Breeding Bumblebee Gobies?

[Ripley]

I was wondering do Bumblebee gobies need to be in brackish water to breed. I have mine in freshwater now b/c they were in freshwater at the store. But I am hoping to breed them so if I have to go brackish I can, but well have lots of questions about going brackish.

 

[nmonks]

They can and will breed in both. Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest adult BBGs are easier to keep in brackish water, though this may be (according to Schaefer) more about the ease with which they can be fed live brine shrimp than anything else. If your BBGs are feeding well and fattening up, and the males in particular have adopted breeding colouration (often orange or red) than by all means breed them in whatever conditions you have.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Ripley]

Thanks. I have 6, two females and four males. They all eat very well, I am feeding them frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms. I exploring what else they well accept and may try them on live brine shrimp. But the males are not getting their breeding colors, all of them are acting normal and healthy but still no evidence of breeding. I have two artifical plants, I'm using honey comb rock and terra-cotta pots as caves.

 

[piranha_trader]

Thanks. I have 6, two females and four males. They all eat very well, I am feeding them frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms. I exploring what else they well accept and may try them on live brine shrimp. But the males are not getting their breeding colors, all of them are acting normal and healthy but still no evidence of breeding. I have two artifical plants, I'm using honey comb rock and terra-cotta pots as caves.

How do you tell the difference between the sexes and what do you feed the babies once theyre born?

 

[nmonks]

They aren't all that easy to sex, which is why you need to buy a group and let them do their thing naturally. Females are rounder than the males, noticeably so when in breeding condition and you have a group of fish in front of you. Males in breeding condition will also change colour, though this depends on the species. Typically, males become orangey instead of yellow/black.

Newly hatched gobies of all types tend to be difficult to feed on anything other than very small live foods. Liquid fry food is sometimes taken, but don't bank on it. Instead have things like infusoria at hand. Even brine shrimp nauplii may be too large for the first few days.

Cheers, Neale

How do you tell the difference between the sexes and what do you feed the babies once theyre born?

 

[Ripley]

My two females are almost double the size of my males. So I got lucky when I bought my group. First I thought maybe they are just dominant gobies but the males get lots of food too, so I'm pretty sure that there are 2 females and 4 males. The only thing is that my males don't seem to be getting their breeding colors yet, I'll have to take a closer look at them.

 

[geo7x]

when my BBGs bred (in brackish water) the males never really turned a noticably different colour until the very point of spawning. Even when he did it wasn't particularly different, just the black bits went a bit paler. When the females are egg-bound then you will see them plump up quite a lot and you should be able to see the pale eggs inside her.

 

[luque]

if you keep them in brakish for abit, then transfer them to f/w, i heard that may trigger spawning as they usually breed (in the wild) in the rainy season when the salt is dilluted a bit
godd luck anyway

 

[geo7x]

if you keep them in brakish for abit, then transfer them to f/w, i heard that may trigger spawning as they usually breed (in the wild) in the rainy season when the salt is dilluted a bit
godd luck anyway

Lowering the s/g is considered as a trigger however I think completely switching the fish from brackish to pure FW would perhaps shock them a bit and put them off more than anything. But yes lowering s/g (diluting) can be a trigger in brackish.

 

[Ripley]

Thanks for the help. I just purchased some marine salt, so all I need to know now is what S.G you keep them at. I have heard around 1.010 but that could be wrong. Also I need a game plan for converting them to brackish; so I need some suggestions on how I'm going to do so.

 

[nmonks]

As stated earlier, you don't need to add salt at all. BBGs couldn't care less. Please see here, especially the linked Yahoo posting by Naomi Delventhal. She wrote the goby chapter in my book and knows her stuff. But if you want to keep them at, say, SG 1.003, then simply make weekly water changes as per normal, only adding SG 1.003 water each time. After a few weeks you'll have the right salinity and the filter bacteria will be happy.

Cheers, Neale

Thanks for the help. I just purchased some marine salt, so all I need to know now is what S.G you keep them at. I have heard around 1.010 but that could be wrong. Also I need a game plan for converting them to brackish; so I need some suggestions on how I'm going to do so.

 

[Ripley]

Well I will try going brackish and see if I have any luck then. I was wondering if anyone had any pics of the male and female gobies when they ready to spawn? I know there is mention in the Naomi Delventhal articale of these pictures, but I cannot find them.

 

[nmonks]

You really can't make a mistake. Gravid females look like they've swallowed a marble, and the ovipositor is often slightly emergent as a short, thick tube. Males remain slender but you will usually see them change colour; precisely how varies with the species. Males also tend to be more aggressive and will defend a potential spawning site. Females will swim about a bit more freely. But if you have half a dozen in a 10 gallon tank (or whatever) sooner or later a pair will form and you'll see them spawn. When that happens, all will be clear!

Cheers, Neale

Well I will try going brackish and see if I have any luck then. I was wondering if anyone had any pics of the male and female gobies when they ready to spawn? I know there is mention in the Naomi Delventhal articale of these pictures, but I cannot find them.

 

[Ripley]

Thanks. Yeah I have 6 in a ten gallon, and from what I can see I have 4 males and 2 females. Do you think I should get anymore?

 

[luque]

i would, but the chances are out of 6 there is probably a male, but i would to increase even more chance.

good luck