New Bangaii Papa

[Coraldynamics]

First time carrier for this pair! Just happen to catch them on tape for a while after most of the eggs were deposited. She kept wanting to put more eggs in, but he refused!

Here are a couple snaps from the video I am working on of them.

http://www.coraldynamics.com/Images/bangaii/daddy.jpg

and

http://www.coraldynamics.com/Images/bangaii/daddy2.jpg

I will post a link to the video when it is done.

Thanx for listening!

[Coraldynamics]

Here is one of Mamma with some eggs still attached (my best guess anyway)

http://www.coraldynamics.com/Images/bangaii/mamma.jpg

Enjoy!

[ri]

Great pics! Can't wait for the video.

ri

[not ecooper]

You know I'm jealous. Absolutely green

[spk]

Stephen,

great pics. Need to see that video. Cannot wait.

Steve

[Coraldynamics]

Here is the video, it is about 2:20 (including titles)

I tried using some slow motion during the egg juggle I hope it works well.


Enjoy
Bangaii First Clutch (http://www.reefobsession.com/movies/bangaii_2006.wmv)

[Coraldynamics]

Well I cought papa today and forced a spit. He was still holding 5 bangers!

It did not appear that he was still holding, but was not eating so I got concerned and caught him. He spit the 5 right into my hand as if on queue! :D

Here are some pics!
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/1929DSCF0257.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/1929DSCF0261.JPG

[jnowell]

Very cool Stephen, I gotta get some bangaiis, that's just too neat! Congrats!

[ri]

Hope you have baby brine shrimp ready!

Good luck.

ri

[Coraldynamics]

Thanx JNowell, They are a very gracefull fish! I enjoy them.

Ri, yup got plenty! I have to keep batches going with the clownfish breeding as well.

These guys are already hitting the bbs and even a bit of cyclopeeze.

[ri]

Already going for the cyclopeeze? I can't seem to get my baby Banggai to go for anything dead (frozen) for around 2 months. Must be me??:rolleyes:

ri

[Coraldynamics]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6636085#post6636085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ri
Already going for the cyclopeeze? I can't seem to get my baby Banggai to go for anything dead (frozen) for around 2 months. Must be me??:rolleyes:

ri

I took a small amount of the frozen and crushed it a bit. Then using a small baster I kept it suspended and moving. It may have been a try at bbs and got cyclopeeze by mistake but I know they were getting some ingested. With only 5 babies it is easy to keep an eye on them.

It is the same method I use to ween clownfish onto freeze dried bbs/larval diet just after meta. By day 20 they are on prepared foods only.

[Coraldynamics]

Here is a photo update:
They are using the fake urchin and really cleaning up the bbs
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/1929DSCF0300.JPG

Here you can see their pink bellies full of bbs
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/1929DSCF0302.JPG

Thanx all!

[Chrismo]

very cool!

I wish I had gotten Bangai's instead of Pyjamas

[ri]

No question... they are well fed!

ri

[Coraldynamics]

Update- 1 week old and still have all 5 alive and doing wonderfully! I will update with pics soon.

Looks like they have grown a bunch since day one! I will be moving them to their own 2.5 gallon tank later today.

[tmays]

Good job with the cardinals, and thanks for the video footage!

[MarinaP]

Steve,

They are beautiful. Best of luck with the babies, LMK if you need anything for them.

[Mieko]

Great video! Thanks for sharing.
Are they still eating the cyclopeeze?
What are you using for a fake urchin?

[Coraldynamics]

Hello everyone, and thanks for the nice comments...

TMays-I am glad you are all enjoying the video! I have started a new one that contains hopefully the transfer and pre-courtship antics.

Thank you Marina! I will keep that in mind.

Mieko- the fake urchin is made from Styro and plastic toothpicks. They are hitting the cyclopeeze, but it may be they are trying to get the bbs and getting cyclopeeze as well. who knows...bellies are very red!

