Greenbanded Goby (Elacatinus multifasciatus, Gobidion etc..) Breeding Log

[mwp]

Following the note from Ed above, 1 L of Tetraselmis was added to the larval tank. I'd also seived roughly 2 gallons down from the clownfish tank, so there should be a fair number of SS rotifers running around. I'm going to make a concious effort to selcon enrich at least a portion of the tank's rotifers every day, that certainly didn't hurt last time around!

Matt

 

[mwp]

Just some updates - so far they larvae seem to be doing OK. Yesterday I added around 800 ML of T-Iso, and just now I noticed the tank had pretty well cleared out, so 1L of Tetraselmis went in again. Some appear to be feeding well, whereas others are looking kinda skinny. No doubt time will tell.

Matt

 

[mwp]

This afternoon I seived 2 gallons of rotifers out of the larval tank for enrichment. I then replaced the water back into the tank, and again seived out 2 gallons of rotifers, only this time they went down the drain and the water/phyto back into the tank. Trying to control rotifer poplutions as well as provide some enriched rots...that's the word.

Matt

 

[mwp]

So we're on the evening of the 6th day with the GBG larvae. I've been pretty good about dosing in a full 1L of ripe phyto, whatever happens to be ready that day (so it's been kinda skewed towards T-Iso and Tetraselmis, but I have the actual records in case this batch ends up being "the batch" and I want to go back).

In a nutshell, all the rotifers seem to have disappeared today. The tank is bursting at the seams with copepods, most all smaller harps. I harvested a bit of L-Strain from my cultures and enriched...it went into the tank and the larvae started takin' 'em down in no time. I may need to innoculate with L-Strain a couple more times to get the rotifer levels back up to where I *think* they should be. Overall, it seems like we have a VERY good number of larvae at this time....they're pretty cloaked in phyto, so it's not like I can get a headcount.

The BIG surprise - there's a larval Peppermint Shrimp in the tank!. I don't know how I got it in there, but man, it's HUGE. I made a very half-a s s attempt to rear them in the past, but this time around it looks like I'll have one coming up without any problems. My bigger concern is whether he'll turn on the GBG larvae?!

That's the news on the GBG front...

Matt

 

[mwp]

11-9-06, 9:25 AM - We have a hatch! - sure enough, baby GBGs running around in the tank moments after I kicked the main lights on, and as always (it seems), the Bangaii's feeding when I hadn't FED yet tipped me off.

Since I already have a tank full of GBG larvae from last week, these are just being left to fend for themselves.

Matt

 

[mwp]

So we're past 11 days and there are some pretty large larvae in the tank. All that I've seen look healthy. Back on Friday I added in some more L-Strain rots, as the tank was not "clearing out" but has been consistently staying green. I've drastically reduced the amount of phyto I've been adding in, focusing on that "fine balance" that seems to be going on. 7 more days and we'll have tied the record for survival!

Matt

 

[mwp]

This morning things are looking pretty good in the GBG world...the water has finally cleared out a bit and I can tell there are at least 10-20 big larvae running around - I'd have to say around 1 CM in length on the largest of them, but that's pretty much a guestimate. The peppermint shrimp hitchhiker seems to be doing well too.

I wish I could get a better headcount, but the water IS still green (can't see through the 10 gallon end to end) and the larvae still are clear (making them hard to spot).

Keeping my finger's crossed and adding some phyto this morning

Matt

 

[mwp]

So we're almost at 15 days now. This evening I fed a small amount of selcon enriched brine nauplii (BBS) and sat and watched for a while. ONE, out of the 40 or 50+ larvae has started to feed on them, so it's only a matter of time before the rest follow suit.

HOWEVER, in watching the larvae go about their business, they've become exceptionally proficient COPEPOD hunters. The tank has a lot of tiggerpods, a very small population of A. tonsa, as well as my unidentified tiny harp. cope. Suffice it to say that while not thick, there are always a small to fair number of copepods that are swimming in the water column or at the surface, and if they are about the size of BBS, they are getting chased down over a lenght of sometimes several INCHES and then being attacked the moment they pause to rest.

That's right, 40, maybe 50 or more larvae in the tank at 14.75 days...we're doing EXTREMELY better than my earlier attempts. I've been RELIGIOUS about adding in 1L of Pnyto per day, following Ed's recommendation of using whatever is "ready" and so far it seems to be paying off. I have done NO water changes OR bottom cleanings since the introduction of these larvae...at least none that I recall at the moment. The rotifer population IS starting to get thick now, I suspect perhaps in partial result of a shift in what the GBGs are feeding on, so removing rotifers may soon be an issue.

At this point, I don't want to start getting my hopes up, but I can't help but be a little optimistic!

FWIW,

Matt

 

[mwp]

15.6 days (375 hours) old Greenbanded Goby Larvae

15.6 days (375 hours) old Greenbanded Goby Larvae

So I looked back through this thread and typically I stopped taking pictures somewhere around 12 or 13 days. Seeing as how I have a batch of 40-50 this time around instead of a "handful", I decided it was time to potentially "sacrifice" one just to see what development was going on.

