What a difference!

Kathy55g · 02/01/2007, 07:11 AM

I have been using a snagger to collect larvae ever since my fish started laying eggs. It has worked well for me, but I keep having to tinker with it. Lately I have been thinking the light on it isn't right, and have been trying different things.

Since I moved the broodstock to the basement, they have been laying on a removable rock, but I have continued with the snagger.

Last night I decided to try pulling the egg laden rock and putting it in the larval tank. Man, was that easy! The hatching went very well. I think there are a lot more larvae than in recent harvests. Mama clownfish was a little upset, but she seems to have gotten over it.

Sometimes I miss the obvious...this is a great method.

fin farm · 02/01/2007, 07:44 AM

lol

sometimes the obvious is not so obvious until you stumble on it. Then you wonder how you never thought of this before.

Larry

David M · 02/01/2007, 08:18 AM

Welcome to the real world Kathy.

Can you say... D'oh !

My snagger has a two year layer of dust on it

Kathy55g · 02/01/2007, 09:28 AM

In my defence, it is usually not a good idea to mess with success. I had one harvest of around 600 fish with the snagger!

I think I have that many this time, too, but without all the fuss.

And there is no doubt that I got them all, since no one got eaten, and the rock was clean when I returned it to Mama and Papa.

ediaz · 02/01/2007, 09:44 AM

whats a larvae snagger?

David M · 02/01/2007, 09:57 AM

A pre-columbian device designed to catch fish larvae when you are not prepared for breeding and it just "happens" in your reef tank.

I'm not at all embarrased to say that is how I started too

Kmiec123 · 02/01/2007, 10:02 AM

Glad to hear of anything to make this work a little eaiser. If I just stop killing all my larva, I'll be set.

tanglovers · 02/01/2007, 11:29 AM

Glad to hear it Kathy....I will be honest I never used a larval snagger, insead my first couple attempts were with a small flashlight and a small cup trying to scoop out larvae of a 220 gallon tank....go figure how much fun that was

Peter Schmiedel · 02/01/2007, 11:57 PM

Fut's to the topic: Question of my girlfriend:
What is that ugly piece of tile in your tank??? Guess thats where the snagger wins ..

At least my percula pair #1 does except it and the first two clutches have been placed perfectly. But as often the first ones disappear within a few days

Percula par #2 does not seem to be interested in the tile yet

phender · 02/02/2007, 11:34 AM

I have always been a scooper, because my fish are kept in reef tanks. I was able to collect enough babies to serve my purposes. I too noticed that my current percs were laying on a rock that I could remove. I just hatched out my first batch two days ago and wow, a lot more babies. However, you also see more of the still borns and weaklings that you don't see when you are scooping. If I was doing this for money, it would be stupid to be a scooper or a snagger.

Kathy55g · 02/02/2007, 02:17 PM

ya, i had a few still ones hatch out that never would have made it to the snagger had I used one. If you are using a long tube for the snagger, there is another advantage. No snagger induced injury.

02/01/2007, 08:18 AM	#3
David M Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Diego ( La Mesa) Posts: 2,831	Welcome to the real world Kathy. Can you say... D'oh ! My snagger has a two year layer of dust on it __________________ These are my rotifers. Without my rotifers I am nothing. Without me my rotifers are nothing. Current Tank Info: 125 Caribbean theme folr, 800 gallon breeding system w/ mostly clownfish.

02/01/2007, 09:57 AM	#6
David M Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Diego ( La Mesa) Posts: 2,831	A pre-columbian device designed to catch fish larvae when you are not prepared for breeding and it just "happens" in your reef tank. I'm not at all embarrased to say that is how I started too __________________ These are my rotifers. Without my rotifers I am nothing. Without me my rotifers are nothing. Current Tank Info: 125 Caribbean theme folr, 800 gallon breeding system w/ mostly clownfish.

02/01/2007, 10:02 AM	#7
Kmiec123 Actual CMAS Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NW Side Chicago Posts: 2,641 Blog Entries: 1	Glad to hear of anything to make this work a little eaiser. If I just stop killing all my larva, I'll be set. __________________ Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground. Current Tank Info: All-Glass 120 Gal #12348 W/ Dual overflow 48x24x24. Dual 400w MH with VHO atintic. Rod's sump design with old Euro reef skimmer Wife's tank 55 Gal w/cylone Bio-filter #cy194 w/ Sendra 3500 on Skimmer. Korella's for flow.

02/01/2007, 11:57 PM	#9
Peter Schmiedel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brussels, Belgium Posts: 1,629	Fut's to the topic: Question of my girlfriend: What is that ugly piece of tile in your tank??? Guess thats where the snagger wins .. At least my percula pair #1 does except it and the first two clutches have been placed perfectly. But as often the first ones disappear within a few days Percula par #2 does not seem to be interested in the tile yet __________________ Have a nice day Peter Current Tank Info: 300g main tank, several others

02/02/2007, 11:34 AM	#10
phender Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Yorba Linda, CA Posts: 4,182	I have always been a scooper, because my fish are kept in reef tanks. I was able to collect enough babies to serve my purposes. I too noticed that my current percs were laying on a rock that I could remove. I just hatched out my first batch two days ago and wow, a lot more babies. However, you also see more of the still borns and weaklings that you don't see when you are scooping. If I was doing this for money, it would be stupid to be a scooper or a snagger. __________________ Phil Current Tank Info: 50 gal reef, 60 gal reef, 40 gal reef, 2-20 gal clownfish tanks which are also reefs.

02/01/2007, 07:11 AM	#1
Kathy55g Moved On Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,250	What a difference! I have been using a snagger to collect larvae ever since my fish started laying eggs. It has worked well for me, but I keep having to tinker with it. Lately I have been thinking the light on it isn't right, and have been trying different things. Since I moved the broodstock to the basement, they have been laying on a removable rock, but I have continued with the snagger. Last night I decided to try pulling the egg laden rock and putting it in the larval tank. Man, was that easy! The hatching went very well. I think there are a lot more larvae than in recent harvests. Mama clownfish was a little upset, but she seems to have gotten over it. Sometimes I miss the obvious...this is a great method.

02/01/2007, 07:44 AM	#2
fin farm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kamloops B.C. Posts: 19	lol sometimes the obvious is not so obvious until you stumble on it. Then you wonder how you never thought of this before. Larry

02/01/2007, 09:28 AM	#4
Kathy55g Moved On Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,250	In my defence, it is usually not a good idea to mess with success. I had one harvest of around 600 fish with the snagger! I think I have that many this time, too, but without all the fuss. And there is no doubt that I got them all, since no one got eaten, and the rock was clean when I returned it to Mama and Papa.

02/01/2007, 09:44 AM	#5
ediaz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Grand Rapids MI Posts: 1,139	whats a larvae snagger?

02/01/2007, 11:29 AM	#8
tanglovers Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 970	Glad to hear it Kathy....I will be honest I never used a larval snagger, insead my first couple attempts were with a small flashlight and a small cup trying to scoop out larvae of a 220 gallon tank....go figure how much fun that was

02/02/2007, 02:17 PM	#11
Kathy55g Moved On Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,250	ya, i had a few still ones hatch out that never would have made it to the snagger had I used one. If you are using a long tube for the snagger, there is another advantage. No snagger induced injury.