Banggai

[camlov2]

I am thinking about breeding Banggai Cardinals. I currently have two (for a few weeks) but don't know if they are a pair due to the fact that they spend a lot of time seperated. I assume that I have either 2 males or 2 females, if this is the case should I add a 3rd or even a 3rd and 4th to the tank to try and find a pair? I am wondering if anyone has tried to breed fish that are a predetermined sex and how they went about finding a pair.

 

[inkmates]

I've heard that the male Banggai has a squarer jaw than the female if thats any help. If you do some searching you could probably find a mated pair.

 

[Leeroy]

Camlov2, what size tank are they in and how old are they?
If they are spending a bit of time apart, then they may not be a pair.
If this is the case, then I would be watching them closely, as if they dont have a big enough tank, then in time you will find one hiding up in a top corner of the tank. If not removed it will not survive and be harrassed to death.
Adding a 3rd or 4th could help establish a breeding pair, however even in a 180g tank, I would still watch them all closely for any signs of being harassed by others. And then remove any that dont get on together.

If you are thinking of breeding them, then here is a link to a breeding forum.

http://www.marinebreeder.org/phpbb/index.php

Good luck

 

[camlov2]

They are in a 29 gallon, I don't know how old but I have had them for about a month. I know they could take months or years to be comfortable enough to spawn (if they are a pair), but they do seem to be on the larger size of all banggai that I have seen available (I would say tip of nose to tip of tail is about 2 inches). They do spend some time side by side, just not all the time. I have never seen either fish show agression so I don't think that is a problem.
One way I have heard to sex the banggai is the length of the 2nd dorsal fin. I though both were on the short side when I got them. One also had a shorter tail fin on the bottom. After a month I have to laugh at this one. The tail fin is already fully grown back and both now have dorsal fins about a cm longer then when I got them.
One of the two seems to bump his nose back and forth against the glass in one corner of the tank. It seems like he is attacking his reflection. Don't know if he is mental or trying to protect his mate (I have my fingers crossed). lol

 

[camlov2]

So I looked over at my tank today and notice that the smaller of the two banggais was having a seizer next the the larger, it then switched to the other side and did the same thing. It did this repeatedly for about 5 minutes (until the lights turned off).

few questions.

1-does this mean that 100% I have a male and female?
2-have any of you seen a pair do this but fail to produce eggs?

3-(other topic) Over the past few weeks the smaller banggai seems to be slightly darker (almost a little tan and not as silver) does this ever happen when mating or is the fish probably stressed?

 

[camlov2]

here goes...

 

["Umm fish?"]

There you go. Congratulations!

 

[catdoc]

Looks like the male (on the right) is already holding eggs. Or was he just showing off his big mouth??

 

[oceanparadise1]

Nice!!

 

[camlov2]

Key word is that he WAS holding eggs. First batch so I am not surprised that he ate them. I am thinking about covering one side of the tank in the future so that he has more of a place to hide. There really isn't a large place for both to hide in the tank, I figure if I cover half the tank they might be less stressed with the next batch. Who knows, worth a try.

 

[catdoc]

My male hides in the urchin when he's holding, maybe make him a fake urchin if you don't have room for a real one?