The Babies Are Here!!!!
 

For about 20 minutes my husband and I were doing our best to catch our male Bangaii who had babies in his mouth. We had taken out lots of live rock and were doing our best to get him to swim around to me so I could scoop him up. Well, to my horror when he got to the corner of the tank he spit out all the babies!!!!! In a panick we forgot about the father and just started netting all the babies, doing our best not to hurt them. Well the end result was 40 babies in my breeders net!!! Now comes the hard part, keeping them alive. I wasn't really planning on doing anything, but when I saw the little wiggly things in the father's mouth two days ago, I decided I was going to do my best to save them. I have baby brine shrimp eggs cooking up and I'm doing my best to feed them Cyclops, can't really tell if they are eating just yet as I tried soon after I got them in the breeders net. They may have been to freaked out to eat. I am going to run down to the lfs to see if they have Cyclopeez and try that, will be easier for me to try and get the food ground up even more for the little mouths. Here are some pictures! I'll be happy if I can get at least 5 to survive!!!:rollface:

[IMG]http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z81/azfishgal/DSCN6417_a.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z81/azfishgal/DSCN6408_a.jpg[/IMG]

ill pay you 10 for one :)

CONGRATS THEY LOOK GREAT

:lol: Well....I don't think they are ready to leave yet. Talk to me again in about 2 weeks and we'll see if I still have some alive. I think it will take about 2 months before they will be ready to go to a new home.

HEY, anyone out there have some baby shrimp or Cyclop-eez that I can buy from you?! I fed the little guys some frozen Cyclops but I can't tell if they are eating or not. I have tried some local fish stores and can't seem to find any. I live near the 202/60 but I'm willing to drive to get some, or you can come and see the babies in person! :D

If anyone has raised Bangaii Cardinals before please HELP!!! This is a first for me. :eek2:

Thats too cool. Congrats!

Sweet GoodLuck!!!

WOW HOW COOL! I hope the best for you and the little ones!

We have both Cyclopeez and baby brine shrimp that are ready. You can come and pick some up if you want. We will be here till about 6:30. Will pm you our phone number.

Here is another picture to give you some perspective on how small they are. But still....I can't believe the male had all 40 babies in his mouth!!! :eek:

[IMG]http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z81/azfishgal/DSCN6428_a.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11330037#post11330037 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dcall [/i]
[B]We have both Cyclopeez and baby brine shrimp that are ready. You can come and pick some up if you want. We will be here till about 6:30. Will pm you our phone number. [/B][/QUOTE]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!! My husband is on his way over! :dance:

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11330037#post11330037 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dcall [/i]
[B]We have both Cyclopeez and baby brine shrimp that are ready. You can come and pick some up if you want. We will be here till about 6:30. Will pm you our phone number. [/B][/QUOTE]

I just fed the little fry some of your baby brine shrimp you gave us and they ate it right up!!! :rollface: Thanks so much! I understand they are already vitamin fortified, correct? How do you go about doing that? I want to make sure when I start to hatch my own that I am doing the same thing because I know brine shrimp in and of themselves are not very nutritious.

Hey I also have a freezer bar of CE that you can have. Its not very old but I got a pump bottle so I don't need it. LMK if you want it - I'm in Gilbert near Higley & Elliott. Its awesome what you're doing, good luck!

They really are awesome. Glad they are started eating! I know its a long way to go but I would down for some if they make it. The pictures are really good. Best of luck.

wow!! thats awesome, congrats..

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11331085#post11331085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fliger [/i]
[B]Hey I also have a freezer bar of CE that you can have. Its not very old but I got a pump bottle so I don't need it. LMK if you want it - I'm in Gilbert near Higley & Elliott. Its awesome what you're doing, good luck! [/B][/QUOTE]

That would be great! I just sent you a pm.

Wow! They are fantastic! Congratulations!