Here are some updated pics...day 7
http://www.reefobsession.com/images/bangaii/DSCF0311.JPG

http://www.reefobsession.com/images/bangaii/DSCF0314.JPG

[adamprice271]

Awesome video and thread. Congrats on the babies...I am going to be getting 6 adults and hope I get at least one pair in my 75 (The cards and 2 urchins and 2 percuals will be the only fish in the tank. Hopefully I can have as good of luck as you got.

Adam

[spk]

Stephen,

this is great. They are looking wonderful.
If you are on day 7, is the male carrying again?

Steve

[Coraldynamics]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6696478#post6696478 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spk
Stephen,

this is great. They are looking wonderful.
If you are on day 7, is the male carrying again?

Steve

Well I thought I saw some courting activities and got some of them on tape. Never saw a transfer. Males jaw was puffed out, though no where near that of the video. He ate PE Mysis the next night. I have not seen either pair holding again yet...

Time will tell. Thanks for the nice comments everyone!

[Coraldynamics]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6696478#post6696478 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spk
Stephen,

this is great. They are looking wonderful.
If you are on day 7, is the male carrying again?

Steve

All 5 of the babies are doing well, though there is a runt in the litter. 4 have at least doubled in size but one remains smaller...he is eating and stays active...just not much growth.

Well it was a great Valentines Day at the shop!

The papa took in another nest on Valentines Day! Gotta enjoy true love! Ah heck, I am such an old softie... ;)

[sharla1234]

Hi Steve,
Congrats on your breeding success. I have a pair of bangaiis, have had them about a yr. & 1/2 now. I've tried several times to catch my male from my reef to transfer to a breeder to deposit the babies, but have had no success & only hoped he'd deposit them in or near the urchin.
Today, while eating lunch, I discovered three little babies in my urchin!!! I am sooooo excited, but need some advice. I put a bit of cyclopeeze in the tank, & they seemed to be trying to eat it or maybe ate it. I couldn't tell.
What is your best advise to me to keep them alive?
I'd appreciate it.
Sharla

[sharla1234]

Sorry Steve,
That msg. was for Stephen Pollack.
Sharla

[Coraldynamics]

Hi Sharla! Congrats! It's a trip watching them isn't it!

If possible, get a large specimen container at your LFS (I use the big ones with a 4x6" opening or so) or a large CLEAN tupperware container.

See if you can get it around the urchin without scaring the babies out and try to dislodge the urchin into the bowl or container. The babies should go with it. You might get lucky and the babies may swim away from the urchin and into the container without too much trouble.

You will need some bbs hatching...Mine are still mostly eating bbs and only somewhat on the cyclopeeze.

-When I know I am going to try and catch the papa, either before or after the eggs hatch, I place the specimen container in the tank with them...and just secure it with a rock or sand or something. I place it as if I was going to herd the fish into it...

Then a few days later they don't mind it so much and you can herd then in there really easy!

HTH and get some pics please!!!

[spk]

I wait to catch mine during feeding. I have noticed that the mail will always go to one spot in the tank, whilst I feed the rest. I catch him from this point about 4 days before he is due to drop. That way I know that I will manage to keep the babies out of the mouths of others.

Happy breeding.

Steve

[sharla1234]

Stephen & Steve,
Thank you so much for all the advise. This morning the babies were not in the urchin & I don't see them anywhere. I am sick! I got too excited too soon.
This is the first time I've even had babies that made it into the urchin. I've tried numerous times to catch the daddy fish. That never worked. Feeding time, lights off, etc. ..
I'm hoping I'll find the babies behind a rock or something at some point today. I'll keep looking.
Do they swim out of the urchin at night or what? I can't imagine what could make its way into the urchin.
Thanks so much,
Sharla

[Coraldynamics]

Just an update...

Day 32 and the three remaining bangers are fully onto prepared foods. They are eating cyclopeeze and shaved PE Mysis. They seem to go after both equally well.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/537/1929DSCF0607.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/537/1929DSCF0604.JPG

[RGE]

Thanks for sharing the video and your fry adventure. Nice going.