more light.

Bill

They probably would since they will spawn on two clay pots held together and laid on their side. I am making another strip light with some CFL in it to increase the light. Should have it done later on this week. That should get more light.

Bill

Think you could get fish to follow crevice to near surface for further increases in available light? It would be really interesting to see how eggs are directed into the crevice.

Think you could get fish to follow crevice to near surface for further increases in available light? It would be really interesting to see how eggs are directed into the crevice.

I've had them and Fieryblacks lay eggs in cracks of floating and partially submerged driftwood.