Breeding Journal, Species: [Pterapogon kauderni]

Ok- Days 3 & 4 are on my youtube channel- all was good.
 
Came home today after work- and... I don't know.
Can't tell if he ate the eggs, spit them out where I can't see, or if it is just maybe he shifted them around differently in his mouth.
Doesn't seem as 'puffy' .
Not jumping to any conclusions... will see if he eats, I guess, is a good way to tell.
He just looks slightly less round right now in the jaw.

Michelle  
 

Ok- well added two different types of food, he did swim towards the brine, but ate nothing. Then swam away from it.  The female gulped up the food.
So I guess I am camping out in this room again to see if he re-shifts in a different way to adjust the eggs...if he is still holding that is.
 
I am trying to be oh-so-non-chalant about this..... ha! but you know I am gnawing at the bit to see this through I would be sooooo tickled to have even (1) little baby Banggai --- so back to patiently waiting to see what he is hiding from me

Michelle  
 

The best thing you can do is leave them alone.  In my experience, holding males are very skittish and it seems it you even look at them wrong they swallow the eggs.  If I were you I wouldn't be bothering them with a video camera.  Some people seem to have linked nitrate over 20 ppm as a possible cause for males that won't incubate.  I'm not sure about that...but it's something to keep in mind.

Don't let fear and common sense stop you! =]

Good to know about nitrate thought...
 as far as the being skiddish, as soon as I come into the room, they usually swim to the front of the glass, knowing food is coming- they haven't  been too  skiddish since they settled in. ... the only thing different, is my husband has been in the room alot between yesterday and today ... lol... but I can't blame him , he built the tank stand, lol- but maybe having the room light on at night spooked them....?
The poor little fish were probably like Stranger Danger! Gulp!
 
- on a serious note. I try to set the camera up across the room, which explains some of the blur here/there.. trying to zoom in and all because I did worry about spooking them. I hide behind and try to zoom in,- so thanks for pointing that out...it was def a concern
 
Here is the thing though... it looks as though he does not have them, but he will not eat, what he is doing.. is hanging all over her, occassionally nips where he thinks the eggs are coming from-
 

Michelle  
 

I am taking your advice..... goodnight fish room

Michelle  
 

Update:
Ok- so I have placed black paper on the sides of the tank, to limit the distraction of people coming into the room- which seems to be working as they are back to hanging out at the front of the glass like they have before, waiting for food. Only thing is, they don't seem to be eating. Not that I can see anyway. Seems after the eggs disappeared- so did their appetite?
Anyone know why, and if it is related to the egg loss? Or if they are gearing up for the next batch - I would have thought the male would be power eating- but he is not.

Michelle  
 

Ime, Banggai are just finicky.  They seem to go on hunger strikes on occasion.  I usually try different foods when they do that.  They are strange fish...sometimes they are gluttonous, other times they are anorexic.  I find them frustrating.  I've also found that the male seems to stop eating the day before they spawn which is annoying because all I want to do is stuff his face in preparation.

Don't let fear and common sense stop you! =]

lol- thanks for that- because I am feeling that same frustration, all I want to do is feed him and make him plumpy for the next go 'round.
I am doing a mix of different foods, so that is good, at least I am doing something right

Michelle  
 

Nothing to update at this time- still watch/wait
But I have added some xenia frags and golden agar I picked up on our fish club trip to Tampa over the weekend- and they seem to like the algae- hiding behind it

Michelle  
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_CZfNF0XZA&list=UUHVW8lZnpgDbDMC0U1xMPJA&index=1&feature=plcp

Michelle  
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_CZfNF0XZA&list=UUHVW8lZnpgDbDMC0U1xMPJA&index=1&feature=plcp
 
Hmmm. somehow it grabbed the wrong video- above

Michelle  
 

 
Day 3

Michelle  
 

? sorry - I don't know why it seems to keep grabbing the previous video ?
But look at August 11, 2012 's update ... watching carefully  and "from a teeny tiny peep hole" so he doesn't spook, lol- it is a small batch- but it is #2 thus far

Michelle  
 

fyi - if of interesting, I am going to be going back and revisiting the 'nitrate' concept.  while I have a pair that consistently spawned while 'attached' to my reef system, I have had problems with them holding to term while in my breeding system with nitrates a alot higher.  I am going to be moving the 'proven' pair back to the reef system and see what happens.  so if you are interested.

Always interested in learning more-

Michelle  
 

Could the peppermint shrimp be aggravating the banggai? Should I remove him? Read somewhere where the shrimp can annoy or upset the fish while breeding...?

Michelle