Marine Depot Forums / TEAM Marine Depot / Marine Fish-Reproduction, Care and Husbandry - by Dr Frank Marini

Banggai Cardinal Question

radiata — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:33:31 GMT

Frank,

Following up on your MACNA presentation (which I thoroughly enjoyed), could you direct me to a link that has your photos of banggai cardinal sexual differences?

Thanks in advance,
Bob D.

Spine ID -- no where else to ask!

Reefmo — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:21:15 GMT

Hello everyone!

I have no where else to even start to ask about what my wife and I found last week when we were diving around catalina, Ca.

We were outside the dive park and happened across this very odd spine. There was no fleshy tissue left, nor any other bones. It is really interesting as it seems to only articulate in one direction... also the way the individual vertebrae lock together is quite interesting.

I asked a dive master guy there, and he suggested bat ray, but when I looked online, the images of bat ray skeletons seemed to show their vertebrae as small disks...

Note that one of the vertebrae in the pix has the little bottom tang broken off -- sorry.

Thanks for your help.

Oh, the things reek also. Not like ocean rot smell, but like super duper fishy smell -- even after I bleached them and have left them in the sun!

Matt

Frank, See What You Started?!

Talfish — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:03:32 GMT

Thanks to your presentation last March at our Midwest Marine Conference, this is what happened:

http://www.michiganreefers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79424

http://www.masm.org/mForums/tm.aspx?&m=24421&mpage=1

Thank you, Eric, and Matt for the inspiration!

Tal

Six line wrasses and green mandarins

Umm_fish — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:41:04 GMT

Well, a fun night tonight! Two new species--for me--caught spawning!

Six line wrasses:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za26IHcMs60

And here's a teaser for the second:

I'm still uploading the video on that one. I'll post the link in the morning.

Frank, input requested please

Eric Borneman — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:35:29 GMT

If you don't mind, could you offer your input here:
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic102135-10-1.aspx?Update=1

Thank you!

Please help me ( white spot )

Top_Secret — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:36:00 GMT

hello every One

Please help me how can i kill white Sopt on my fish tank with out take a Coral out

and what is a Best Medicine for whit spot plaese help me i have 8 Fish and all were whit sopt and 4 die

Clown Fish ?

corysreef — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:51:55 GMT

Hi, i bought these clowns the other day, I have a few questions...

-Are these False Percula/ Darwins ?

-How long does it take for the sex change ?

I would love to start breeding these clowns, they are very atractive, also i would like to get a anemone but right now im unsure on the type.

Cory:

new pair of Banggai's for breeding

Mr.reef24 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:11:52 GMT

sorry for the poor picture only had my cell phone available to take the photo I don't own a DSLR camera yet.

mr.reef24

Maroon Clownfish Eggs?

Corona Doug — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:18:20 GMT

I was just checking out my tank and noticed what I think might be eggs from my clown... she is hanging really close to them and taking good care of them... well both the male and her are hanging close to the eggs!

Sorry about the picture... they are more silver than white... I've had her for about 9 months... This is the first time I've noticed she layed... I'm guessing there is no chance the babies will live long. Is there anything I can do to keep them or will the snails... tangs... crabs... and everything else I have just enjoy them as a snack? I've been checking my water and trying to keep it in check... does her laying eggs mean I'm doing that ok or will clowns lay eggs when they want?

Thanks in advance for any help

Tennenti Tang emergency

Sherri — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:27:19 GMT

I bought this guy from a LFS on Friday, he was a bit skinny but was swimming fine and looking okay. Bought a bristletooth too. Both have been in QT. The bristletooth is fine. The tennenti is struggling. Do not know if he will make it. He goes though Qt with the LFS so has been treated with copper and prazi. Any suggestions? He is barely swimming, does not appear to be eating, and looks white around the gills -- not like ich -- just discolored. I am afraid he might be a goner. I think I have some maracyn 2 -- I could put him in a ten gallon and treat him but don't really know what is wrong with him. Help???? Posting in several places -- want to save him but don't know how or if it is possible.

Citron gobies

Umm_fish — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:27:45 GMT

Noticed the citrons being bozos on the glass, and--lo and behold--they were up to no good!

Those aren't copepods on the glass.

