Breeding Journal, Species: Banggai Cardinal (Pterapogon kauderni) Pr 2

General
Species:  Pterapogon kauderni
Social Structure:  Proven pair
Size of Individuals:  1.25" body length not including finnage.  Still fairly small.
Age of Individuals:  Bought as wild caught juveniles in May. (will check records)
Date added to Tank:  Quarantined for several weeks.  Added to broodstock system June 22, 2012.

Broodstock Tank Details
Size of Tank:  20 gallons plumbed to 120 gallon broodstock system.
Substrate Details:  Fine dusting of sand.
Filtration Details:  200 micron filter sock, 2 gallons bioballs, EuroReef RS-180 skimmer.
Water Changes:  Weekly 40%.  Try to keep nitrate <25 ppm, but it is often around 40 ppm.
Water Temperature:  80F
Lighting:  T8 fluorescent
Lighting Cycle:  14 hours light, 10 hours dark
Other Tank Inhabitants:  Pair of Green Mandarins

Broodstock Feeding Details
Food Types:  Mainly frozen homemade mash, some PE Mysis, and some SFB Brine Shrimp.
Feeding Schedule:  3x per day

Spawning Details
Date of First Spawn:  06/23/12.  Male eating 06/29.
Spawn Time of Day:  Afternoon
Dates of Consecutive Spawns: 
07/16/12.  Male eating 07/28. (getting better)
08/10/12.
08/31/12.
*This pair spawned regularly, but the male failed to incubate to term.

Courtship Details:  Not a flirty pair at all.  Female becomes obviously gravid within a few days of spawning.  When close to spawning, they stick very close to each other - almost touching.  Then the female starts vibrating next to male for several seconds with their tail fins touching/intertwined, then swims backwards around his tail to his other side, and vibrates on that side.  Male looks like he is stretching his jaw and flaring the lower part of his gills.  They won't be interested in food when they are ready to spawn.   As the eggs are laid they stick to the female's vent in a bundle and the male does "drive-by" fertilizations.  When the spawning is over the male gulps the eggs into his mouth in one big gulp.
Egg Size:  2 - 2.2 mm
Egg Color:  Pinkish orange.
Egg Count: 

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


Larval Tank Details
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Other Tank Decor: 
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Larval Feeding Details
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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: 
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Lighting: 
Lighting Cycle: 
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Size at Transfer: 
Age at Transfer: 

Grow-Out Feeding Details
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Additional Information
 
 
Note that this pair was moved into the broodstock system (different water, different salinity) on June 22nd, and spawned June 23rd for the first time.
 
Fish were sexed via the "vent method".  http://www.masa.asn.au/ph...php?f=113&t=217208
 
Miscellaneous Information: 

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

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

These two spawn regularly, but the male doesn't hold the eggs longer than a week max, often just a couple days.

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

This pair is no longer.  The female either became egg bound or had a severe case of constipation, either way she bloated up and couldn't swim.  Strangely, the male was found belly up two days later even though everyone else in the system is fine (including other Bangaii).

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