Edit: Bangai fry again!!!

[gmdcdvm]

Well,
As I was feeding the fish I noticed this guy wasn’t eating. Clue #1.
Looking closer I noticed his gills were a little flared. Clue #2.
Then I noticed his mouth was bulging a little and held slightly open. Clue #3.

I suspect he is brooding some eggs. Will keep you posted. The side by side pic really shows the difference between males and females. The video I think really helps.

One last update. 8 bangai’s appearing to live in harmony so far.

.

 

[Alexander1312]

Great news!

 

[grizfyrfyter]

Very cool.

If you ever have a clutch of fry you don't have time to raise, I would love to try.

 

[gmdcdvm]

Very cool.

If you ever have a clutch of fry you don't have time to raise, I would love to try.

It’s a bit of a commitment. Daily hatching of brine shrimp for months until you can get them eating frozen food reliably. Not a lot of room for error.

 

[grizfyrfyter]

Currently culturing live brine, live rotifers and live tetraselmis phytoplankton and waiting for eggs from the 8 pair of clownfish I'm caring for.

 

[gmdcdvm]

Currently culturing live brine, live rotifers and live tetraselmis phytoplankton and waiting for eggs from the 8 pair of clownfish I'm caring for.

You are all set! I will let you know how it goes for these guys if it happens. Might take you up on the offer.

 

[gmdcdvm]

Just a quick update. Here are some pics and video that show the difference between the female and the male with his mouth bulging. At the end of the video you can really make it out from the back side by side view.

 

[gmdcdvm]

Another quick update, no pics or video. My son confirmed he can see the eggs inside the mouth of the male. I am glad he has young eyes because I cannot see them. I got some sponge filters in today that I placed in the sump. Hopefully, they will be inoculated with bacteria by the time I need them. If not I have some bio blocks and beads I can transfer over. I dug up the brine shrimp hatcheries from before and I have the 10g tank ready to go again. Now the big question is will the male be easy to capture when it is time and will he spit out the babies into the tank before we can catch him. Guess we'll see.

Gerry

 

[Kensington Reefer]

@gmdcdvm
dig that Hydnophora!!

 

[gmdcdvm]

@gmdcdvm
dig that Hydnophora!!

I still owe you a frag.

 

[gmdcdvm]

Good end on shot showing how he holds the mouth open.
And a short video too.

 

[Mr. Seahorse]

I would also be interested in raising a batch for fun in the future, if that's possible.
Thanks

 

[grizfyrfyter]

Breeding fish and breeding corals feels like the pinnacle of this hobby, next to a 10 year system.

I may have a weird perspective on hobbies, now that i think about it....

 

[gmdcdvm]

This was not intentional. Just happened last time and this time. It is definitely a labor of love since it is definitely not worth the money like clown fish maybe (I think I sold only 4 last time). I wonder how commercial guys breed bangais. This would be my second clutch in 2 years (if I can catch and raise them).

Just edited my typos. Hahahaha.

 

[tribbitt]

Breeding fish and breeding corals feels like the pinnacle of this hobby, next to a 10 year system.

I may have a weird perspective on hobbies, now that i think about it....

Agreed. Something special about that. Congrats @gmdcdvm

 

[gmdcdvm]

A quick update. No changes with the male yet. Brooding time is 28-30 days. So should be any day now. Just a quick pic of the shoal of bangai’s.

 

[VacavilleFC]

This was not intentional. Just happened last time and this time. It is definitely a labor of love since it is definitely not worth the money like clown fish maybe (I think I sold only 4 last time). I wonder how commercial guys breed bangais. This would be my second clutch in 2 years (if I can catch and raise them).

Just edited my typos. Hahahaha.

eh clowns are so over bred these days its sad, lots have health problems because of it. banggai used to be about twice the price they are now but had a horrible survival rate being wild caught

 

[gmdcdvm]

eh clowns are so over bred these days its sad, lots have health problems because of it. banggai used to be about twice the price they are now but had a horrible survival rate being wild caught

I am trying to figure it out. Usually, people would buy 3-5 fish. Two would pair up and kill the rest in a small tank.

I started with 4. One died within two months. Two paired up. They would stay at opposite ends of the tank, the pair on one side and the single female on the other. The male did not make it after releasing the fry. So ended up with two females. They had separate corners but every now and then the larger female would chase the smaller one around.

I introduced 8 of the babies once half grown. One didn’t make it. He was one of the smaller ones. So now I have 9 total. Two have paired up and he is holding eggs. The other 7 all shoal together. I don’t see a lot of aggression. I don’t know what the magic formula is…large tank, large numbers, having bigger fish that intimidate them into shoaling, all the above??? But so far good and it’s been a few months now.

 

[VacavilleFC]

well before aquacultured was a thing you used to have to buy 3-5 in hopes 1 or 2 survived lol..

right now i have 3 smaller ones not sure on the sex yet. the 2 largest seem to hang out together most the time and the smaller 3rd every now and then. not sure if being territorial is more a adult thing. but they all seem very chill together.

 

[gmdcdvm]

well before aquacultured was a thing you used to have to buy 3-5 in hopes 1 or 2 survived lol..

right now i have 3 smaller ones not sure on the sex yet. the 2 largest seem to hang out together most the time and the smaller 3rd every now and then. not sure if being territorial is more a adult thing. but they all seem very chill together.

Keep an eye on the smaller one. If the other two are really hanging out they may have formed a pair and could try to kill the other one.