Here's a millimeter scale shot at the same resolution as the eggs and with an egg superimposed:

Video to follow as soon as YouTube gets done with it.

Starry blenny courtship display

Umm_fish — Sun, 03 May 2009 09:17:56 GMT

Hi Frank! I thought you might be interested in these. It looks like my starry blennies put on a lovely courtship display for me the other night. I wasn't able to watch them the whole time (had to upload photos from the CF card every once in a while), but I never saw them actually deposit an eggball. Nor did I see eight especially guarding any place the next day. But, the large one did get suspiciously thinner after coming back from the computer, so who knows?

http://www.ummfish.com/Blenny_display/

Thanks!

I think my files spawned!

Umm_fish — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:19:01 GMT

Hi Frank! I don't know if you have time for it, but I think I caught a video of my harlequin filefish spawning. Right at the 47 second mark. Yay! I'm still hunting for eggs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt2hRDaY6ek

DT's For "Starter" Culture

Talfish — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:06:49 GMT

I wasn't sure where to post this question, I decided since it revolves around breeding I'd post it here. Feel free to move it if needed.

I've been using "live" phyto for my greenwater since the first of the year. I used DT's to start my culture and had no problems until now.

Over the last few weeks I had 4 spawns at the same time so I was using a lot. As usually happens in life, I got down to 2 bottles and one crashed. In an effort to speed up production I bought a new bottle of DT's (new packaging). I've tried 4 times to start a culture and none of them have grown. I was very careful to avoid contamination each time.

Has something changed with the DT's product, or am I just having bad luck?

Green mandarins

Umm_fish — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:10:55 GMT

Well I thought I should start a new thread and leave the other one for the wrasses.

The green mandarins finally gave me their second spawn tonight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC7oiotlQPs

And I managed to catch one single egg. As you can see, it's also very small but it's quite a but different from the sixline eggs. It's also much, much more buoyant than the sixline eggs.

What is the glycerol based phyto called?

yinz — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:44:32 GMT

I was reading in a prior thread where you mentioned using a glycerol based phyto vs culturing live phyto. Is this the microalgae paste?

Thanks

Phytoplankton station suggestions please

patrockp — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:07:03 GMT

Good day all. I posted this on a marine breeder forum (that I can't get to at work ) and wanted as many suggestions as I can get. I think the wealth of knowledge here is truly impressive, that being said the following culture station is a result of the knowledge that I gained here as well as other places.

A big THANK YOU to all for so willingly sharing knowledge and experience!!

I have a steadily spawning pair of GSM and have been contemplating breeding and raising them. I work at a hospital that recently had “clean out days” so most of the system was put together with the equipment destined for the trash and here is the result:

a close up of the air pump/ filter

the subculture

A detailed overview of this culture station, in order:

The air system begins with all air pulled through a .3 micron filter, then filtered through about 2 liters of silica gel desiccant, providing (more or less) dry, bacteria free air.

Next is the air pump, 110v, +-30 watt diaphragm type pump capable of 18 Liter/minute @ 20PSI (off an old labor bed).

The next in line is an old Gomco vacuum bottle that has a dual purpose first it acts as a buffer of sorts alleviating the pulsing nature of the exhaust from the air pump. Secondly, should any water make it through the pre-filter and pump, the bottle should show signs of condensation before reaching gang valves (?). I am planning on adding a color changing desiccant to give a better visual indication here.

Air is then run through (two) 15 Liter/minute O2 meters, run parallel, then on to the gang valves.

Gang valves (had lying around), first a 5 valve “flow through” (FT) type then a 3 valve FT all supplying air to the main Nannochloropsis culture. Then another 3 valve FT type. The first valve – turned off, second valve – to the rotofer tanks, third valve goes to the next set of gang valves (non FT type 4 valve brass). The “flow through” goes to a “T” first a PSI guage, next another O2 guage / regulator, which regulates the amount of air “leaving” the system and total PSI. The excess air is directed to the intake of the air system to be recycled. The brass 4 gang runs to (4) 200ML subculture vessles. I built the subculture station to handle 6 200ML vessles, and may try T-Iso in them provided I can aquire 2 more vessles.

I also have a an air filter box running a .3 micron filter blowing over the subcultures and keeping temps down.

