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: Hippocampus erectus
Social Structure: One mated pair
Size of Individuals: 6"
Age of Individuals: Appx. one year
Date added to Tank: 7 December 2006
Broodstock Tank Details Size of Tank: 65 Gallons
Substrate Details: Aragonite Sand, Live Rock
Filtration Details: 100 micron polyester mesh sock, protein skimmer, chaetomorpha in sump
Water Changes: 10% weekly
Water Temperature: 76-78 F
Lighting: 96W CF Actinic + 96W CF Daylight
Lighting Cycle: 12h on / 12h off
Other Tank Inhabitants: 3 Pyjama Cardinals, 1 Orchid Dottyback, 1 Scooter Blenny, 5 Green Chromis, 4 Peppermint shrimp, Clean Up Crew
Broodstock Feeding Details Food Types: PE Mysis, Hikari Mysis, SF Bay Spirulina Brine
Feeding Schedule: 2-3 times daily
Spawning Details Date of First Spawn: 7 December 2006
Spawn Time of Day: Unknown
Dates of Consecutive Spawns: About every 2 weeks
Courtship Details: Male flashes colors, Female does head bobbing, they swim up in water column together, egg transfer!
Egg Size: Unknown
Egg Color: Orange (I've seen a few spilled)
Egg Count: Usually around 50
Hatch Details Hatch Date: 19 December 2006
Hatch Time of Day: Morning, right after lights go on
# Days after Spawn: 14
Larvae Description: 8 mm, tiny replicas of parents
Larval Tank Details Temperature: Ambient room temp - 72F
Size of Larval Tank: 10 Gallon
Substrate Details: Bare Bottom
Other Tank Decor: Fake plant for hitching
Filtration Details: HOB Penguin filter
Lighting: Fluorescent strip light
Lighting Cycle: on 24 hrs first couple of weeks
Water Changes: Large and frequent
Larval Feeding Details Food Types: NHBBS, Enriched BBS
Feeding Schedule: Several times a day
Metamorphosis/Settlement Date of Settlement Start: Immediate hitching first day
Days after Hatch: 0
Date of Settlement End: 19 December 2006
Description of Fry: Same as at birth
Grow-Out Tank Details Temperature: Ambient room temp 72F
Size of Grow-Out Tank: 29 Gallon
Substrate Details: Bare Bottom w/ lots of live rock
Other Tank Decor: Filtration Details: Airstone + screened powerhead
Lighting: Fluorescent strip light
Lighting Cycle: 12h on / 12h off
Water Changes: Very few.
Size at Transfer: 12 mm
Age at Transfer: 2 weeks
Grow-Out Feeding Details Food Types: Copeopds, isopods + amphipods in tank from copious live rock, supplemented with enriched BBS from time to time. At about 2 months, they were moved to a 10 gallon tank with a HOB filter. Started transitioning onto frozen by adding shaved mysis to the enriched BBS, gradually adding more and more at each feeding. After a week to 1 1/2 weeks, all were eating shaved mysis. Also, occasional frozen cyclops were used to wean them onto frozen foods. Then, upgraded them to Hikari mysis. Once they were eating Hikari, they moved into display tank with parents.
Feeding Schedule: When hungry, eat. When tired, sleep.
Additional Information Miscellaneous Information: I managed to raise 4 of the first brood of 42 fry to adulthood.
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<message edited by JimWelsh on Friday, September 24, 2010 10:27 PM>