I have a pair of royal gramma's in my 180 reef tank that laid eggs in my protein skimmer return sponge that was being use to reduce bubble return in the tank.
The wave maker knocked the sponge loose after the eggs were in there for a week so. I placed the sponge in a 1 gallon acrylic at the bottom of the 180 and
held it there with the magnetic cleaner, the male returned to the nest that night with some hesitation and ripped the eggs loose from the nest.
There was approximately 50 eggs in the sponge that had larva in them, I believe they died because he pulled them loose and did not tend to them anymore.
The male went off and built a new nest in the back of the reef out of sight now and the pair are tending to it currently.
I am not sure if the fry will be able to survive in the tank without separating them from the other fish but one can only hope,
If they were successful with the new nest and I have babies I will post pictures.
-Mark
The wave maker knocked the sponge loose after the eggs were in there for a week so. I placed the sponge in a 1 gallon acrylic at the bottom of the 180 and
held it there with the magnetic cleaner, the male returned to the nest that night with some hesitation and ripped the eggs loose from the nest.
There was approximately 50 eggs in the sponge that had larva in them, I believe they died because he pulled them loose and did not tend to them anymore.
The male went off and built a new nest in the back of the reef out of sight now and the pair are tending to it currently.
I am not sure if the fry will be able to survive in the tank without separating them from the other fish but one can only hope,
If they were successful with the new nest and I have babies I will post pictures.
-Mark