Lighting is 2 T25T8 @ 5500K run by an electronic ballast. not in a “fixture” the toumbstones are simply siliconed to the glass/ mirror. The back, sides, base and most of the top is lined with mirrors (hospitol renovations).

for Nano I am using RODI and IO salt @ 1.014 Sg , guillerds F2 sterlized with sodium hypochlorite for 24 hours then removed with sodium thiosulfate, verified chlorine free with a pool test strip.

For rots 1 (soon to be 2) 5 Gal tanks positioned below and to the side of the phytoplankton station

All comments are welcome

Thanks, Patrick

Filefish questions

Graveyardworm — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:15:26 GMT

I got this Filefish from a friend. He told me it came into the listed as a Matted Filefish, and that it an aiptasia eater. While it was in QT I placed a rock in there with aiptasia on it which it did eat, it also eats mysis shrimp. I have a small tank with some soft corals, and aiptasia in it that I thought I could put him into to see what he does. So far he's ignoring the soft corals, has been nipping at the aiptasia, and possiply eating small crustaceans. Just wondering if there's anymore info you could provide . Thanks

Adding a second clown with 10 year-old ocellaris

RobertK — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:38:17 GMT

Hi,
I have a 70 gallon tank that's been up and running for 10 years. The first fish I got was a tank-raised ocellaris clown. She has survived several tank disasters that wiped out most or all of the other fish, and pretty much rules the tank. Her current tankmates are a royal gramma, a starcki damsel, and a springeri dottyback who mostly hides in the rock. Do you think if I added a small tank-raised black and white ocellaris they would pair up or duke it out?
Thanks,
Robert

And so are the cleaner wrasses!

Umm_fish — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:47:24 GMT

It must be all of the Barry White:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMmk9XKLtgk

Frank, the species overview at MOFIB is pretty bare. I think Iris (of tomentosus filefish fame) has tried them but hasn't gotten very far. Have you heard of anyone working with these?

Thanks!

NOW WHAT DO I DO?

Hank — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:39:29 GMT

It looks like one of my two Pajama Cardinals is got a mouthful of eggs!! What do I need to do?

Howdy and welcome to the Fish keeping and Fish breeding forum

FMarini — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 18:05:33 GMT

I just wanted to pass a warm welcome to everyone viewing this forum. To say were gonna get wet here is an understatment.
I love marine fish; colorful ones, tiny ones, ugly ones, predators, their all beautfiul to me, and hopefully everyone here who appreciate fish will understand that once we've picked out that cute little nemo for your home tank, (YOU) are ultimately responsible for providing the best care, husbandry, and quality of life for your new fish.

In this forum we can discuss pretty much every aspect of keeping fish
My hope and intention in this forum is to further everyone knowledge, including mine, on keeping those wonderful marine fish we love in our aquariums. Fish husbandry issues, fish feeding, compatibility, and finally fish breeding.

With our oceans being harvested for these gorgeous fish, we've got to do be proactive. Consider breeding marine fish at home. Believe it or not many marine fish can be bred in the home aquarium, and while i don't recommend you consider your main display tank the right place to breed fish, we can discuss all the ins-an-outs of raising fish at home. Clownfish, gobies, dottybacks, cardinalfish, seahorse, and even some inverts are well within the hobbyists abilities.
I look foreward to many many fruitful and engaging discussions
Fire away
frank

Fish bones?

eholceker — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:55:24 GMT

I am on vacation in Florida and I found these bones? Any idea what they can be from?

Bangaii baby photos

Umm_fish — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:58:15 GMT

Thanks for the inspiration, Frank!

I purchased an older pair of Bangaiis (had been in captivity >2 years) three months or so ago. They had to go into a 100 gal. watering trough because I'm still working on getting some tanks set up. In the tank, I have a large PVC larvae collector, idle at the moment, to try to catch some B&W Occelaris larvae. Anyway, it makes a good place for the Bangaii larvae to hide. The current shoots around the PVC, so I also assume that it makes a good place for hunting.

The tank is pretty algae covered. It's run for ~1 year without much in the way of filtration other than algae harvest in order to maximize small animal life (I've caught worm larvae and tons of other small animals in the water).

On to the photos!

