BC 2009 - Gobiodon Okinawae (Chrismelb)

[chrismelb]

Username: Chrismelb
Species: G.Okinawae
Social Structure: Housed in pairs
Size of Individuals: ~2-2.5cm
Age of Individuals:
Date added to Tank: 8/8/09

Broodstock Tank Details
Size of Tank:
Pair 1 & 2 = 6.5 litres (plumbed to main coral tank 180litres in total)
Pair 3 = 36 litres (plumbed to main coral tank 180 litres in total)
Substrate Details: None
Filtration Details: Live rock/DSB
Water Changes: 20% monthly
Water Temperature: 26-28c
Lighting: T5HO
Lighting Cycle: 12hr Photoperiod
Other Tank Inhabitants:
Pair 1 & 2= none
Pair 3 = 2 Juvenille Banggais and 1 Clownfish (Percula)

Broodstock Feeding Details
Food Types: Initially NHBS then homemade frozen food mix, brine shrimp, mysids & cyclop eeze
Feeding Schedule: twice daily

Spawning Details
Date of First Spawn:
Dates of Consecutive Spawns:

Larval Tank Details
Size of Larval Tank:
Substrate Details:
Other Tank Decor:
Filtration Details:
Lighting:
Lighting Cycle:
Water Changes:

Larval Feeding Details
Food Types:
Feeding Schedule:

Additional Information
Miscellaneous Information:

[chrismelb]

For this breeding attempt im working with 3 pairs. Six were purchased from Williamstown Aquarium thanks Jack for supporting this breeding challenge One unfortunately one died this morning, so another one was purchased today.

I have decided to house two pairs in small quaters, this decision is based on information that clowns will spawn in as little as 14 litres, others have spawned smaller marine fish in shoeboxed size tanks. Coral gobies are very small fish, rarely swim and often live amongst SPS coral branches. Therefore large tank size IMO is not required for Coral gobies.

Pair 3 will be housed in frag tank. As these are aggressive fish, each fish in pair 1 & 2 are separated until well feed and accepting conditioning food. Pair 3 is not separated as this was not possible in frag tank, but suspect agression will be minimal as they have many places to take refuge from each other.

One of the main problems with these gobies is that they often need to be acclimatised to non living foods. I am currently feeding newly hatched brine shrimp to all gobies, all show feeding response. More traditional foods will be offerred on occasion to get them used to these foods.

Pair 1 & 2 housed within breeding quaters within 2ft tank



Pair 1 (separated with divider atm)


Pair 2 (separated with divider atm)


Pair 3 one visible member


Dead SPS skeltons and PVC pipes will be placed in quaters for pair 1 and 2. Dividers will be removed once they are accepting normal foods and appear well fed to begin pairing.

Chris

[chrismelb]

Most gobies are now taking frozen brine, some mysids and cyclope eeze.

Pair 1 & 2
Each goby from pairs 1 & 2 are still in isolation until feeding well.

Pair 3
Seem to show little to no aggression and often are seen close together.

Chris

[trano]

wow! its so exciting! :D how long do you think it will take to get them to spawn?

[chrismelb]

wow! its so exciting! :D how long do you think it will take to get them to spawn?

I wish i knew the answer to that, i have read that pairs once introduced can spawn in as little as two weeks.

But firstly they need to form pairs and be accepting of foods and fed regularly. Being bi-directional hermaphrodites (the ability to change from male to female or from female to male) any two placed in an aquarium will form a pair. Im guessing due to the lack of aggression amongst pair 3 they are actually a true pair (male and female).

Hopefully as soon as they are feeding well and pair formed, we should start to see some spawns, hopefully in a couple of weeks.

[chrismelb]

Well it looks like Pair 2 have wanted to pair up themselves - one jumped over the divider into where the other one was. The divider is now removed giving the pair more space. There does not appear to be any aggression both are now feeding well and seem strong.

Pair 1 is still unpaired as one is still much smaller and not feeding as well.

Pair 3 is doing well showing no signs of aggression and sometimes seen following each other or close by (indication of true pair).

Chris

[Chris]

Any update, on pairing and feeding?

Christian

[chrismelb]

Pair 1 are still separated as one is still not eating all that well and is much smaller.

Pair 2 seems ok, there is some chasing from, i assume, the male.

Pair 3 seem to live happily together. - difficult to tell if there are eggs layed as there are frags everywhere.

All are eating home made frozen mix, brine shrimp, mysids, Cyclop Eeze & NHBS. Im noticing these guys are actually eating food that has fallen to the ground, ie it does not need to be in suspension for them to eat it which is great. These fish may be seen as a member of a fish tank's clean up crew.

Chris

[Danni&Brookey]

Any news on these guys?? Its been an awfully long time!

[corizano]

Have they paired up???? Need some updates. Corry