Breeding Journal, Salarias fasciatus

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THEJRC
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Breeding Journal, Salarias fasciatus - Sunday, June 6, 2010 9:44 PM
Breeding Journal DataSheet
This first post should be updated regularly to include new information as events take place or changes are made to your system
General
Species:  Salarias fasciatus
Social Structure:  solitary (few pairs ever reported)
Size of Individuals:  Approx 2 1/2 inches
Age of Individuals:  Unknown, juviniles aqured 6 / 2010
Date added to Tank:  6 / 1 / 2010 , 6 / 6 / 2010

Broodstock Tank Details
Size of Tank:  10 gall sections per individual
Substrate Details:  2 inch aragonite sand
Filtration Details:  main system   
Water Changes:  main system
Water Temperature:  78*F low 82* high
Lighting:  NO flourescents
Lighting Cycle:  10 on 14 off
Other Tank Inhabitants:  None in both sections

Broodstock Feeding Details
Food Types: Prime reef flake, Formula one pellet, Julian sprungs reef veggies (purple)
Feeding Schedule:  as often as possible, food always available

Spawning Details
Date of First Spawn: 
Spawn Time of Day: 
Dates of Consecutive Spawns: 
Courtship Details: 
Egg Size: 
Egg Color: 
Egg Count: 

Hatch Details
Hatch Date: 
Hatch Time of Day: 
# Days after Spawn: 
Larvae Description: 


Larval Tank Details
Temperature: 
Size of Larval Tank: 
Substrate Details: 
Other Tank Decor: 
Filtration Details: 
Lighting: 
Lighting Cycle: 
Water Changes: 

Larval Feeding Details
Food Types: 
Feeding Schedule: 

Metamorphosis/Settlement
Date of Settlement Start: 
Days after Hatch: 
Date of Settlement End: 
Description of Fry: 

Grow-Out Tank Details

Temperature: 
Size of Grow-Out Tank: 
Substrate Details: 
Other Tank Decor: 
Filtration Details: 
Lighting: 
Lighting Cycle: 
Water Changes: 
Size at Transfer: 
Age at Transfer: 

Grow-Out Feeding Details
Food Types: 
Feeding Schedule: 

Additional Information
Miscellaneous Information: 

First attempt at untested species, both specimens will be kept in separate sections within full view of each other.  Idea is to examine both specimens and view habits in an attempt to establish a pair.  one specimen will be switched out if aggression is too high (indicating both males)  If tensions appear to begin low, specimens will then be combined in one section in an attempt to complete a pair.  This will be done over and over until a pair is formed.  Hopes are:
 
that identtifying marks can be found to distinguish male and female
to identify methods for pairing species
to identify protocols for captive propagation of species

You will be required to provide photographic evidence in this thread of each event submitted for the MBI Program.
If your thread does not contain these photos the MBI Committee will not be able to approve your reports.

<message edited by THEJRC on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 9:14 AM>
Pelagically yours,
~J      

Joost reef
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Re:Breeding Journal, Salarius fasciatus - Sunday, June 6, 2010 10:36 PM
tagging along!

mPedersen
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Re:Breeding Journal, Salarius fasciatus - Monday, June 7, 2010 4:09 PM
Joe, you know there is sexing information in the Blenny issue of CORAL, right?

THEJRC
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Re:Breeding Journal, Salarius fasciatus - Monday, June 7, 2010 9:59 PM
I do, havent read the issue but from what I understand it boils down to the anal fin spikes... but is kinda tricky from what I've noticed... in any case I think I have a pair first run out!!!  Lets delve into why first... (then the fish porn for Tal!)

so after introduction, and continuing I'm noticing dominance being displayed.  One of the two is chasing and nipping at the other but the other one will not fight back.  This "aggressive" behavior goes in stints, and then the aggressor will stop and relax for a bit.  The interesting one is that often the aggressor will relax right next to the target.  The target (supposed female) will not fight back in any way.  Of other note, after several hours the target shows no external damage, and while the aggressors movements may seem rather rough and harsh, I havent yet seen any danger.