Without any additional description, in a nutshell what's included below are shot via the QX5 at 10X, 60X and 200X, and I've included the scale on some of them. I have also adjusted some for contrast and levels to bring out the details a bit more.

The little bugger went back into the tank and did not instantly die, he's definitely freaked out, but maybe, just maybe, he'll recover?

 

[mwp]

FWIW,

MP

 

[mwp]

BTW, approximate length at this time is around 6mm.

Matt

 

[mwp]

One last note...earlier today I had to pull out and seive 2 gallons at 53 microns to get some rotifers for a guy with new clownfish (instant feed). Well, the tank is still CHOCK FULL of rotifers and uneaten baby brine, so this evening, just before bedtime, I've siphoned out another 3 gallons, seived through 53 micron, and returned the effluent water. We're definitely at that stage where the rotifer population has bloomed, but as of this evening the water still has a good green tinge to it, so we're not at the point where 1 day will totally clear the tank to "crystal". I'm hoping more and more of the GBG's will start taking the enriched BBS...it'll be a whole new ballgame if I make it past 18 days (current record). Should be well past it come Monday

Matt

 

[mwp]

We're getting awefully close to tying the last larval rearing "record" (personal record) on GBG's and there's still 40, 50, maybe more in the larval tank. They're still getting phyto as often as I can put it in there, and a couple dosings of enriched BBS per day..it appears that 50% or more are now taking them.

However, I should note that there is a definite and extreme preference for COPEPODS...the larvae usually pass over the nauplii, but any copepod swimming in the water column immediately grabs their attention. They'll follow them over great distances, sometimes striking, sometimes giving up. With that in mind, more Tiggerpods are gonna go into this tank sometime Sunday.

One last note on larval behavior, they are doing this new striking behavior with increased frequency over the last couple days. The larvae sight a prey item, bend their tail 90 degrees, then thrust forward to strike. I have not seen this behavior in any prior GBG batches, although I recognize it from Clownfish rearing. We've definitely reached some sort of new stage in their development.

This evening, I seived 3 gallons of the tank water and returned it (23 micron seive) to help lower the rotifer population. Rotifers are to the point where they are probably not greatly needed but still being fed on. I'm hesitant to do anything "different" at this point (i.e. cessation of phyto dosings, water changes).

That's the news. Come Monday we are into new GBG territory, probably worthy of another round of microscope photographs!

Matt

 

[c'est ma]

Hi Matt!

Just a lurker checking in to let you know how much I'm appreciating this thread. I have a pair of gbg's that just started breeding about 8 days ago. Two spawns so far...I haven't been able to save them yet as the whole phyto/roto culture thing needs to be established...but your record is a real inspiration!

Thanks!

--Diane

 

[mwp]

We're at 18 days or so now, and I sat down and did a Seachem water test just to see what things were like. Here's the results:

pH - 8.2
Alkalinity - 4 meq/L
Free Ammonia - 1 ppm
Total Ammonia - > 3ppm
Nitrite - 1 ppm
Nitrate - 0 ppm?

The larvae do not seem bothered in the least by this water quality! I may pull one this evening, if not then definitely tomorrow, for another round of microscope photos.

FWIW,

Matt

 

[aomont]

What about salinity and temp Matt ?
Anderson.

 

[mwp]

I said I did a "Seachem Test" LOL! Didn't bother with Calcium, Iodide, Phosphate, Iron, Temp or Salinity/Specific Gravity. I'll get you what I can do quickly

Temp - 81.6
Salinity - 1.025 / 33 ppt

Matt

 

[aomont]

Yeah... just read it now. We have suggested you so much work that I don´t feel that guilty !
Looking forward to record breaking !!!! And very well broken !
Anderson.

 

[mwp]

WE'VE BEAT THE RECORD! - currently 19 days, 2 hours post hatch! - as promised, PIX! The one I pulled seems to have held up, but just barely. Upon returning it to the tank it swirled, regained its bearings, and has been making mad dashes around the surface. So, I'm going to continue to be very hesitant to take additional larval pictures unless significant milestones are reached (i.e. might take another set of pictures the Tuesday after Thanksgiving). From what I can gather, it appears that they are still readily feeding on ROTIFERS; that's the only way I can explain the bright green gut.

458 hours post hatch, this one measured 7mm in length.

I've pulled 3 gallons of water from the tank, and based on last night's water test I believe a slow drip of 3 gallons of clean water back into the tank (water change) will not be detrimental to the larvae. Beforehand I might seive a gallon or two for rotifers and do a selcon enrichment on that for reintroduction this evening - can't hurt.

On a totally unrelated front, as of last night our peppermint shrimp larval hitchhiker is still around and growing like crazy - I'm going to have to try a batch of these in the future!

Matt

 

[mwp]

Just a quick cross-post - This evening (1:00 AM, Nov. 21), I noticed two larvae with strange looking growths on their abdomens. I've been having a general ICH problem that I thought I had licked, but it's reared it's ugly head again in the last couple days. What I don't know is whether the growths on the 2 larvae is ICH or fused ventral fin suction disks showing up?!

I've posted the info and pictures in another thread in the hopes of getting some immediate and knowledgeable responses. View it here - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=977505

FWIW,

Matt