The pink stuff is cyclopeeze defrosting for the juveniles:

More cyclopeeze in the top-right corner:

Albino Tang

Talfish — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:06:35 GMT

A buddy of mine, ScubaDrew, on Oahu took this pic yesterday. How common are these?:

And no, this isn't photoshoped.

iceprobe chiller

rocko — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:02:01 GMT

how many would i need for a 55 gallon tank

Lady Musgrave Blenny "Cirripectes chelomatus"

Tone — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:47:23 GMT

I wonder if you'd be so kind as to ID this blenny for me.

My attempt brought up Cirripectes chelomatus but I'm baffled by the reticulation on the head and upper body. Alternatively, it may resemble in part Reticulated Blenny Cirrispectes stigmaticus but what then of the red dots? The dorsal spine is common to both.

Thanks in anticipation.

Tone

Potter's Angel Feeding

eholceker — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:16:09 GMT

I recently purchased a potter's angel roughly around a week ago and I have not been able to get this fish to eat as of yet. In the store it was eating flake food and Mysis however in my tank it only picks at the live rock and nips at the nori sheets. The fish is in a 90 gallon reef tank housed with only a lavender tang. I have tried pretty much every frozen food, flake food, and even fresh clam and mussel. Do you have any suggestions or tips on how to get this fish going? I knew this was going to be a difficult fish but since it was feeding at the store I thought it was worth a shot. How long can the fish continue without eating anything but little picks at the Nori?

Thanks,
Eric

Genicanthus melanospilos color

SDguy — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:27:50 GMT

Hi Frank, I need some input on my male blackspot swallowtail please. His overall color has darkened significantly since purchase over a year ago. I've also notice the classic black spot on his chest that gives him his name has faded, like it's been smudged out. Now it seems the stripes on his forehead are moving/shifting/disappearing, again, like they've been smudged? Is he turning female?? Not sure..here are some side by side pics....He is large, about 6 inches, not including tail. There is a female in the tank about half his size, maybe larger. They were introduced at the same time. Other than the occasional chase by the male, there has been no aggression at all. TIA for any info you can provide on this beautiful fish.

When I first got him:

And now (the camera flash actually made the forehead stripes more prominant)...

Introducing an anmeone fish to my 180...should I do it?

Linda C. — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:05:24 GMT

Hi Frank,

I'm looking for your advice.

About 2-2.5 years ago I put an ocellaris anemone fish in my 180RR tank. It was a small juvenile who just fluttered in one corner and looked sort of 'lost and little' for about a week or so in the tank. One morning I didn't see her...she was MIA. I checked on the floor and peeked where I could in the tank around the rocks but no signs of the fish. I felt terrible about this loss.

ok...about a month ago I needed to unclog the drain in one of the overflows and when I shined my flashlight in guess who I found swimming around?!?!?! yep, there she was...and oh my goodness she got BIG!

So far I tried to find a home for her but I haven't found anyone looking for a single female anemone fish.

The more I think about her the more attached I'm getting. I'm thinking I might like to try her in the tank again but I'm unsure if that is the best place for her. Can you tell me if you think my line up of fish in this tank will be any issue for her? It's a 180 reef tank with 1 Powder Blue Tang, 1 Magnificent Foxface, 1 Sailfin, 1 neon goby, 3 PJ's, 1 blue/green chromis, 2 talbot damsels and various snails, shrimp and crabs.

Do you think the tangs or foxface will bother her if she was added to the tank now? Do you think she be better off in a different home?

I feel bad that she has been living in solitary confinement for over 2 years and want to try my best to give her a nicer place to live.

Thank you for your time and advice on this.

Diadema Dottyback ans shrimp/crabs

cone9 — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:44:29 GMT

Who has experience with keeping Diadema Dottybacks and their behavior around shrimp and crabs?

I've read they will kill and eat shrimp. Is there a size limitation or are even larger shrimp (like Peppermints and cleaner shrimp) at risk - I'm thinking of them being vulnerable during a molt?

What about crabs? Do these fish prey upon small crabs like hermits? What about emeralds and Sally Lightfoot crabs?

Thanks,
Dave

Quarantine procedures

xroads — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 07:50:28 GMT

Hi Frank,

I am in the process of stocking 2 250 gallon tanks. Currenty they are barren other then rock. I am trying to be vary cautious in establishing these tanks in order to keep them as healthy & pest free as possible. I am even QT the macro algae now. They are totally seperate systems each with a 100 gallon fuge.

