Hawaiian Endemic Species Propagation Project

[HawaiiFishGuy]

Dear Online Fish Friends,
I am interested in breeding an endemic species for the ornamental aquarium industry. I would like to be able to develop a breeding system and fish supply that could one day have a positive impact to reduce the numbers of a wild captured species. I know this might sound impossible and might actually be impossible for me to do, but I would like to at least try, try, and try some more.
I am hoping that if I let you all know what I have to work with, you could assist me with some advise and direction. I have two 55g tanks, one 40g tank, and two 10g tanks. I live next to the ocean on the north shore of Oahu where I can collect sea water and other supplies. I have plenty of time and energy but very little financial resources. I will be gathering information, advise, and ideas from this site, other sites, Waikiki Aquarium, and any other sources I can find.. and then executing on what I think are the best ideas. This is a start-up project and your feedback will have a heavy influence on where the project begins, and the directions it goes. I will post the project at http://endemicfishproject.blogspot.com/

Based on this information, I would like to ask you for help on the selection of species, foods, and practical care for each stage of the project. Your responses will provide the direction and focus of my research. Please keep in mind that the project will fall within my personal limitations.

START UP QUESTIONS - TO DETERMINE DIRECTION OF PROJECT.
1. DETERMINE SPECIES - Which endemic species would I have the best chance at captive breeding (esp. one that has never been captive bred already. A few options would be nice)?
2. SOLVE WATER ISSUE - I need to use natural sea water I collect at low tide. I have been looking all over the internet (without any luck) to learn an easy (free) way to use natural sea water for my tanks, and use to grow food sources (rotifers, phytoplankton, zooplankton, etc.). Is this possible?
3. COLLECTING AND GROWING FOOD - Is there a way I can collect food sources to grow on my own, or should I simply collect it daily?

I know you are all busy and may not be able to offer any advise, but if you could I would be very grateful. Thank you for any of your time and help.


Sincerely,
HawaiiFishGuy

 

[fla2341]

Questions:
What types of equipment do you have, ie. pumps, skimmers, plankton cloth/net, air pump(s) etc.....

How are the tanks set up: live rock, no rock, sand, no sand, cleaners if so what types? Other fish already? ect...

With those tank sizes you will be limited on the size of potential fish you can match up and attempt to breed. I would start by making a list of the fish which fall into this category first before any other considerations: 3-4" adult size max.
Next I would exclude those fish which are classified as extreemly difficult to maintain especially if this is your first attempt at breeding broadcast spawners.

Next research on line if anyone has had or is doing work to breed those fishes you choose.

With those tanks you might want to concentrate on one or two fish species.

Collecting NSW: You will want to invest in some micron cloth if you don't already have some. This is usefull in not only collecting and sorting the plankton but in excluding unwanted pests from getting transported into your system. I use 25, 53, 120 and 300 micron cloth. I use the 300 to exclude most shrimp, crabs, arrow worms, debris and assorted other what nots.
I made my own plankton net using the 53 micron cloth (3' x 40") some 1/2" PVC pipe and fittings (8ea 45 degree elbows) and some lead weights and rope. It's small but I've collected several thousand copepods and other plankton each time I've used it. The 25 (1 ft x 40"), 53 ( 3 ft x 40") and 120 ( 1 ft x 40") micon cloth I have is from FAF. It cost me $60-70 I can't remember exactly. The 300 is a paint strainer cloth.

Foods: Start thinking from the bottom up. Not only do you need the right foods for your broodstock but also for your copepods/plankton if you end up culturing them. For this you'll need the correct micro algae(s) and the f/2 food for that, appropriate culture vessels, light needs, air/water flow, ect..

To keep things on the cheep you can try to collect wild plankton and sort it out using the micron cloth for suitability of size. What you might experience with the wild caught is the stability/availability. With cultured plankton you can have a better control of availability.

This brings up another key point: While there have been successes in breeding some of these types of fishes the actual rearing of the fry is proving extreemly difficult. The main cause is identification of suitable first foods.

In this case the research is going to save you a lot of $ and time. You've got a head start with where you are.

I am currently doing trials with wild caught plankton and Flame Angels.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2162845

It is frustrating but I've learned a lot along the way. I'm still learning and refining what I've got so one day I hope I can raise these fishes and close their life cycle.

The attached pic is the home made plankton net.