Banggai forced release

[RoscoPColtrane]

My Banggai are on their second batch of fry. The male released the first batch at 32 days and then ate most of the babies that night.

This time around he released 5 very small babies around day 22 and is still holding the rest at day 26. The 5 are doing ok. Should I force him to release the remaining fry so they are not eaten like the previous batch?

 

[Caesra]

I wouldn't. 32 days is a bit long and I would expect him to eat them in a hurry when that far along. 22 days is very short, most likely they were spit because he couldn't hold everything. If he is comfy and the fry are doing well, he should release on day 27-29.

This is my way of looking at how fast the father needs to be moved after final release.

28 days or less -> 24 hours
29 days -> 18 hours
30 days -> 12 hours
31 days -> 6 hours
32 days -> remove him pretty much immediately

There definatly seems to be a correlation (at least with my brood stock) that correlates to how long past due, and how fast the father is willing to start eating.

Also, less experience parents may eat sooner...I had an issue with one of my pairs, when first starting to breed, the father first would eat his eggs..he got longer and longer, till he actually was able to release, then he released and eat the fry almsot immediatly...as he continued cycles he got better and better and now abides by the time frames above.

Assuming the father releases all at once, I usually remove the father before I go to bed, around 12-1am, which is roughly 4-5 hours after lights out on my tanks. So this is not as much of an issue.

 

[RoscoPColtrane]

Thanks for the reply. This will be my pair's second batch. Before I read your post I caught the male in a net and he released the rest of the fry. Pretty easy and now I don't have to worry about him eating them all like last time. All 21 look good and a few even ate. Now to keep them all alive! Last batch I enriched baby brine shrimp with Selcon only and it was not effective. This time around I will try to feed the shrimp for a few days.

 

[Caesra]

Yeah, I always discourage the net for capture, they are pretty much guaranteed to spit...and I have lost quite a few fry that way. When I cup capture and let him release, I get around 97% survival rate (all the way through sale)...


Good luck

 

[mtaswt]

Yeah, I always discourage the net for capture, they are pretty much guaranteed to spit...and I have lost quite a few fry that way. When I cup capture and let him release, I get around 97% survival rate (all the way through sale)...


Good luck

any tips on the cup capture? I've got a male approaching the 21 day mark.....last batch I caught him with a net and I want to try to avoid that this time.

Thanks--Matthew

 

[RoscoPColtrane]

Wait until dark, turn off all lights for ~30minutes. Turn lights on and quickly use a net to corral him into a container. I used the net only when the male was in his own breeder tank and I wanted him to release the fry.

 

[Caesra]

I just use the ones they use at the LFS to hold a bag of water while catching the fish.

Carefull encourage the male into a corner of the tank, very slowly, and gently bring up the container. If you go slow enough, he should not get upset at all. If you spook him, he will get much harder to catch, not to mention might spit or swallow.

I have caught countless bangaii this way, including ones out of large frag tanks with lots of frags and hiding spots. Works everytime.