Diamond goby breeding

MarcB · 02/11/2009, 11:15 AM

I have a pair of Diamond gobies that I thought might breed eventually. I have no way of telling if they are a male-female pair, buy they have bonded really well, and I was hopefull.

Up until last night they both seemed fine. However, this morning, only one came out from their shared overnight burrow. I cannot see the other anywhere.

What is really strange is that the ALWAYS leave the burrow entrance open during the day. However, today, it is sealed up with larger rocks and shells.

Could the other goby be sealed inside intentionally due to spawning?

Any comments from anyone who has experiece trying to breed these fish would be helpful.

Thanks!!

MarcB · 02/11/2009, 03:01 PM

Update.

I did a web search and this sounds very much like the breeding behaviour of a couple of people who had Diamiond Gobies lay eggs in their tanks.

I could find nothing about the hatching and care of the fry.

I am completely unprepared for this. I was not anticipating a spawning event this quickly. The tank is LOADED with copepods. will the fry be able to eat these or what else should I try and do?

(I have double-posted this in the general fish forum. there seems to be more traffic there. I hope that's OK)

billsreef · 02/11/2009, 03:57 PM

Definitely sounds like breeding behavior

It's been a few years since I had a breeding pair, IIRC hatch is 3 days after the eggs are laid. Like most fish that hatch that fast, they hatch very small with an oil globule that they subsist on the first day or two. I'd try them on S strain rots or copepod nauplii.

MarcB · 02/11/2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by billsreef
Definitely sounds like breeding behavior It's been a few years since I had a breeding pair, IIRC hatch is 3 days after the eggs are laid. Like most fish that hatch that fast, they hatch very small with an oil globule that they subsist on the first day or two. I'd try them on S strain rots or copepod nauplii.

I do have a very healthy and large copepod population in the DT. would they feed on those, or something more specific? I would expect minimal survival leaving them in the DT.

I can try moving them to the fuge, or setting up a 10gallon or something. What do I need?

billsreef · 02/11/2009, 07:57 PM

Too many hungry mouths in the display tank. You would need to set up a seperate larval rearing tank to move the larvae too. Too produce enough copepod nauplii would require setting up a seperate rearing tank for those all. There is a sticky thread at the top of this forum on growing micro foods, well worth the read. They will spawn every couple of weeks, so I wouldn't worry about rearing this batch, but start getting ready for the next

MarcB · 02/11/2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by billsreef
Too many hungry mouths in the display tank. You would need to set up a seperate larval rearing tank to move the larvae too. Too produce enough copepod nauplii would require setting up a seperate rearing tank for those all. There is a sticky thread at the top of this forum on growing micro foods, well worth the read. They will spawn every couple of weeks, so I wouldn't worry about rearing this batch, but start getting ready for the next

I could probably set up a tank to just house pods in preparation for a batch of fry. Is that what you mean? Would a dedicated tank for just pods and the larvae/fry be all I need?

I plumbed my fuge with extra bulkheads that have unions and valves but are not hooked up to anything. I could probably link something in to it fairly easily, and have a segregated area with all the benefits of being attached to a large system.

Thanks.

CompNrdCR · 05/07/2009, 08:25 PM

Same thing is happening in my tank... Since the larvae/fry move in the currents how would one do that with out killing and do water changes.

Will a permanent coffee filter work? I think I am going to draw out some plans for my next batch... Man I love these fish.

Luis A M · 05/08/2009, 01:51 PM

I wouldnÂ´t worry too much until I have larvae or evidence of a spawning.

But then,you can work either with rots or calanoid copepods.Larvae are pelagic and you need pelagic prey.Harp pods are completely useless

CompNrdCR · 05/08/2009, 02:42 PM

Does anyone know how big the larvae get?

Luis A M · 05/08/2009, 04:21 PM

How big they hatch?.Tiny.Lots of them but tiny.Perhaps rots are too big a prey for them.I donÂ´t know of any Valenciennea gobies successful raising.

CompNrdCR · 05/08/2009, 04:49 PM

Hrm... Research!

I am going to design up a tank. Look at food choices. Test some filter material for flow rates....

Research! =)

CompNrdCR · 05/17/2009, 03:02 PM

I got some of the eggs out of the main tank to observe how small/big/time it takes. I am going to sketch up some tank mods for to make a rearing tank. There is not much out there on how to breed these funny little fishes.

ScooterTDI · 05/18/2009, 06:56 AM

Is it just me or does that just look like some air bubbles stuck to a piece of hair algae? I've never seen diamond goby eggs, so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.

Scott

Grunt · 05/18/2009, 10:47 AM

Kinda looks similar to an egg mass of a pair of watchmans. Slightly different though. Did they lay them in the top corner or did the mass float there?

CompNrdCR · 05/18/2009, 11:12 AM

It most likely it was in their den and was released out (unstuck) from there. I found the egg mass stuck to some live rock in the morning.

