Going Salt?

[Ludwig Venter]

Since mentioning salt, with my limited experience, I am now getting motivated into this field, but I'm more of an enthusiastic breeder than a keeper.... are there at least some easy breeders amoungst the marines??

 

[kj23502]

Cardinalfishes, Clownfishes.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Cardinalfishes, Clownfishes.

Always thought cardinals are freshwater exclusive....??, but then again... I believe even glassfish are actually marines.

 

[kj23502]

There are sw cardinals. Baggai, Pajama are 2 examples of them. Do a google search

 

[Ludwig Venter]

There are sw cardinals. Baggai, Pajama are 2 examples of them. Do a google search

Seems like hard work KJ, but I'm now so keen, Will do it.

 

[kj23502]

From what I've heard it's harder at first, but testing the water, mixing the water, etc. becomes 2nd nature after you've done if for a little while.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

From what I've heard it's harder at first, but testing the water, mixing the water, etc. becomes 2nd nature after you've done if for a little while.

Yea, but comparatively, your "schoolfees" are that much higher.... Loosing a soul here at the cost of ""mixing & testing" is slightly higher than with the tropicals...... Suggest a coupla easy starters if you please....

 

[kj23502]

Those 2 are easy to breed. Mixing and testing won't kill a fish unless you add the wrong sg to the tank that makes the whole tank swing into a different sg and if you're starting w/a larger tank...say 55 gallon, that's going to be harder to do. You mix the new water outside of the tank and let it sit overnight(preferably about 24 hours) in a bucket/40 gallon garbage can or whatever you use to mix it in..have a heater and powerhead to mix the water up. You may need to swirl the water around a few times, depending on how good of job your powerhead does. Then test it again the next day. If it's off then add a little more salt or a little more R/O water, depending on if it's to strong or not. Completely covered sw mix can be kept for a couple months before it needs to be used.

There is also an excellent book available on the propogation of clownfish, Clownfishes, by Joyce D. Wilkerson. It includes sections not only for selecting your breeders, but also discusses the spawning and rearing of the fry.

 

[Musho3210]

Clownfish arent the easiest, just the most commonly bred (theres money in breeding clownfish). Bangaii cardinals are as easy to breed, but more importantly, easier to raise. Since they are born big, they can accept larger, easily accessed foods (baby brine shrimp) while clownfish are born so small, you will find yourself breeding rotifers which are a tad bit harder than raising baby brine shrimp. Another plus is bangaii cardinals are endangered so it would do the environment a favor if you bred them.

Unfortunately, money>environment, thats why bangaiis arent as commonly bred as clownfish. Bangaii egg batches are about 10-20 while clownfish can have hundreds at a time.

 

[SkiFletch]

Musho's right on this one, I'll echo his comments. Also if you do want to go down the clownfish breeding route, pick up a book called "Clownfishes" by Joyce Wilkerson as it's pretty much the bible on the subject.