Are my banggais breeding?

[anna]

My "male" (the larger of the two) has not eaten in about 5 days and his jaw line is very swollen. He is spending a lot of time in the low flow area of the tank. There seems to be something in his mouth but I can't get a good look.

I have been doing a crash course in dealing with the fry (if he is indeed carrying the babies) but am fairly confused. They are in a relatively new reef tank (3 peppermint shrimp, 4 blue headed pink damsels, hermits, sarcophyton, colt, pulsing xenia, torch and candycane) but I have about 130 lbs of live rock in my 75 gallon tank.

My concerns are 1) when are they likely to get released and 2) how do I keep them from being eaten?

Anna

 

[LauraH]

It does sound like your male is holding. They will hold for 21 days. You can tell when it's getting close. They males jaw will become very swollen and you will actually be able to see the hatched out fry in his mouth. When it gets right down to the wire, there are usually a couple of adventurers that will try for an early release program, only to have daddy suck em back in until he's ready to release them.

They usually release the fry at night, so if you want to save them, be prepared to do a little night diving. The best way to catch them is to be prepared and catch them right as they are released. Mine always released just a few at a time. You will want to use a soft mesh, fine net and catch them right as he releases them. They are pretty disoriented right after release, but not for long, so you'll have to be quick. They are perfect little miniatures of their parents. Very cute.

You'll want to have a rearing tank ready ahead of time. I would use water taken from your main tank. I've only had limited success rearing them, but that's been more of a time issue for me in the past. They are supposed to be quite easy to rear and will accept enriched brine shrimp nauplii right from the start.

 

[fungia]

i dont have any info but just wanted to say congrats mom!

 

[Anonymous]

I always catch dad once I know he has eggs and keep him in the tank that I intend to raise the babies in. I put lots of caulerpa in there for shelter for the babaies, and check the tank every morning as the time approaches to see if he has released them. Then I net him out and put him back in his regular tank.

You have to be very gentle when you catch him while he is carrying eggs, because he will expell them if he is to startled, although my male did hold his brood the whole time when I was moving my tanks to my new house. What a trooper!.