I'll try to get better photos.

CompNrdCR · 05/18/2009, 02:34 PM

Ok... The specimen container now does not hold any eggs so they all must of hatched over night. I do not see anything but the air bubbles from the air stone. Does anyone know how small the larvae get?

CompNrdCR · 05/18/2009, 06:37 PM

False alarm... The egg bunch was under the bit of live rock. I have noticed the eggs themselves are a bit bigger today. Tomorrow I will bring a manual focus camera so I can get a good shot.

Grunt · 05/18/2009, 10:07 PM

Makes for easy collection

OceansParadise · 06/27/2009, 09:39 PM

keep us updated please do the eggs have to be well airarated to keep from bacteria to develop

CompNrdCR · 08/30/2009, 05:19 PM

Sorry for not updating but moving to a new house sure takes a lot of work...

Well the eggs one day all disappeared so I believe they all went into larvae state and I had no way of keeping them. Now that I am in my new house I can build a proper tank for the larvae and see what happens....

Can't wait until my next spawning...

lildraken · 12/06/2009, 01:55 AM

maybe i missed something. how did the eggs get out of the goby's den? my goby pair is starting to behave differently too. aside from their constant burrow excavating, the male (i'm assuming because he's got more orange spots and a little more yellow) swims in front of the female with is body bent in a weird way momentarily. sometimes he sways his tail back and forth.

he buries female in the den for most of the day but she still comes out to eat. hum..I wish I had a camera in their den to see what's up. I have video of them building their den but it doesn't do much good if I can't see what's happening in there.

billsreef · 12/06/2009, 09:00 AM

When the female gets buried in, it's generally because she's tending eggs. So it's a good bet they've spawned

CompNrdCR · 12/18/2009, 05:26 PM

I know when my two were going to do the nasty one would kiss the other a lot. Pushing and kissing in a circle. Now that the female or male (cant tell) got attacked and died I don't know if him/her will pair up again. Freakin yellow tail damsels I hate those fish...

stefannie · 02/04/2015, 12:40 AM

I found my couples den and can see in.. It's too cute.. (though I'd share)

billsreef · 02/04/2015, 05:25 AM

02/11/2009, 11:15 AM	#1
MarcB Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 74	Diamond goby breeding I have a pair of Diamond gobies that I thought might breed eventually. I have no way of telling if they are a male-female pair, buy they have bonded really well, and I was hopefull. Up until last night they both seemed fine. However, this morning, only one came out from their shared overnight burrow. I cannot see the other anywhere. What is really strange is that the ALWAYS leave the burrow entrance open during the day. However, today, it is sealed up with larger rocks and shells. Could the other goby be sealed inside intentionally due to spawning? Any comments from anyone who has experiece trying to breed these fish would be helpful. Thanks!!

02/11/2009, 03:57 PM	#3
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	Definitely sounds like breeding behavior It's been a few years since I had a breeding pair, IIRC hatch is 3 days after the eggs are laid. Like most fish that hatch that fast, they hatch very small with an oil globule that they subsist on the first day or two. I'd try them on S strain rots or copepod nauplii. __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

02/11/2009, 07:57 PM	#5
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	Too many hungry mouths in the display tank. You would need to set up a seperate larval rearing tank to move the larvae too. Too produce enough copepod nauplii would require setting up a seperate rearing tank for those all. There is a sticky thread at the top of this forum on growing micro foods, well worth the read. They will spawn every couple of weeks, so I wouldn't worry about rearing this batch, but start getting ready for the next __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

05/07/2009, 08:25 PM	#7
CompNrdCR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 193	Same thing is happening in my tank... Since the larvae/fry move in the currents how would one do that with out killing and do water changes. Will a permanent coffee filter work? I think I am going to draw out some plans for my next batch... Man I love these fish. __________________ 8 years salt so far... 65 Gal Reef Tank Feels So Small But The GF Won't Let Me Go Bigger! Current Tank Info: 65 Gal Reef Tank

05/08/2009, 01:51 PM	#8
Luis A M Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Buenos Aires,Argentina Posts: 1,689	I wouldnÂ´t worry too much until I have larvae or evidence of a spawning. But then,you can work either with rots or calanoid copepods.Larvae are pelagic and you need pelagic prey.Harp pods are completely useless __________________ Luis A M Current Tank Info: I keep about 40 tanks,for breeding and larval raising.Most are 10 gallons.

02/11/2009, 03:01 PM	#2
MarcB Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 74	Update. I did a web search and this sounds very much like the breeding behaviour of a couple of people who had Diamiond Gobies lay eggs in their tanks. I could find nothing about the hatching and care of the fry. I am completely unprepared for this. I was not anticipating a spawning event this quickly. The tank is LOADED with copepods. will the fry be able to eat these or what else should I try and do? (I have double-posted this in the general fish forum. there seems to be more traffic there. I hope that's OK)

05/08/2009, 02:42 PM	#9
CompNrdCR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 193	Does anyone know how big the larvae get? __________________ 8 years salt so far... 65 Gal Reef Tank Feels So Small But The GF Won't Let Me Go Bigger! Current Tank Info: 65 Gal Reef Tank

05/08/2009, 04:21 PM	#10
Luis A M Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Buenos Aires,Argentina Posts: 1,689	How big they hatch?.Tiny.Lots of them but tiny.Perhaps rots are too big a prey for them.I donÂ´t know of any Valenciennea gobies successful raising. __________________ Luis A M Current Tank Info: I keep about 40 tanks,for breeding and larval raising.Most are 10 gallons.

05/08/2009, 04:49 PM	#11
CompNrdCR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 193	Hrm... Research! I am going to design up a tank. Look at food choices. Test some filter material for flow rates.... Research! =) __________________ 8 years salt so far... 65 Gal Reef Tank Feels So Small But The GF Won't Let Me Go Bigger! Current Tank Info: 65 Gal Reef Tank

05/17/2009, 03:02 PM	#12
CompNrdCR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 193	Eggs... I got some of the eggs out of the main tank to observe how small/big/time it takes. I am going to sketch up some tank mods for to make a rearing tank. There is not much out there on how to breed these funny little fishes.

05/18/2009, 06:56 AM	#13
ScooterTDI Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 290	Is it just me or does that just look like some air bubbles stuck to a piece of hair algae? I've never seen diamond goby eggs, so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. Scott

05/18/2009, 10:47 AM	#14
Grunt Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 1,038	Kinda looks similar to an egg mass of a pair of watchmans. Slightly different though. Did they lay them in the top corner or did the mass float there?

05/18/2009, 11:12 AM	#15
CompNrdCR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 193	It most likely it was in their den and was released out (unstuck) from there. I found the egg mass stuck to some live rock in the morning. I'll try to get better photos. __________________ 8 years salt so far... 65 Gal Reef Tank Feels So Small But The GF Won't Let Me Go Bigger! Current Tank Info: 65 Gal Reef Tank

05/18/2009, 02:34 PM	#16
CompNrdCR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 193	Ok... The specimen container now does not hold any eggs so they all must of hatched over night. I do not see anything but the air bubbles from the air stone. Does anyone know how small the larvae get? __________________ 8 years salt so far... 65 Gal Reef Tank Feels So Small But The GF Won't Let Me Go Bigger! Current Tank Info: 65 Gal Reef Tank

05/18/2009, 06:37 PM	#17
CompNrdCR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 193	Eggs Stll There! False alarm... The egg bunch was under the bit of live rock. I have noticed the eggs themselves are a bit bigger today. Tomorrow I will bring a manual focus camera so I can get a good shot.

05/18/2009, 10:07 PM	#18
Grunt Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 1,038	Makes for easy collection

06/27/2009, 09:39 PM	#19
OceansParadise Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 64	keep us updated please do the eggs have to be well airarated to keep from bacteria to develop __________________ 75 reef, 55 reef, 29 reef, all w/MH supplying (3) 50 gal grow out systems.

08/30/2009, 05:19 PM	#20
CompNrdCR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 193	Sorry for not updating but moving to a new house sure takes a lot of work... Well the eggs one day all disappeared so I believe they all went into larvae state and I had no way of keeping them. Now that I am in my new house I can build a proper tank for the larvae and see what happens.... Can't wait until my next spawning... __________________ 8 years salt so far... 65 Gal Reef Tank Feels So Small But The GF Won't Let Me Go Bigger! Current Tank Info: 65 Gal Reef Tank

12/06/2009, 01:55 AM	#21
lildraken Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: ft lauderdale, florida Posts: 433	maybe i missed something. how did the eggs get out of the goby's den? my goby pair is starting to behave differently too. aside from their constant burrow excavating, the male (i'm assuming because he's got more orange spots and a little more yellow) swims in front of the female with is body bent in a weird way momentarily. sometimes he sways his tail back and forth. he buries female in the den for most of the day but she still comes out to eat. hum..I wish I had a camera in their den to see what's up. I have video of them building their den but it doesn't do much good if I can't see what's happening in there. __________________ "All that I know is that I know nothing"... Socrates Current Tank Info: 110 gal w/ 30 gal sump/ refugium, octopus skimmer, 6x54w T-5 fixture; 55 gal freshwater w/ Butterfly Tail dragon eye goldfish

12/06/2009, 09:00 AM	#22
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	When the female gets buried in, it's generally because she's tending eggs. So it's a good bet they've spawned __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

12/18/2009, 05:26 PM	#23
CompNrdCR Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 193	I know when my two were going to do the nasty one would kiss the other a lot. Pushing and kissing in a circle. Now that the female or male (cant tell) got attacked and died I don't know if him/her will pair up again. Freakin yellow tail damsels I hate those fish...

02/04/2015, 05:25 AM	#25
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	__________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.