Breeding Journal, Species: Chrysiptera cyanea

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: Chrysiptera cyanea
Common Name: Blue Devil Damsel
Social Structure: Pair
Size of Individuals: 3"
Age of Individuals: ~2 years
Date added to Tank: 04/2010

Broodstock Tank Details
Size of Tank: 120G
Substrate Details: Fiji Pink Sand and Live Rock
Filtration Details: 200 micron filter sock and Protein Skimmer
Water Changes: 10% Monthly
Water Temperature: 76F
Salinity: 1.025
Lighting: 8 x T5 (Tek 8)
Lighting Cycle: 14/10
Salt Type: Instant Ocean
Other Tank Inhabitants: Too many to list

Broodstock Feeding Details
Food Types: Aquatic Treasures Mysis Supreme
Feeding Schedule: Daily, Morning and Evening

Spawning Details
Date of First Spawn: Unknown
Spawn Time of Day: Early Morning
Dates of Consecutive Spawns: 03/20/2011, 04/03/2011, 04/13/2011, 04/21/2011, 05/02/2011, 10/13/2011
Courtship Details: Chasing and gathering under a piece of montipora coral
Egg Size: 1mm
Egg Color: translucent
Egg Count: ~200

Hatch Details
Hatch Date: 03/18/2011
Hatch Time of Day: 10:00PM
# Days after Spawn: ~9
Larvae Description: 2-3mm, clear with a mouth, fins, two eyes, stomach and yolk sac. (see photo)

Larval Tank Details
Temperature: 78F
Size of Larval Tank: 2G
Substrate Details: Bare Bottom
Salinity: 1.025
Other Tank Decor: Heater
Filtration Details: Water Changes
Salt Type: Instant Ocean
Lighting: Room Lighting
Lighting Cycle: 12/12
Water Changes: Daily

Larval Feeding Details
Food Types: Ciliates, Copepods and Rotifers
Feeding Schedule: Continuous/ Green Water (RotiGreen Omega)

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

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

Grow-Out Feeding Details
Food Types:
Feeding Schedule:

Additional Information
(No Pictures or Videos in the Section Please)
Miscellaneous Information:  Both parents have a clear tail. Neither have any orange coloration. This contradicts the thought that the males have an orange tail.

Live and Learn

Here are the parents:

Female:


Male:


Eggs under a plate with parent in the background:
 

Top view of larvae two hours after hatch:

Live and Learn

Update: The last larvae of the first batch lasted three days.

I had another hatch on 03/28/2011 around 10:30pm.

Live and Learn

It's going on 72hrs since hatch and I have one left. My only guess is that they're not taking to the food I'm presenting them. I'm really tempted to take the last one and put it under the scope.

Live and Learn

The last one form the latest batch did not make it to 72hrs. I had a huge batch hatch again last night. Time for round three

Live and Learn

I had a mass die off the first 24hrs. I think it was due to lack of sufficient O2 in the rearing tank. There was a very high population of rotifers in the tank with a low flow air supply. I've since turned up the air. And now there is only one at day five which is a new record for me You know what they say, though. It only takes one

I expect another hatch on or around 4/10 (7 days). They spawned again immediately the next morning after the last hatch. They seem to be in a groove.

Live and Learn

Well the last one disappeared around day 6. I had another hatch last night. I put these gently in a BRT with greenwater. Last time the transfer wasn't so graceful. I think that contributed to their demise. I'm still getting the feel for greenwater in these vessels so we'll see how this batch works out. I may put a couple of them in a smaller 5.5g tank with some blue stripe pipefish fry that I've got a good handle on just to see the difference.

Live and Learn

The last round didn't go so well either. I think it's very likely they're dying of starvation. They seem to consistently drop off at day three. That's probably when their yolk sac is spent. I don't think the one I reported lasting past this time was in fact a damsel on second thought. I think it was some sort of pod. It's sometimes hard to see in the greenwater. So... now I'm going to attempt to do a daily photo record of their status. I'll start with last night right after hatch:





I'll be attempting to harvest pod naupali and cilliates to feed them with this round. I'm also going to work on water quality. Two water changes a day.

Live and Learn

24hrs:

Live and Learn

48hrs:





Here's the encouraging one:

Live and Learn

72hrs:









Good progress.

Live and Learn

96hrs:

Live and Learn

No pics tonight. They're either diminishing in numbers or they've settled to the bottom. I know there are at least a couple left but did not want to stress them under the scope. I'll have a better idea in a few hours after the rotifers have cleared the water more.

Live and Learn

One left at day six. You'll have to trust me on this one.

Live and Learn

The last one lasted 6.5 days.

Live and Learn

I'm getting back into the groove again. I caught another small hatch tonight. I got a bunch of pods to go with them and S strain rotifers.

Live and Learn

Parvolcanus will help - Algagen has it in bulk if need be btw.