AZfishgal, or anyone else with Bangaii breeding experience

anonome

anonome

Active Member
Hello all. My male bangaii is stuffed with babies!! He has stayed away from all food since this weekend and his mouth is so full, it is almost comical. My question.....how long until the babies are released? I have tried to catch him, but my tank is not net friendly. He darts into the deep caves. So catching him is almost out of the question without destroying it in the process. I am afraid that the babies will become fish food this time around, but willing to try with the next go around. Any ideas how long until the release?
I have enclosed some pics, sorry for the actinics.

 
keith burn

keith burn

Active Member
Originally Posted by Anonome
http:///forum/post/2513575
Hello all. My male bangaii is stuffed with babies!! He has stayed away from all food since this weekend and his mouth is so full, it is almost comical. My question.....how long until the babies are released? I have tried to catch him, but my tank is not net friendly. He darts into the deep caves. So catching him is almost out of the question without destroying it in the process. I am afraid that the babies will become fish food this time around, but willing to try with the next go around. Any ideas how long until the release?
I have enclosed some pics, sorry for the actinics.
from on line sorry
The male fertilizes them and then he scoops them up and incubates them in his mouth for approximately 18 days. The eggs hatch in his mouth and he continues to carry live fry in his mouth for another 4 or more days before releasing the fully formed fry.
 
anonome

anonome

Active Member
Thanks for the info.
He can barely close is mouth!! see second pic. He stays around the RBTA, which worries me....kind of like hatching out of a coccoon and flying right into a spider web.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by Anonome
http:///forum/post/2514546
Thanks for the info.
He can barely close is mouth!! see second pic. He stays around the RBTA, which worries me....kind of like hatching out of a coccoon and flying right into a spider web.


Baby Banggai are immune to RBTA nematocysts so it would be great if dad spit them out into the Anemone.
Don't chase dad around with a net or even attempt to catch him when he's awake. If you stress him he will immediately spit the eggs out.
Once they hatch you will have a few days to catch him. Still, don't try while he's awake, wait until a few hours after it has been completely dark in the tank. Turn on all the lights and try to catch him before he wakes up.
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
my lfs had some born a couple of months ago. The made this fake urchin thing that the babies hung out in. unfortunatly they only have one left. They didnt seperate them for thier parents.
 
anonome

anonome

Active Member
Bang Guy, thank you for that great info. I will try that tonight to see if I can catch him. I have a tank ready in case I do . He is really "full" tonight, so I think it is almost time. Thanks again.
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
My male Bangaii held his babies for about 3 1/2 weeks. I'm sure you have read my thread on my experience. It might be easier to wait until he spits the babies out and then catch the babies. Of course you have to be around for that to happen. Try sectioning off your tank so the Bangaii Pair are on one side. Can be a little tricky but I did it using egg crate and was SOOOO glad I did, especially when my male spit the babies out. You will actually be able to see the little wigglers in the males mouth moving around and when you see that, it's time to help him spit the babies out. Try and get him to move to the far corner and the simple move of you trying to "catch" him will make him spit the babies out. Then just scoop the babies up with a large net. They are pretty slow at this point, so it won't be hard at all to catch them. Oh, just make sure you turn off your pump before doing this so they don't get sucked up over the overflow. Another breeder on -- just waits for her male to spit the babies out in her Xenia, he's done it every time and she just scoops them up. I've noticed my male seems to hang out at my Xenia now, so I'm hoping when he has another batch he will just spit them out there. Make sure you feed the male soon after he releases the babies, as he will be VERY hungry.
Have some BBS (baby brine shrimp) ready for the babies. I used the 2-Liter bottle hatchery kit and after the BBS would hatch I would add 6 drops of Zoe and 1 drop of Zoecon. I would start another hatchery about 2 days after the first batch would hatch. Your BBS must be vitamin fortified or you will lose a lot of babies due to malnutrition. The hardest part for me was getting the nack of hatching the BBS and the frequency of having to do it. I assume you have a nursery tank ready to go for the fry? You will need to do continual water changes and syphon any uneaten food from the tank. Having a bare bottom tank will be a life savor if you are able to have one. I'm not going to sugar coat it for you, it's hard work. And if you do successfully catch the new fry you are looking at 2 solid months of work including feeding the babies 5xs a day. So plan on not going anywhere for a while.

Good luck and I hope I see pics of your new babies soon.
 
matt b

matt b

Active Member
I am 90% sure mine is holding babies!!!!! He has not eaten in a few days and his mouth looks very large. Do you see anything in his mouth or just a big jaw?
edit i just saw ur post lol
 
efishnsea

efishnsea

Active Member
You go GIRL!!!!! Awesome parenting for you so far
...When I witnessed my 7 year old LTA spawn for the first time is was one of the memories about my tank that I will never forget
..
Quick Q...how do you tell a female from a male
...do you have any pics
efisnnsea
 
matt b

matt b

Active Member
Originally Posted by efishnsea
http:///forum/post/2519032
You go GIRL!!!!! Awesome parenting for you so far
...When I witnessed my 7 year old LTA spawn for the first time is was one of the memories about my tank that I will never forget
..
Quick Q...how do you tell a female from a male
...do you have any pics
efisnnsea
The males jaw will be bigger then the females. atleast thats the way I tell mine from male to female. And my male just looks alot bigger overall
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
Originally Posted by efishnsea http:///forum/post/2519032
You go GIRL!!!!! Awesome parenting for you so far
...When I witnessed my 7 year old LTA spawn for the first time is was one of the memories about my tank that I will never forget
..
Quick Q...how do you tell a female from a male
...do you have any pics
efisnnsea
You can check out my thread (page 3, post #145). I've shown pics of both my female and male and have explained the difference between the two. It's actually easier to tell when they are both side by side.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/297069/the-babies-are-here/40
Anonome, any news on the male yet? Did you catch him or are you going to wait for the babies?
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
I think that is a wise choice, at least it worked out for me. Can you see the eggs in the males mouth, or do you see little black and white wigglers?
Four of my little guys went to their new homes today. I hope to have the rest gone by the end of the month. It's been hard work, but it's sad to see the little ones leave.
I just hope they do well.
 
anonome

anonome

Active Member
At this time I just see eggs? no little ones?
...so I think I caught this early. Not sure on this, but pretty close I think. The calendar is marked. My estimate is April 2?
But how many babies come on their due date!!!
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
Well, I believe my male carried his eggs for about 20 days and then they hatched and he carried them for another 2 before I scared the little wigglers out of him. When I first caught all the babies (and I know I missed some) I think I had 35.
About 10 died within 24 hours for many reasons, getting caught between the net and brace (squish), me probably giving some internal injuries in my hurry to catch them, and others I'm sure just were not strong enough. Day 10-13, after they are released, seems to be a big mystery as you will more than likely lose several, all within a 24 hour period. Even some of the top breeders are not sure why this is. Some believe it's a lack of nutrition, which is why having fortified BBS is so important, and other's believe it's just the nature of the Bangaii Cardinals. Once you get past that dreaded period the ones you have left stand a really good chance.
There is a great article you can read, I'll see if I can find it and I'll send you a pm.
 
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