[Mattfish]

I know we're a long way from being ready for this at our house, but my wife is really thinking that she'd like to be a fish mom (in addition to our 2 year old, and a 15 year old Blue and Gold Macaw that acts like a big baby all the time). Becky made an excellent point in one of the thread's - if you're going to breed, you need to know how and what equipment and setup you've got to have just for this.

We've got a pair each of Sunrise anthias', false clowns, and Banggai Cardinal's. We also noticed that several of our cleaner shrimp have eggs. We also know for a while that any breeding that may take place is very likely to just add food to the tank, since you can't effectively breed anything in your main tank - you need a separate breeder tank for each pair.

What good books are out there to read on the subject? With the current size of my reading list, by the time I get the book, read it and set up a tank for each pair, I'll be ready to try. So if I start the planning now, I'll be just in time.

Suggestions?

[Ganrin]

The cardinals and clowns will be your best choice for breeding.
The male Banggai mouth broods the eggs, I dont really know much about fry raising with them.
Clownfish are egg layers, you can get them to spawn on rock then move it to a raising tank. The book to get for clownfish breeding is "Clownfishes" by Joyce Wilkerson.

[Mattfish]

Unfortunately, the Banggai's got eaten, apparently by an unkind Midas Blenny (at least that's the theory....), and the clowns are still too young. But eventually, I'll pick up that book and do a little reading. That also means a QT, and Becky knows that I seem to be allergic to the concept - not by choice, but by inaction. And space until we sell the other tank setup. Or I decide to use it for a bed or a pool. Possibly a jacuzzi if I add the plumbing for the air bubbles....

[plecosword]

your going to need a tank to raise them. For clowns, i think the parents protect their young, banggain cardinals abandon then and the young will go searching for urchins. According to the book i read, the fry are large enough so they could eat baby brine shrimp. The book also said the fry get picky, ohh and the parents might attack the fry.

[Mattfish]

One of the lfs' near us regularly raises Banggai's - especially now that they're on the blacklist and can't be legally imported. They're amazing - they come out as little examples of the parents - same shape, just much smaller. And yeah, they need to be segregated until big enough to fend for themselves. He always seems to have a brood going so they must be fairly prolific.

[plecosword]

yeah i have heard about that. My issue right now is getting the pair. i will probably have to go with trial and error. the sexing methods i have heard of are not accurate. the male is suppose to have a larger jaw, and a longer dorsal fin. Just like freshwater angels, i will have to buy 3 or more and wait for them to pair off. I know about the males being aggressive towards each other.

[gimmito]

Mike, I would try the bangaii's, especially since their numbers have been severely depleted.

Checkout the thread I started of the lone bangaii I found in my tank. I heard you can feed the babies with brine, selcon, & vitamins.

[plecosword]

yeah the fry are large enough to take baby brine shrimp.

[plecosword]

by the way Jim, i think there is something wrong with your link.