Breeding Journal, Species: Ecsenius Midas

Image showing pair with both tails together in hole.

I have multiplied the s-type (rotundiformis) rotifers I obtained from reed. Got one 5 gal culture full, and a second about half way. I should have a new hatch Friday night. I hope these smaller rotifers work!

Good luck!  I haven't read the beginning of this thread for a bit, but are you using live phyto or some sort of greenwater technique?

I have been using live phyto(nano) to feed and enrich s-type rotifers(rotundiformis).Collected larvae on 10/4/2013, 1030 pm. I have placed these larvae in larval tank and added enriched s-type rotifers at proper density. I haven't greened the water, only tinged with addition of rotifer culture water which is a deep green following morning feeding. I will keep posting.

Almost 48 hrs post hatch. Larval loss significantly reduced from previous attempts using L-type rotifer. Hope these s-types work!

This short video taken on 10/04/2013 shows male Midas Blenny guarding 3 seperate spawns. If you notice the shape of the hole is kind of shaped like a heart. The eggs on the right side of the heart hatched that very night (note luster in eggs). The eggs on the back side of the heart are due to hatch 10/07/2013, if my incubation period is correct. Lastly the eggs on the upper left lobe of the heart are probably due wednesday. 

Reporting in: Small progress using S-type rotifers
The hatch mentioned above, turned out to be a small hatch on 10/04/13. These larvae were fed s-type rotifers and water slowly greened over several days. The 2nd hatch occurred as predicted on 10/07/2013, When observed on the morning of 10/08/2013, the larvae from 10/04 with app. 15-20 larvae still alive. However, not showing any growth, and no improvement in swimming ability. The larvae from 10/07/2013 were fed s-type rotifers and an unknown motile phyto plankton was added. A third hatch occurred on 10/13/2013. The morning of 10/14/2013, larvae from 10/07/2013, app 20 larvae still alive but again no growth (they appear to shrink), and no improved motility. All larvae from 10/04,and 10/07 perished at around day 7-8 PH. 10/13 larvae fed s-type rotifers and water greened. We have improved in longevity from 48 hrs to 7-8 days, on a positive note. However, growth and improved motility have not been observed. Any suggestions appreciated.

11/04/2013: No settlement still. Expecting hatch tonight. I was wondering if I could obtain information on prey items and rearing methods used by the experts at proaquatix with their fang blennies and other similar species? Or is this their trade secret? Also, what about this even smaller rotifer like creature called (Colurella Adriatica)? It was mentioned in Matt Wittenrich's article in Coral Magazine. Any info appreciated.
 
Rich.

Witt's book has a section on blennies that you should probably read.  
 
Are you sure you really need to go with a smaller prey item?  I would think if you've made it to day 7 or so that you don't need to necessarily go smaller than S rots.  Are you enriching the rotifers at all?  Maybe by day 7 they actually need a larger prey item, or perhaps a more nutritious one.  Perhaps an easy to culture copepod like Apocyclops?

I have read Witt's book's section on blennies, the information as far as feeding consist of a L-type rotifer and then artemia napulii by day 10 PH. The s-type rotifers cultures are consistently kept a deep green using nanno so definately enriched. I just dont see any growth in the larvae. I think I will look into Apocyclops, or parvo napulii, I've read they are small. Thanks Shannpeach.
 
Rich

http://s1293.photobucket....8_zpsded157a5.mp4.html
Hey there MBI members, haven't checked in for a while! But haven't given up on succeeding with these Midas Blenny Larvae. Above video showing latest hatch on 12/2/13. After many atempts by Mr. Hurtado (clownfish breeder friend) and myself, at his place, using s-type rotifers, we weren't able to raise these larvae past 7 days. In conclussion, we feel rotifer size did not improve our success. However,  rapid water quality deteroration or change from broodstock water(my display tank water)may be an issue. Ive decided to start again at home. As seen above I've changed the larval tank to a 2.5 gal standard aquarium, fron previous 1.5 gal hex. I have tried circulating water from refugium at different rates from 1drop/sec-1 drop/3sec, and static with gentle bubbles. On second day after hatch, and every day till 7th day,I have dead ones on the bottom, so I carefully vacuum the bottom and slowly drip water in to replace. Rotifers have been added to density that can be seen over black framing of tank above in video, and maintained throughout 7 days. Any help appreciated. Maybe I need a black 5-10 gal. tub. Or I was thinking of making a pen with 53ug mesh and keeping them on the surface of the display and feeding there. Anyone done something similar? I just replaced my lights with Reef Radiance lumetec 120's LED's. I love them! The broodstock's spawning, sofar  unaffected. Would I have to shield my lighting from the pen?