fins Posted June 24, 2004 Report Share Posted June 24, 2004 Hey Does it make a difference to the fish what colour wool is used when making spawning mops? Also does anyone have a good method of making them? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fins Posted June 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2004 Forgot to ask but will any killifish use either a sinking or floating mop? or do certain killifish only use one type? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted June 24, 2004 Report Share Posted June 24, 2004 They don't care about the colour but the eggs show up better on darker colours. Get the wool and wrap it around a paperback book about 20 times (longwise or lengthwise depends on the depth of your tank). Tie a short piece of wool through one end and knot it firmly. Cut through the strands at the opposite end to the tied end. Voila! One spawning mop. Tease the individual wool strands out a bit too. It may take a little dunking and squeezing to getthe wool to sink at first. I tie the piece of wool to a square of polystyrene so the mop hangs down from the surface. In my tank, this meant the mop hung to almost touching the substrate. Not sure if the fish care though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted June 24, 2004 Report Share Posted June 24, 2004 Very good Caryl Some killies will use a floater Some will use a bottom Some wont use them at all. Research, research, research. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted June 24, 2004 Report Share Posted June 24, 2004 and you thought I never listened to you Alan... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted June 24, 2004 Report Share Posted June 24, 2004 Glad someone does C :roll: Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fins Posted June 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2004 Do you have to use wool, or can you use fishing nylon? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted June 28, 2004 Report Share Posted June 28, 2004 Why would you use fishing nylon? And how would you tease the ends? Wool is like $4 or less. Be a devil I say and splash (sorry for the pun) out on a ball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fins Posted June 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2004 I just thought wool would leak dye and go rotten? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted June 28, 2004 Report Share Posted June 28, 2004 You are correct Fins. You DON'T use wool Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted June 28, 2004 Report Share Posted June 28, 2004 More of Alan's humour.. Wool is ok for the amount of time it is in your tank. Just make sure it is clean, and if you are concerned about dyes, then just boil it and rinse well in clean water to check there is no dye being released... although most dyes used are fixed types. Another method is to use webbing as used for back packs and horse gear straps. Cut the end off squarley and tease the weft strand out that is going "across" the strap. Pull it gently.. (if it doesn't work.. try the other end).. and you will see hundreds of fine fibre strands starting to unravel. Leave the last few centimetres intact to keep the thing together. It can be cleaned as above, and used either floating or anchored to the bottom and will last a lifetime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_au Posted June 28, 2004 Report Share Posted June 28, 2004 Don't use pure sheeps wool. The cheap synthetic acrilic stuff is the way to go. I have mops that were made in the 1970's still in use. Been boiled, chlorinated, sun dried, left in the cupboard umpteen times and are still in working order. No leaching of dyes, rotting or what ever. And for floats I use wine corks, :lol: turns the tedious job of winding wool into a good night !! Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted June 28, 2004 Report Share Posted June 28, 2004 Peg, I wasn't joking. As Alan ( the other one) says, use acrylic, and use the fluffier one, Use differnt colors for color coding, either for species or dates. Before reusing the mop from one species to another, boil the mop, or use real hot water, to kill any surviving eggs from previuos attempts at breeding. Eggs can survive for weeks, sometimes months, in a damp situation. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.