Even more interesting....  shortly after introduction to each other in the same tank the aggressor's tail spots darkened, noticeably.  I hope I have most of this caught on tape.  In any case, it should be noted that both specimens spent the last day or so next to each other each on the other side of the divider.  They would not leave each other and did not display very much aggression until introduced to the same tank.

Anyhow on to the meat, from what I have seen the sexing part goes into the anal fin spines, both posess two anal fin spines however the females are less pronounced and often embedded, whereas the males are pronounced and often covered in flesh....  so heres a lucky shot:



It's been a busy day and I really wasnt going to introduce these two in the same tank until friday but with the wife wanting me to take the plunge... and well... I gotta do it  I did it.  As I type this I am still gathering footage to be edited later.  I've taken 4 pages of notes (mostly dumb ramblings) and must say this is extremely exciting.  my largest fear is that I will wake up in the morning to a dead or horribly damaged blenny, but I realize that I need to let it sit to zero hour if I'm going to discover anything.

In any case... it should also be noted that there is a tank mate....  I found that the new fry tank I have been using (which I picked up used from a friend) is responsible for my last two failures in the clowns... on sunday we noticed our juviniles laying sideways on the bottom gasping for air... all were lost except one (three weeks old) who got dumped into this section purely out of "I got nowhere else to put it"  neither the clown nor the blennies seem to notice each other... though the poor clown does get swashed around quite a bit with the blenny action.  Being the sole survivor of a disaster though he's a tough guy... I think he'll be fine until I can find another place to put him.
Pelagically yours,
~J      

THEJRC
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Re:Breeding Journal, Salarius fasciatus - Monday, June 7, 2010 11:58 PM
alright as the night draws to a close, the two are now sleeping within an inch of each other calmly, have been since a few minutes after lights out...

interesting to watch for sure!!  Till the next installment... same blenny time same blenny channel
Pelagically yours,
~J      

THEJRC
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Re:Breeding Journal, Salarius fasciatus - Monday, June 28, 2010 7:37 AM
heh I slacked and didnt update this thread it dawns on me... I'm like what... two weeks late??  In any case, the supposed "female" was in fact male, and did pass before morning.  A bummer yes but it was an expected risk.  All was not lost though as I was able to get a very very good look at this anal fin spine thing after removing the dead fish from the tank.  My LFS has ordered in a few more specimens and this time around we'll be plopping them in little specimen containers to view and sex prior to me even leaving the shop.

I also think that part of my problem is lack of hiding places and a case of established territory.  I moved the supposed female into the males section which posessed very little rockwork to hide in.  Next time around both specimens will be moved into a new section, with more rockwork and hiding spots.  I was hoping to keep the rockwork to a minimum for observation but given how rough the species seems to be I'll just have to suck iit up.
Pelagically yours,
~J      

THEJRC
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Re:Breeding Journal, Salarius fasciatus - Friday, July 23, 2010 7:43 AM
Alrighty,  update!!

two weeks ago I obtained what I beleive to be is another female, the anal fin is much more regular in this specimen.  She has been acclimating well in the section next door to the male, while they have shown interest in each other through the glass as last time it has been much more subdued than with the prior mate.  Last night I decided to introduce them.

This time I moved both specimens into a new section, this new section has more live rock to provide hiding places as well as a few cut sections of PVC for nesting and hiding.  They both made the first night, and have not shown any aggression towards each other.  Cross your fingers folks!!  Heres a shot of the new femal:



and another reminder shot of the male:



I will get some updated shots of the new tank section along with parameters and some explanation of my thought on the PVC later when I have some time!
Pelagically yours,
~J      

THEJRC
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Re:Breeding Journal, Salarius fasciatus - Thursday, September 9, 2010 8:15 AM
*sigh*
 
I'm way behind on updating here....  Upon introduction the female didnt last 24 hours, I am still going through footage to try and see the behavior.
 
There is however a light at the end of the tunnel, I had a chat with Matthew Wittenrich during MACNA and he gave me a few ideas and suggestions to try out.  As soon as I get caught up with work and everything else, it's time for go round number 3.... third times a charm right?
Pelagically yours,
~J