Is there any expire date for killifish's eggs?

[exotic_idiot]

Hi guys, I'm very curious, is there any expire date for killi eggs if we don't hatch them?
And one more thing what does "hatch date" means? Can we hatch later then the listed date say 20 June but we hatch it on 30 June?
Appreciate your useful comment.

[ikarsai]

Hi,
I do not think that few days could matter in most cases, except if the temperature is hot or the medium would dry a lot during that period. The hatch date what the breeder suggests to be optimal based on his/her experience for maximum yield. It is possible that this info will not be optimal for you (e.g., you live in different climate). I hatched Notho eggs months later than suggested with some success and none for the suggested time. I think the best way to have your own fish, breed them, compare your own trials to the literature and then you will have a feel to adjust the best hatching time of other species you receive as an egg for your own breeding room. Good luck! Steve

[exotic_idiot]

Thanks for the reply..
My weather is hot here so i can't keep it for long period of time before i wet the eggs?

[RonWill]

And one more thing what does "hatch date" means?

Ben, some breeders alternate the use of "dunking", "wetting" and "hatching" date but they all mean the same thing; soaking the peat & eggs into water for hatching.

As Steve mentioned, the embryo development and hatch date is most influenced by the hobbyist's climate; faster when warm, slower/longer hatch date if stored cool.

No rules are set in stone. The best gauge is to check for "fully eyed-up" eggs. Use a magnifying glass if one's eyesight is deteriorating, and it is possible to see a very developed iris "ring" (see image below).


From this stage, wetting date can be safely delayed by another 2~3 weeks. In my humble experience, late wetting by a few months (after eggs are eyed up) yield poor hatch rates and a higher chance of belly sliders.

It is also dependent on which annual species you're incubating. Nothobranchius and Simpsonicthys takes about 2 months. Aphyolebias in about 3, but dunking Terranatos dolichopterus eggs without incubating for at least 4 months will yield disappointing results (I learned my lesson the hard way). Please note that all time frame mentioned is applicable to SG weather and it can be much much longer if one is in northern states in USA or in Sweden.

[exotic_idiot]

Hi ronnie, thanks for the clear explanation.
I'm helping my daughter hatch her Nothobranchius eggersi red which my wife got from ebay.
As we got not enough tanks to hatch all at the same time and i also can't find any much information about this.
Seems like i got to hatch them soon if not poor hatch rates.