Banggai Cardinals Dying

[shandy_say]

Hi! There was recently a few specimens of Banggai Cardinals that arrived here. Around 10pcs i think. I got 3 banggais, another friend of mine got another 3, while the remaining 4 went to some other local reefers.

2/3 i got died already and my friend who got the other 3 also just has 1 remaining. Another reefer also said his banggai died within 4 days after purchase. Does anyone know why this happens even if they are already feeding?

[duastina]

I have had the same problems, so far I have had a 0% success rate getting them to survive past the 2 week mark, my theory was that they were collected with cyninde. I would have the store hold them for at least 2 weeks before buying.

[FMarini]

they are not collected w/ cyanide, they are easy to catch
-- saddly wild caught banggais are dying off due to a iridiovirus which they are contracting at the holding shipping areas. There are a few articles out there about this problem. Do a search for vagelli and banggai or my name and banggai you'll find the articles
If possible purchase captive bred/captive raised banggais

[small alien]

buy captive bred only.

[shandy_say]

@duastina - I actually have a mated pair in my main tank since december 2009. They have been mating constantly but the male has never held the clutch of eggs to full term. 5 days then the eggs are aborted or eaten. This is actually why I wanted to get another pair which is why i set up a 15gal barebottom tank with a fake urchin as well as a hob filter and a aerator type skimmer. I can't leave them in the lfs' holding tank for 2 weeks cause they get sold quite quickly. So i have to risk it. Until now there is only about 3 people that i know of who have been able to keep Banggais alive here in the Philippines. Most Banggais that are sold here die within a week after purchase. Banggais here are actually called "Bangkay's" which basically means "a dead body" in Filipino.

@FMarini - Thanks for the info. What are the symptoms of that virus? Im not really sure if the banggais we get here are captive bred or wild caught since these are imported from Singapore. There is no one here in the Philippines breeding these and i actually wanted to be 1st to do so. Hence the 2nd batch of banggais.

@Small_Alien - Wish we could get those here but unfortunately no one breeds banggais here. I really do want to breed them. Been dreaming about breeding them ever since i saw my mated pair holding a clutch of eggs since January of this year.

[Wolverine]

Frank, thanks for the info. I knew the WC ones weren't doing well, but I didn't realize anyone had come up with a reason.

[FMarini]

Marini, Vagelli, "The Banggai Cardinalfish: A 10 Year Update", C The Journal, Volume 2, Issue 1,2008
Weber, Vagelli et al, Systemic iridovirus infection in the Banggai cardinalfish. J Vet Diagnostic Invest, 2009.

[shandy_say]

Thanks for the info. Will look for those! :)

Just some updates regarding the last remaining banggai:

Still swims around but hasn't eaten in 2 days.
Tried pellets, DIY food, Artemia, and Cyclopeeze and he ignores them all. Don't know what else to do.

[nathenvan]

have you tried mysis or brine shrimps? I have a pair in my display and only one eat pellets the other just eat mysis or brine.

[shandy_say]

He was actually eating my DIY food and Artemia (Baby Brine Shrimp) already then he just stopped eating. Still don't know why.