Breeding Journal, Species: Berghia verrucicornis (most likely Aeolidie)

General
Species:  Berghia verrucicornis (most likely Aeolidie) 
Social Structure:  Hermaphroditic
Size of Individuals: 1cm
Age of Individuals: Unknown          
Date added to Tank:  08-11-2012

Broodstock Tank Details
Size of Tank:  10 gallons on a central system, 90 gallons total
Substrate Details:  none
Filtration Details: Filter sock, bio-balls, K-1 media, skimmer, refugium w/live rock  
Water Changes: 20% monthly           
Water Temperature:  78°-82°F
Lighting:  Shop light
Lighting Cycle: 14hrs light-10hrs dark plus ambient           
Other Tank Inhabitants:  Mated pair of A. ocellaris

Broodstock Feeding Details
Food Types:  Aptasia
Feeding Schedule:  Constant

Spawning Details
Date of First Spawn:  Not sure - First eggs discovered on 10-3-12
Spawn Time of Day:  Unknown - not witnessed    
Dates of Consecutive Spawns: 
Courtship Details: Not witnessed              
Egg Size: .75mm (or smaller)            
Egg Color:  White
Egg Count:  Hard to tell. I estimate 50-100 per swirl

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
(No Pictures or Videos in the Section Please)
Miscellaneous Information: 
Broodstock was purchased during a local "group-buy".


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.

http://www.fishtalpropagations.com/#!home/mainPage
"Making captive breeding easier."

"Broodstock" was obtained during a group buy. Very tiny.
On the morning of 10-3-12 I found these:


I didn't take pix of the "broodstock" when I got them since they were so small and I assumed I'd lost them. After seeing evidence of a spawn I needed to get pics to confirm. (There are no other inverts in the tank.) This is what I was able to get:
 




 
And this... spawn in action!

http://www.fishtalpropagations.com/#!home/mainPage
"Making captive breeding easier."

You have the size at .75mm... seems kinda small.
 
Your's are making eggs like crazy!

-Adam

And how is the aiptasia population?  Rumor has it, when the adults are white, they are hungry.

check out Kathy's Clowns, llc website:
http://kathysclowns.com
Captive bred clownfish and more
(Wholesale to the trade.)

I think Tal has enough Aiptasia to feed a small army of Berghia's.
 
Maybe 300-500 large aiptasias in his broodstock system.

-Adam

It all seems like a lot of aiptasia until you start trying to raise many of these. If you are planning to sustain a culture of these I would remove some aiptasia and culture it in a large tub too.

 
+1
 
Be very, very afraid.
 

I'm embarrassed to post pix but I will for the sake of learning. Sine I feed a lot I have a lot of Aiptasia, Jim, you've seen them.
 

http://www.fishtalpropagations.com/#!home/mainPage
"Making captive breeding easier."

Nothing embarrassing about aiptasia. If you have one somewhere you will soon have many everywhere! Subtract the stinging of fish and they are actually a benefit to system as they are nutrient export systems. In Calfo's coral propagation book he discussed using them similar to a turf scrubbing system. I know my system that had an aiptasia explosion was cleaner (after the explosion) than the tanks without.

You are correct. That was the estimated egg size, I got excited when filling out the journal.

http://www.fishtalpropagations.com/#!home/mainPage
"Making captive breeding easier."

One concern I might have is what will happen to large aiptasia while culturing "in system". When I fed my Berghia I would drop an aiptasia into their system. The ensuing swarm would quickly consume the one. In your system, if they spread out and attack aiptasia individually would the aiptasia die and decompose prior to being completely consumed?

Good thing to consider. I'll probably move them out once they get established.

http://www.fishtalpropagations.com/#!home/mainPage
"Making captive breeding easier."

You have a good start on a Berghia food supply, Tal, and better than most beginning Berghia breeders do, ( gee, was that a compliment or an insult? ) but still, if you have any success with these nudibranchs (and I suspect you will), then I think you'll be amazed at how quickly they can plow through an Aiptasia forest.

My culture tank has about 5-10 in it at any time. I notice that one will be chewed up one night, and then the next night it will be a little smaller but back to looking normal. They heal very quickly IME.

-Adam

New pics from tonight. Apparently I still have at least 2 adults.
 

http://www.fishtalpropagations.com/#!home/mainPage
"Making captive breeding easier."

Nice pics!
 
LOL @ the aiptasia farm!

-Adam

Be advised that the tiny Berghia need tiny Aiptasia; they can't mow down the giants.  I know that ususally, when you have giant Aiptasia, you also have tiny ones, but I just want to mention that you need many teeny-tiny Aiptasia to raise a bunch of teeny-tiny Berghia.  I found a bunch of good information on the Reef Stewardship Foundation site about Aiptasia culture, e.g.: http://www.reefstewardshi.../showthread.php?t=1368