Suspicious balls on side of tank

GoFYS · 04-16-2007, 10:07 PM

Good evening, every one. I have a 10 gallon tank with a head-n-tail light tetra (?) and two scavengers of some type. More recently I had another head-n-tail light, two guppies and a betta in there. The last four are now dead, all within the last 2 1/2 weeks. Water temp is 71-72 F. pH is around 7.2-7.5. There is a power filter with a sponge filter and carbon on top of that. I also have an air stone in the tank.

My question is this: I got home from work tonight and noticed that there are about 12 "balls" on the side of the tank about 1/2 way up the side on 3 sides. They are about 3/16" to 1/8" in diameter and a milky white color. They are kind of grouped together in a sort of line. I managed to get one out and it was relatively firm. I was able to roll it around between my fingers until I put too much pressure on it and it popped. Does anybody have any idea what this is? I have had other tanks before, it has been quite a while, but I have never seen anything like this.

Tommy Gun · 04-16-2007, 10:23 PM

Welcome to the forum!!!!

I wonder if your scavengers are Corydora catfish (Click that link to see if one is similar to your fish)....if so, those balls may be eggs actually. Well, I guess that they could be eggs of another type of scavenger, but the Cory cats are the only ones I am sure of that will breed easily in captivity...which is not to say others can't, but more to say that it is a guess on my part. Sorry, I wish I could help more in that area. However, I am SURE that someone here can help you sooner or later so keep checking on your question for more informative replies.

Other than to say Welcome, I would also suggest bringing the temp up in your tank a little bit.....closer to 76 degrees (F). While 71 to 72 degrees might not kill anything, IMHO, your Head-and-Tail Light Tetra would do better with a more tropical temp, and the scavengers would most likely enjoy it as well.

I am glad that you could join us and I truly believe that you will find more than enough information and ideas here to last for a lifetime....both yours and your fishes'!

gm333 · 04-16-2007, 10:34 PM

I would also agree to eggs, but if they are white that generally means they were not fertilized.

GoFYS · 04-16-2007, 10:52 PM

Thanks for the information about the eggs and the variety of cory catfish. That's what they are. Looking closer at the eggs, they appear kind of clear on the top with a milky ball nestled at the bottom of the ball. Interesting at any rate.

I will bring up the tank temperature as soon as I get a new heater. I think that this one got banged around last time I cleaned the tank. It used to hold the temp right where I set it. Right before the other fish died it would fluctuate wildly, up to 15 to 20 deg. from where it is now.

Any thoughts on varieties of tankmates for what I currently have? I do have some plastic plants that are in there now and a cave, also.