Breeding Cardinals

[Salty Red]

Any one have knowledge on breeding Cardinals? Mine are breeding but since I never really expected them to breed I am not set up for raising the youngins even if the male would hold the eggs long enough.

Anyways I would like to give it a go and put them in their own tank and start raising live food for them. I've read 30 gallons or more is needed but I was looking at maybe a 20 long connected to my display tank and sump with fuge. Any feelings or knowledge around Syracuse I can tap into?

I posted in the breeding section to someone elses same question but there is no response over there.

 

[NirvanaFan]

A 20 long should work for Bangaii cardinals. When the male releases the baby fish, they can feed on brine shrimp. Setting up a brine shrimp hatchery with a couple of old 2 liter soda bottles should be pretty easy. You do have to move the baby fish into a tank all to themselves though. A 10 gallon should work well. Make a fake urchin with putty and some airline or zip ties, and you should be all set.

 

[block head]

Try it. Its harder than it looks. IME it happens whenever you don't try. I have a pair that quit after i moved them to a 20 breeder set up. Mofib has all the tech info. As a hobby its fun. I'm in the hole money wise. Decent chance you'll lose the male.

 

[NirvanaFan]

I'd skip MOFIB and go to mbisite.org, but that's just me. Both sites will have plenty of info on cardinals.

 

[Salty Red]

Thanks for the help. This is why I ask here. The response given finally in the breeding forum was a bit harsh

 

[NirvanaFan]

Some breeders get tempermental. Don't take it personally. Have fun with it, but don't expect to make any money from it. Breed for fun, and it will be worth it. Trust me on that, I have like 9 pairs of fish in my breeding setup!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

what species Cardinal are you raising?

what species Cardinal are you raising?

Thanks for the help. This is why I ask here. The response given finally in the breeding forum was a bit harsh

some of the most knowledgable fish breeders are from upstate NY.

IME/IMO breeding "Highfin" "Bangaii" Cardinals is easy one you get past pairing them. Basically, the male fish does all the hard work of raising eggs to baby fish. All you need to do is catch the babies and move them to a grow out tank. Males definitely burn out quicker than females because of the stresses they endure.

 

[block head]

Killed a bunch trying to get a single pair. Had breeding bangaii and clowns in the same nano . Lost the male to the stress of breeding. Killed a few more trying to make another pair. Have had a pair in tank for year? Nadda. Adult wild are sleazy, local raised are nice, but tiny. A single can do well in almost any saltwater tank. Keeping a pair is tricky. Got to feed a bunch, and then they spawn til they die. Clowns were easier in my opinion.