Breeding fishes

[Keekee]

I am thinking to set up a new tank for marine fishes breeding experiment purpose.

Just wondering anyone around has practical experience on it and any recommendation for me so that I could possiblly avoid some pitfall?

Tank size? Filtration?

Off hand, after doing some reading, seems like I will need
1) Protein skimmer
2) Machinical filter
3) 25 C ot 77 F temperature

Any inputs?

[Aragorn]

Keekee,

No experience breeding fish, but welcome to Reefland. I'm sure someone can help. A protein skimmer certainly can't hurt though. I've had good experiences w/ AquaC and would recommend them(IMO). Additionally, you may get more responses w/ this thread in the saltwater or reef forum(s). I'll see about getting it moved for you. Welcome aboard.

[Ninong]

Hello KeeKee ~

What species are you attempting to breed?

Here is a database with information on the experiences of others: http://www.breeders-registry.gen.ca.us/

I am moving your post to the Reef forum where it should receive more attention.

Ninong

P.S. - The easiest fish to breed are Banggai Cardinals and Clownfish, followed by Pseudochromis. For articles on breeding Banggai Cardinals go here: http://www.eparc.com/banggai/banggai.shtml For an excellent book on breeding clownfish, get Joyce Wilkerson's book, Clownfishes. For detailed instructions on breeding Pseudochromis fridmani, get Martin Moe's book, Breeding the Orchid Dottyback.

[FMarini]

Hi:
Actually i would rephase my question.....Your have to ask
WHAT type of fish will i breed", and then choice the tank specifics.
W/ that said you need to decide what fish you're gonn breed. The three most common one are clownfish, banggai cardinals, and pseuedochromis. These three fish can be readily bred in the home aquarium and you will have some success raising fry.
So ask the right q? which fish....
Then set up your tank accordingly
frank
To read more on raising/breeding banggai cardinals
http://www.eparc.com/banggai.banggai.html

[Keekee]

Hm... i guess you are right, I left that infor out earlier when I post the initial posting.

I was hoping to start with the Dottyback first.

I was also hoping the tank that I am going to set up would be able to cater for all 3 type of fishes' breeding, Banggai Carnivals, Clownfish as well as Dottybacks. Something in the middle which would probably been common and share by one after another. If that is not possible, please also let me know.

Thanks for the web infor, they are really helpful.

Anyone who has some good suggestion please kindly let me know.

Thank you, you guys are very helpful.

[Ninong]

KeeKee ~

You should start out with Banggai Cardinals first because they would be the easiest. Just read the articles that we linked for you.

Before trying either Clownfish or Dottybacks, you should buy Joyce D. Wilkerson's book, Clownfishes, or Martin Moe's book, Breeding the Orchid Dottyback.

It is better to set up a 20-gal tank just for the mated pair you want to breed. And then you will need a separate grow-out tank for the fry (Banggai Cardinals) or larvae (Clownfish or Dottybacks). You could get away with a mated pair of Banggai Cardinals in a reef tank with other non-agressive fish, provided you removed the male just before he delivers the babies. And then after he spits the babies, you need to remove him from the grow-out tank and get him back to the main tank. Some people even get away with spawning clownfish in a reef tank, provided the clownfish are cooperative and lay the eggs on a piece of tile or something similar that can be removed just prior to the eggs hatching. But you definitely need a grow-out tank for the clownfish larvae. To say nothing of the rotifers and brine shrimp nauplii that you will need to feed the larvae, and the phytoplankton to feed the rotifers, etc. You will definitely need a separate tank for a mated pair of dottybacks. You can use a small clay flower pot for them to lay the eggs in. Both clownfish and dottybacks go through a larval stage first before metamorphosing into fry. Some clownfish species are a lot easier to raise than others; some, like Maroon clowns, are extremely difficult to get past metamorphosis.

Read Dr. Marini's article on breeding Banggai Cardinals, and try them first. Then you could move on to clownfish or dottybacks after reading the books I recommended.

Good luck,

Ninong