Bangai’s bred in my tank!

[ReyDeFarts]

Didn’t realize what you meant at first. Hadn’t seen the name of the tag. Might have to change my screen name.

LOL

That would be a great screen name!

 

[gmdcdvm]

Week 5.5 update: Staring to see a little aggression feeding during time. Looks like it’s time for a bigger tank. Currently all fish are in a 5g aquarium. Going to pick up a 20g long this week to give them more room to spread out.

 

[MichaelB]

Week five update. Still going strong! They are eating frozen copepods reliably. I feed these first prior to the live baby brine. So far no interest in dead brine shrimp or R.O.E. Planning on going by Hayward for some live brine after the swap if I can’t get them eating that by then.

Neptunes in san jose carries live brine as well now fyi.

 

[ReyDeFarts]

Week 5.5 update: Staring to see a little aggression feeding during time. Looks like it’s time for a bigger tank. Currently all fish are in a 5g aquarium. Going to pick up a 20g long this week to give them more room to spread out.

I've got an extra 20g tank you can have if you can wait until the swap.

 

[gmdcdvm]

Ok. I will let you know. My wife just sprung a last minute thing she wants to do. So I might not make the swap. I will message you Friday if I am going to make it.

 

[JVU]

Ok. I will let you know. My wife just sprung a last minute thing she wants to do. So I might not make the swap. I will message you Friday if I am going to make it.

I have a couple extra 20g long tanks you’re welcome to use, and I’m nearby. Also have extra 10g and 5g tanks. I have extra heaters, air pumps, circ pumps, etc. I know I have issues.

 

[gmdcdvm]

I have a couple extra 20g long tanks you’re welcome to use, and I’m nearby. Also have extra 10g and 5g tanks. I have extra heaters, air pumps, circ pumps, etc. I know I have issues.

I will reach out when I can stop
By. Ty

 

[gmdcdvm]

I have a couple extra 20g long tanks you’re welcome to use, and I’m nearby. Also have extra 10g and 5g tanks. I have extra heaters, air pumps, circ pumps, etc. I know I have issues.

You have issues?? Should have seen my wife lose it when I told her I needed another tank. Even when I said it’s only 15 gallons she was still not pleased. Hahahahaha.

 

[gmdcdvm]

Week 6 update:
Not much to report since last time. Overall growth looks to have slowed down. The fish are still eating newly hatched brine shrimp and frozen pods. I still have not seen any interest in either R.O.E, Beta Brine, Mysis, or Reef Nutrition Arcti pods. Until I can get them eating dead foods reliably, I cannot consider selling them. They are probably 3/4's of the size of the ones I have seen for sale as captive bred so I think they are getting close. Maybe another 2 to 4 weeks? We'll see...


Gerry

 

[gmdcdvm]

Week 7 update:
No pics today. Didn't have time before I left for work. Not much new this week. Still eating freshly hatched brine shrimp and frozen pods. I have seen the occasional fish eat one of the reef nutrition arti pods, but overall no major interest in any larger foods such as beta brine, mysis, ROE, plankton.
The biggest issue I have now is that they are outgrowing the 5g tank. Most of them are the size of a nickel now (overall size including fins, there bodies are still relatively small). From what I have been able to find online I think we are on the right track. I suspect in about another 3 to 4 weeks we will be able to sell them, but the limiting factgor right now is their diet. The plan is to keep several of them to try and do this again.

It has been fun and interesting. The most time-consuming part of all of this is remembering to keep alternating the brine shrimp hatcheries to have a steady supply of live food. Thankfully, I did not have any major trips planned the last two months. From a financial standpoint it is not worth the effort. My son has enjoyed all of this but given how busy he is with school and sports I have done the majority of the maintenance. Unless someone ever comes up with some cool mutations for these guys that they can sell for a premium I don't think there is any financial incentive for a hobby breeder. I wonder what kind of systems larger breeders use to make it cost effective.

On a side note, if any of you have a confirmed lonely male or two you are looking to rehome let me know. I still have two females in the display tank that are looking for a new significant other. I checked on all the fish dating sites, but they were not interested in what was available, hahaha. What is interesting is that the two females have started hanging out together. Previously, they used to chase each other around. Now that there is no longer a male present they have gradually started to hang out and most nights are sleeping next to each other.

Fingers crossed, we have not lost a single fish yet....

Gerry

 

[MichaelB]

Week 7 update:
No pics today. Didn't have time before I left for work. Not much new this week. Still eating freshly hatched brine shrimp and frozen pods. I have seen the occasional fish eat one of the reef nutrition arti pods, but overall no major interest in any larger foods such as beta brine, mysis, ROE, plankton.
The biggest issue I have now is that they are outgrowing the 5g tank. Most of them are the size of a nickel now (overall size including fins, there bodies are still relatively small). From what I have been able to find online I think we are on the right track. I suspect in about another 3 to 4 weeks we will be able to sell them, but the limiting factgor right now is their diet. The plan is to keep several of them to try and do this again.

It has been fun and interesting. The most time-consuming part of all of this is remembering to keep alternating the brine shrimp hatcheries to have a steady supply of live food. Thankfully, I did not have any major trips planned the last two months. From a financial standpoint it is not worth the effort. My son has enjoyed all of this but given how busy he is with school and sports I have done the majority of the maintenance. Unless someone ever comes up with some cool mutations for these guys that they can sell for a premium I don't think there is any financial incentive for a hobby breeder. I wonder what kind of systems larger breeders use to make it cost effective.

