When to let banggai babies out into main tank?

[LouisianaReefer]

I have been able to breed banggai in my 75 gallon tank. I use a medium breeder home in the tank. The babies were born 2 months ago. About 6 weeks ago I attempted to put the babies back in the tank and the dad ate one. I put them back in the breeder home right away. I assume at 2 months old now a baby banggai is more fast and savy on how to get away if being bullied by an adult. Still, i am not sure. This is my first time doing all this.

 

[Jaypilot]

The simple answer is never unless if your current male or female dies. These fish in a tank that size will almost always pair off and then kill the other fish leaving you with only two cardinals. Best bet is to sell them off or buy a few more tanks and then try to pair a few more up your self. Most people that try to pair them up end up losing a few because they end up with two males in a tank or two females.

I only know of one person that has more then one pair in a tank, and his tank is over 200g. Its not easy and not recommended.

 

[LouisianaReefer]

The simple answer is never unless if your current male or female dies. These fish in a tank that size will almost always pair off and then kill the other fish leaving you with only two cardinals. Best bet is to sell them off or buy a few more tanks and then try to pair a few more up your self. Most people that try to pair them up end up losing a few because they end up with two males in a tank or two females.

I only know of one person that has more then one pair in a tank, and his tank is over 200g. Its not easy and not recommended.

I have been keeping 3 Banggai in the tank for over a year. I guess it is 2 males and 1 female; however, there are many places for the 3rd, unwelcomed fish to hide. I did see a magazine that had a pic of a beautiful mangrove tank with low light corals and a whole school of banggai. How did they accomplish that?

Still, I believe selling is the best bet. My wife loves baby fish; however, she may like the money better.

 

[Jaypilot]

Still, I believe selling is the best bet. My wife loves baby fish; however, she may like the money better.

LOL I understand that. Ya I don't know how they were able to have a whole school of them in the same tank. The only thing that I can think of is that they are all from the same brood and that its a tank with ALOT of hiding places. Even still as they become mature you will most likely see a good amount of fighting.

As far as you having three in the tank. I have heard of and seen this as well, and its pretty much just like you said. You will have two dominate fish (male and female) and then most likely another male that keeps his distance i possible. Its vary hard to have one male and two females though.

If you want lots of babies swimming together try your hands at clownfish if you are not already. You can have a hundred or more swimming around together for close to a year before you see any fighting or anything like that depending on the size of the tank and the decorations.
Best of luck to you.

 

[LouisianaReefer]

If you want lots of babies swimming together try your hands at clownfish if you are not already. You can have a hundred or more swimming around together for close to a year before you see any fighting or anything like that depending on the size of the tank and the decorations.
Best of luck to you.

Thanks so much for the advice and the best wishes!

My wife and I are in the process looking at a used small QT tank that we can use for baby Banggai and for corals that are struggling. I have been wanting to get clowns; however, I was concerned if adult clowns would try eat the baby Banggai right away after they are first hatched. Sometimes a day passes before I can get to the fry and put them into the breeder home. The adult Banggai often do not eat them as long as I keep them well-fed (feeding them 2x per day).

I really want to be able to keep breeding the Banggai and don't want anything to get in the way of that, whether it would be clowns or other fish. Is there any possibility that a tang would try eat very small fry? I know they are classified a herbivores yet I heard that they may eat small shrimp on occasion. I am new to aquariums and to SW tanks. My wife wants fish that are blue or or purple or something similar with lots of color. What are some good, colorful fish that I could consider putting in the main tank that will not eat newly born fry?

 

[Jaypilot]

I don't know the answer to that question. Just from my experience I have a pair of clowns and cardinals in one tank, and in my situation the female cardinal was eating the baby cardinals before the clowns even knew they were in the tank.