I have a 50 gallon cube tank set up now. It has a bunch of PVC pipe I cut up, and a heater & power head.

My stock list will include Clowns, wrasses, tangs, mandarins, pseudochromids.

I plan to introduce the clowns & tangs first & the wrasses & mandarins after 6 months.

Now to my questions.

Do you dip or treat the fish before you put them into QT? I know Ich can be present even in a healthy looking fish & if so, QT will not keep it out of the tank correct?

Should I introduce the tangs all at once? I was going to find the smaller ones. I am planning on 4-5 per tank.

Thanks for your advice

Craig

bubble algae grazer

porthios — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:10:09 GMT

hello all.

i'm planning a stocking list for a new 525gal display and i'm hoping to include a good bubble algae (valonia, etc..) grazer. i would suspect some tangs and rabbitfish might help me control it but i've no idea what specific species to go after. any ideas on what might be comfortable in a 96x42x30 display?

thanks!

Considering Anthias in a 58 gallon reef

rhdoug — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:11:45 GMT

I have a 9 year old 58 gallon mixed reef. In it are a 6 fish: a pair of breeding ocellaris in a sebae anemone, a pair of threadfin cardinals, a royal gramma, and a mandarin - he eats frozen! All fish have been in the tank for nearly 3 years, except for the cardinals, which were added a little over a year ago. The gramma and cardinals stay hidden most of the time. The tank is fed a frozen mix several times daily due to the number of corals in the tank.

I would like to add some fish that will utilize the water column and add some life to the tank, without upsetting the current inhabitants. I am considering the possiblilty of anthias and would like some opinions, suggestions on species (Bartlett's possibly?) or alternatives. I am afraid that the tank may be too small for anthias, so other species suggestions are appreciated.

Below is a photo of the tank, and a link to more. Thanks.

My reef page: http://www.douglasillustration.com/reeftank.htm

emperor angel scale question?

mtbetta — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:03:03 GMT

This is an unusual question but thought someone here would know. I am in the process of doing a wood carving of an emperor angel and haven't been able to find any reference pictures where I can see scales. This makes me think the scales are very small or just not visible. If someone has an adult fish can they get a good look at the scales for me and give me some idea on the size. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,

jerry

Dead Flame Angelfish

adamfajge — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:46:29 GMT

My Flame Angel died after 1 week. He was only staying in the back of the tank and would not eat any prepared foods. I have now 2 Oscellaris Clowns, a Mandarin, and a BiColor Blenny. I can either add 1 more fish that is compatible or remove the mean large Clown and add 2 compatible fish. What should I do and what fish? My tank is 2 years old and all parameters are good.
Thanks,
Adam

Flame Angelfish

adamfajge — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:51:33 GMT

I got a Flame 2 days ago and so far I have tried spirulina brine, dried seaweed with garlic extract. He just picks at the Live rock all day. I have a 46 gallon with about 60 LBS of Rock. He is attentive a little shy so I think he is ok. I did not qt him. My water is 7.9-8.2ph, sg 1.025. temp is 78, cal is 440, Alk is 8. I am gonna buy Ocean Nutrition Angel Formula. Any other suggestions on feeding him?
Thanks,
Adam

Blue Tang Diet

cone9 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:31:44 GMT

Does the Atlantic Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus) eat Caulerpa racemosa var. peltata?

are cross hatch and pink tail triggers compatible?

Reefski — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:13:40 GMT

my tank is 700 gallons, 8x4x3.

i have a pair of crosshatch triggers in the tank now. i also have a pink tail in another tank. they are all about the same size. would they be compatible. it would be hell to get the pink tail out if they aren't!

other fish are several tangs, and some other small fish.

Yellowheaded Jawfish

Timbor — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 08:13:31 GMT

Hi Dr. Frank,

I was wondering what you would recommend for the stocking densities of yellowheaded jawfish in an aquarium.

I will be setting up a 35 gallon this coming week (dimensions 36"x12"x18"tall) and I would like to house some yellowheaded jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons).

How many would you recommend for me to keep in an aquarium of this size? I have heard in the wild their burrows may be as close as 10" apart. Could I keep 3 safely in this setup?

Many thanks for the help!

Tim