It's in the eyes

Discussion in 'Breeding Tropical Fish' started by Arc Katana, Dec 7, 2010.

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  1. Arc Katana

    Arc Katana Fire Worm

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    Since 3Reef was the first online forum I joined last year when I got back into salt tanks, I figured I'd repay the favor somehow that I could. Its not much, but here is a shot from some eggs that are due to hatch in the next 24-36 hours.

    They are from Neopomacentrus bankieri, the scissortail damsel (among other names).

    Thanks to 3Reef for being a great community.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2010
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  3. steve wright

    steve wright Super Moderator

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    excellent, Arc Katana

    what are those eggs on? looks like a flower pot, but I am not sure

    are you going to try and raise these
    tell us more


    Steve
     
  4. Arc Katana

    Arc Katana Fire Worm

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    It is a flowerpot indeed Steve!

    [​IMG]

    Thats poppa looking for food.

    Yep, the goal is to try to get just one to adult, to complete the life cycle. Damsels are much harder to raise than clowns, as the fry/larvae are very tiny. Usual mass mortalities hit on days 4-8. It took Matt Wittenrich nearly three years to raise Sergeant Major damsels to adults, and thats with live plankton available everyday. Of course being in Illinois in December... :D

    I've been getting things ready - I might pull them early tonight if I can get everything set up. I'll post more pics as I go.
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2010
  5. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Thanks for sharing.

    When they spawn is it similar to the clowns, in that the male does a lot of the cleaning of medium and eggs. Do they also go through the different stages of meta ?

    Would really appreciated more pictures if you get a chance.


    Great stuff, thanks again.
     
  6. Arc Katana

    Arc Katana Fire Worm

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    Hey Corailline,

    The male doesn't really do anything with the eggs. He checks on them about once every 10-15 minutes of so. The female could care less about the eggs.

    Getting to meta is the big thing - most (99.9%) don't make it that far. I'll be insanely lucky if I can get one to Meta on this first batch. The fry are too small to take rotifers, so I've got to hope my "soup" thats been brewing for the past six months has enough copepod naupilii for them to feed on (if indeed they even eat that).

    [​IMG]


    Im off to set up the hatching tank - temp will be 80-82 for them this go around. The eggs will are coming from the same temp (and 90% of the same water).
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2010
  7. steve wright

    steve wright Super Moderator

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    great breeding site
    so much easier should you choose to try and raise the fry
    having something you can remove like that

    the Male looks well pleased in his castle

    Steve
     
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  9. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Wow.

    Is this your first spawn?

    Sound as though you have been planning way ahead in anticpation of it.
    Good luck to you, it is an amazing feat IMO.
     
  10. Arc Katana

    Arc Katana Fire Worm

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    This is the first spawn for these guys, yep! I'll try and get pics as I go along. It is being documented on MBI, once that site gets back up (Server issues).

    Cheers
     
  11. Arc Katana

    Arc Katana Fire Worm

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    Just a quick count - there are a whole lot of eggs!
    [​IMG]
     
  12. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    I have heard people say that they take on a very blue tint ?

    The eggs are so darn clean.

    Did you pull the eggs yet and how often will they spawn once they start?

    How old is the pair ?

    Lots of questions I know, but thank you in advance.