The Babies Are Here!!!!

[JMCAquarium]

yes for a week they should be fine but I wouldn't go any longer. I hope you have success in your brood if not this time around at least time you know that you have to get the little tank ready in advance when papa shows the signs. please keep us updated

lol would you like a kenya forest to put in there with the babies ?? I have 6 3-4 inch frags from that kenya you gave me couple months back

Could also try these foods, I use them for my fry (DR. F&S)
ABQ-960026
ABQ-960039
ABQ-12884

 

[azhorsegal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11332249#post11332249 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JMCAquarium
yes for a week they should be fine but I wouldn't go any longer. I hope you have success in your brood if not this time around at least time you know that you have to get the little tank ready in advance when papa shows the signs. please keep us updated

lol would you like a kenya forest to put in there with the babies ?? I have 6 3-4 inch frags from that kenya you gave me couple months back

Could also try these foods, I use them for my fry (DR. F&S)
ABQ-960026
ABQ-960039
ABQ-12884

Glad to hear your Kenya Trees are doing so well. :thumbsup:

 

[Fliger]

Could you also just take a cup of tank water and pour it in the net several times a day? Just to refresh the water?

 

[jerryz]

I wouldn't worry that much about prepping the brood tank in the traditional way. a bare tank will actually increase your survival rate. As long as it's coupled with frequent feedings it allows you to easily see any contaminants and siphon them out asap then do a large ie almost complete water change using aged water from you main tank or refuge.

 

[azhorsegal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11332565#post11332565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fliger
Could you also just take a cup of tank water and pour it in the net several times a day? Just to refresh the water?

This is what I'm going to do, just to be safe. :thumbsup:

 

[azhorsegal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11333172#post11333172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jerryz
I wouldn't worry that much about prepping the brood tank in the traditional way. a bare tank will actually increase your survival rate. As long as it's coupled with frequent feedings it allows you to easily see any contaminants and siphon them out asap then do a large ie almost complete water change using aged water from you main tank or refuge.

You are probably right, and as life would have it, I'm running low on funds, so the tank will have to stay the way it is for now, bare bottom and all. It's worked well as a QT for the past 8 months, so I'm sure it will surve as a nursery just as well.

 

[jerryz]

If you look or read up on traditional breeding/ husbandry bare tanks are the norm. Filth can't hide but careful attention to replacement water is needed and religious attention to water changes is needed. The water changes should be pretty large. Fresh water is the best defense you'll have against contaminants.

 

[buffalobunch]

I have had the one baby I caught in a 20g bb for about 1 1/2 months now. I have a bunch of macro algae in there from when I thinned out the seahorse tank. It loves to hide in it. I also have a snail and a couple of hermit crabs in there for a clean up crew so that any detritus can be eaten by them. I have been feeding him frozen Hikari rotifers, live bbs and frozen cyclopeeze from the beginning. I figured while they were in papa's mouth they had to be eating something, so that's why I chose a few frozen items. I am going to start putting some of the gamma mysis in there today. I got a jar of live brine shrimp that is kept in the fridge after you open it at Pet Safari. They hatch instantly after you put them in salt water. He/she seems to be doing great. If you'd like some of the macro algae you're more than welcome to make a road trip up to North Phoenix and get some. I have so much its coming out my ears!! :lol: I agree with jerryz about the bare bottom. I think that's why I can't get the seahorses past day 5-6 so this time I took all of the sand out and threw a clean up crew in there. Good Luck!! They are soooooo cute!

 

[Helfrichi Fifi]

Congradulations. I am super jealous.

 

[azhorsegal]

Thanks everyone for the tips, it's much appreciated.

I'm happy to report I only had two dead babies this morning, I think that is pretty good considering. It was so cute, when I looked into the little breeder net through the class I saw all these tiny pair of eyes looking back at me. I poured in some brine shrimp and they seemed pretty happy to get it. I call my two breeder pair "sharks" when it's feeding time, because they go after the mysis shrimp as if it's their last meal. :lol: Well, their offspring are no different. Like I said, if I can keep at least 5 of them alive and thriving I'll be happy.

 

[CCall]

These are a few vitamins to enrich the baby brine shrimp with
Kent Zoe
Algae Paste
Micro Vert
Put enough in just till the water turns to a light color. Start enriching about 2 hours after hatching.
If you use Selcon or Kent zoecon take caution. These are oily and can suffocate the baby brine shrimp.

 

[azhorsegal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11336722#post11336722 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CCall
These are a few vitamins to enrich the baby brine shrimp with
Kent Zoe
Algae Paste
Micro Vert
Put enough in just till the water turns to a light color. Start enriching about 2 hours after hatching.
If you use Selcon or Kent zoecon take caution. These are oily and can suffocate the baby brine shrimp.

Thanks, what about Vita-Chem. I have that on hand already so would that work?

 

[azhorsegal]

Another question about the brine Shrimp. I understand you can add bleach/vinegar to make the eggs hatch sooner. How does this work and what exactly do you do?

 

[CCall]

That should be fine to use Vita-Chem.
Do a search on here for decapsulating brine shrimp eggs. You can also go to www.seahorse.org.
If you can't find anything let me know.

 

[azhorsegal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11337535#post11337535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CCall
That should be fine to use Vita-Chem.
Do a search on here for decapsulating brine shrimp eggs. You can also go to www.seahorse.org.
If you can't find anything let me know.

Thanks! One more question. My 10 gallon nano tank is almost ready for the little tikes, but I need to cover the intake with something so they don't get sucked up into the filter. Any idea what I can use?

 

[CCall]

You could use wedding veil or a filter bag cut up. I am not sure how to attach it though.

 

[Kentanner11]

or why not use a piece of foam sorta like a sponge? They sell the same thing at drs f&S. Plus it would help in filtration ( I would clean semi-daily)

 

[azhorsegal]

I covered the intake with some polyfilter and I'll clean it out twice a day. I have moved the little wigglers in the nano tank and at first I felt bad for them, they looked like they were swimming against a giant current, even though I had taken out the power head. I finally put my rock cave with the plastic plant anchord by it and then directed them until they went in. They have yet to come out but I took a flashlight and they look a lot more comfortable, not being blown around anymore.

My only problem now is getting food to them. It's much larger than the little breeder net they were in and when I put the shrimp in the shrimp go up to the top toward the light and all the babies are down in the cave. I did see them eating what swam in the cave but I wasn't sure they were getting enough, so I took the cave out until they had a chance to eat their fill. I turned off the pump so they were not being blown around. The cave is back in the tank now and they are back inside. I'm thinking tomorrow I will just use a turkey baster and squirt the shrimp inside the cave.

 

[EvilE]

If/when you succeed, I would love to buy one from you when they're ready!! I would be honored!!

 

[JMCAquarium]

I have a suggestion as far as the "flow" issues go I use a fluval 304 for my breeding stations and when it's to much for the babies (first 2 weeks give or take) I cover the intake with foam as you said and the release with the same foam this breaks the current like %50-60 I just use a zip tie to hold it on or rubber band in saltwater not to sure a rubber band would work well. I would give it a try and see how it works for you.
I've never done this on a nano before so if you restrict the pump that much then watch your temps and the pump for the first couple days to make sure it can hold the back pressure without over heating. My fluval blows the same with or without the foam.

I use the "aqua clear 110 foam brick cut a slit in the end of it and jam it onto the nozzle zip tie it down and it works great. Just pull it off daily and rinse well.
The zip ties I use are: General Electric 4" Cable Ties they come 50 or 100 to the pack for cheap. You may need 6"

GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING !!!!!