On a side note, if any of you have a confirmed lonely male or two you are looking to rehome let me know. I still have two females in the display tank that are looking for a new significant other. I checked on all the fish dating sites, but they were not interested in what was available, hahaha. What is interesting is that the two females have started hanging out together. Previously, they used to chase each other around. Now that there is no longer a male present they have gradually started to hang out and most nights are sleeping next to each other.

Fingers crossed, we have not lost a single fish yet....

Gerry

Are the males larger than the females. I have a massive one not sure the sex.

 

[tribbitt]

Are the males larger than the females. I have a massive one not sure the sex.

You have to check the little bumps underneath

I have a picture earlier in this thread

 

[MichaelB]

You have to check the little bumps underneath

I have a picture earlier in this thread

So not obvious like clowns

 

[dangalang]

Week 7 update:
No pics today. Didn't have time before I left for work. Not much new this week. Still eating freshly hatched brine shrimp and frozen pods. I have seen the occasional fish eat one of the reef nutrition arti pods, but overall no major interest in any larger foods such as beta brine, mysis, ROE, plankton.
The biggest issue I have now is that they are outgrowing the 5g tank. Most of them are the size of a nickel now (overall size including fins, there bodies are still relatively small). From what I have been able to find online I think we are on the right track. I suspect in about another 3 to 4 weeks we will be able to sell them, but the limiting factgor right now is their diet. The plan is to keep several of them to try and do this again.

It has been fun and interesting. The most time-consuming part of all of this is remembering to keep alternating the brine shrimp hatcheries to have a steady supply of live food. Thankfully, I did not have any major trips planned the last two months. From a financial standpoint it is not worth the effort. My son has enjoyed all of this but given how busy he is with school and sports I have done the majority of the maintenance. Unless someone ever comes up with some cool mutations for these guys that they can sell for a premium I don't think there is any financial incentive for a hobby breeder. I wonder what kind of systems larger breeders use to make it cost effective.

On a side note, if any of you have a confirmed lonely male or two you are looking to rehome let me know. I still have two females in the display tank that are looking for a new significant other. I checked on all the fish dating sites, but they were not interested in what was available, hahaha. What is interesting is that the two females have started hanging out together. Previously, they used to chase each other around. Now that there is no longer a male present they have gradually started to hang out and most nights are sleeping next to each other.

Fingers crossed, we have not lost a single fish yet....

Gerry

Have you tried any dry foods like flake or TDO pellets (crushed up so they're small)?

 

[gmdcdvm]

So not obvious like clowns

The males tend to have more of a square jaw line: https://www.researchgate.net/figure...only indication of the,is easily recognized. ...

The males have two little bumps behind their pectoral fins. Honestly, they never held still long enough for me to see these. The jawline was really easy to discern once they were adults:

How to determine the sex of Banggai cardinalfish

Banggai cardinalfish, Pteragon kauderni, are the referred to as the "guppies" of the marine fish breeding world. However, determining their sex in order to form pairs is sometimes problematic.

reefs.com

G

 

[gmdcdvm]

Have you tried any dry foods like flake or TDO pellets (crushed up so they're small)?

I tried TDO in various sizes and flakes. So far no interest. They all just watch them slowly drift to the bottom. I have to be careful about overfeeding to avoid water quality issues. The two adults I have just recently started eating pellets, but I think this is because of the feeding frenzy that occurs during feeding time. I drop in the frozen foods (mysis, plankton, Rod's) at the same time as the pellets. Since all the fish are going crazy for anything that goes by in the current they eat first and ask questions later. When I just feed pellets they usually either show little interest or don't eat anything at all.

Have any of you been able to get the adults to eat pellets consistently?

 

[tribbitt]

I tried TDO in various sizes and flakes. So far no interest. They all just watch them slowly drift to the bottom. I have to be careful about overfeeding to avoid water quality issues. The two adults I have just recently started eating pellets, but I think this is because of the feeding frenzy that occurs during feeding time. I drop in the frozen foods (mysis, plankton, Rod's) at the same time as the pellets. Since all the fish are going crazy for anything that goes by in the current they eat first and ask questions later. When I just feed pellets they usually either show little interest or don't eat anything at all.

Have any of you been able to get the adults to eat pellets consistently?

Mine almost exclusively eats TDO and shows more interest towards pellets than frozen.

Same with my clowns. Mostly TDO, frozen occasionally

I turn off flow and feed, and the banggai eats so aggressively it splashes water out of the tank

 

[MichaelB]

I tried TDO in various sizes and flakes. So far no interest. They all just watch them slowly drift to the bottom. I have to be careful about overfeeding to avoid water quality issues. The two adults I have just recently started eating pellets, but I think this is because of the feeding frenzy that occurs during feeding time. I drop in the frozen foods (mysis, plankton, Rod's) at the same time as the pellets. Since all the fish are going crazy for anything that goes by in the current they eat first and ask questions later. When I just feed pellets they usually either show little interest or don't eat anything at all.

Have any of you been able to get the adults to eat pellets consistently?

This guy or girl eats any and everything

Roe, mysis, brine, pellets, even flakes.
It does top water explosions too like bass so funny.
Best pictures i had on my phone of it. If need better ones i can get some when i'm home.

If it's a male you can have it.

 

[tribbitt]

View attachment 61996View attachment 61997

This guy or girl eats any and everything

Roe, mysis, brine, pellets, even flakes.

Best pictures i had on my phone of it. If need better ones i can get some when i'm home.

If it's a male you can have it.

Looks female from jaw, but i’m not great at ID.

I’m following this thread with great interest, I have a male and want to try this

 

[MichaelB]

Looks female from jaw, but i’m not great at ID.

I’m following this thread with great interest, I have a male and want to try this

I only know it's big lol.