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11330043#post11330043 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by azhorsegal [/i]
[B]Here is another picture to give you some perspective on how small they are. But still....I can't believe the male had all 40 babies in his mouth!!! :eek:

[IMG]http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z81/azfishgal/DSCN6428_a.jpg[/IMG] [/B][/QUOTE]

Congrats on your new babies......Now for the bad news that hatchery you have them in is a death trap. you will have to watch very very carefully with that kind of trap the circulation will decrease with each passing day. The water will Stagnant and you won't even relize it until the fish show signs of poor health or begin dieing. I would suggest a plastic breeding trap they are only $10-$15 and if ou expect to keep a larger amount of the brood you will want the clean fresh water to replace the old water as much as possible. Then agian you not have to listen to me just my experiences with those mesh traps.

If you look on DR. Fosters
Item # ABQ-25782
I have used this one in the past with the air pump and it works great once you get the suction cups to stick properly.
Remove the middle insert and it becomes one large hatchery rathey then two small ones.
I have since upgraded to the ones that Petsmart sells. They have the same metal hooks as the ones on your mesh one but it was made for three mama's instead of two. hence even more room and it is so large ive lots of swiming room and there is no air pump with that one.

WOW--that's really cool--congrats!

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11332011#post11332011 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JMCAquarium [/i]
[B]Congrats on your new babies......Now for the bad news that hatchery you have them in is a death trap. you will have to watch very very carefully with that kind of trap the circulation will decrease with each passing day. The water will Stagnant and you won't even relize it until the fish show signs of poor health or begin dieing. I would suggest a plastic breeding trap they are only $10-$15 and if ou expect to keep a larger amount of the brood you will want the clean fresh water to replace the old water as much as possible. Then agian you not have to listen to me just my experiences with those mesh traps. [/B][/QUOTE]

Thanks for the heads up. Do you think they will be ok for one week? I have a 10 gallon Nano Tank that I am getting ready for them. I need to change out my bio-balls and ceramic rings for live rock rubble, add a little live rock from my main tank, and live sand (cup from the DT) and then cover the intake with a fine mesh so it doesn't suck up the babies (remembering to rinse it off every day). I've also taken out the powerhead so it doesn't blow them around. I am going to start mixing some fresh saltwater tomorrow so I can do a water change every week, more often if needed. I'm hoping this will help with the mortality rate, though I know if 5 survive I will be doing good.

yes for a week they should be fine but I wouldn't go any longer. I hope you have success in your brood if not this time around at least time you know that you have to get the little tank ready in advance when papa shows the signs. please keep us updated

lol would you like a kenya forest to put in there with the babies ?? I have 6 3-4 inch frags from that kenya you gave me couple months back

Could also try these foods, I use them for my fry (DR. F&S)
ABQ-960026
ABQ-960039
ABQ-12884

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11332249#post11332249 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JMCAquarium [/i]
[B]yes for a week they should be fine but I wouldn't go any longer. I hope you have success in your brood if not this time around at least time you know that you have to get the little tank ready in advance when papa shows the signs. please keep us updated

lol would you like a kenya forest to put in there with the babies ?? I have 6 3-4 inch frags from that kenya you gave me couple months back

Could also try these foods, I use them for my fry (DR. F&S)
ABQ-960026
ABQ-960039
ABQ-12884 [/B][/QUOTE]

Glad to hear your Kenya Trees are doing so well. :thumbsup:

Could you also just take a cup of tank water and pour it in the net several times a day? Just to refresh the water?

I wouldn't worry that much about prepping the brood tank in the traditional way. a bare tank will actually increase your survival rate. As long as it's coupled with frequent feedings it allows you to easily see any contaminants and siphon them out asap then do a large ie almost complete water change using aged water from you main tank or refuge.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11332565#post11332565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fliger [/i]
[B]Could you also just take a cup of tank water and pour it in the net several times a day? Just to refresh the water? [/B][/QUOTE]

This is what I'm going to do, just to be safe. :thumbsup: