- Joined
- Aug 12, 2018
- Messages
- 392
- Reaction score
- 461
Hello Everyone,
I've noticed breeding behaviour from my orchids for some weeks now, and noticed them guarding eggs. Lockdown's stronger than ever and I am not going anywhere. So, why not give raising these Orchid Dottyback eggs a go.
These are some eggs I have managed to capture today, but don't think these will have much chance as much of the equipment is not here.
Here they are for a closer look:
The plan for this is as follows:
1) Capturing the Eggs.
The Orchid has been spawning in a cave for a few egg batches now. I plan to insert a PVC tube into this cave, hope the orchid takes a liking, and then lay the eggs in this PVC tubing. Assuming all goes to plan, I will let the egg's remain for 3 days, and then pull the PVC tube, and gently dislodge the egg's into a fish egg tumbler, which will keep a gentle flow over the eggs until they hatch.
2) Raising Larvae
The fish egg tumbler will be put into an old, black iQuatics salt bucket, filled with 15l of fresh salt water, rigid airline tubing and a heater directly in the centre to create even, donut shaped flow. Flow restrictor on the air pump to make sure the flow is not too great.
Hopefully once they hatch, which should be right after lights out, I can remove the egg tumbler.
3) Nutrient Management
I will do a 5l/day water change which will be done through almost drip acclimating the new water in and then removing 5L using the airline with floss over the end. I will also use approximately 1ml/ a day of prime in the water change water to combat ammonia.
A small Ikea desk light will provide gentle light. There will be a small Sochting Oxidator in the bucket/larvae bucket.
4) Feeding
Food is without the biggest hurdle people seem to face. So far, I have a Tigriopus californicus culture in my old quarantine tank. I have a Tisbe Bimineinsis culture going in a pair of 4.5l culture vessels. I will culture Rotifers in an old salt bucket as well, feeding them live phyto concentrate and rotifer enrichment from reef phyto. I also have Artemia Eggs and a hatchery kit on the way. The plan is to, for the first 9 days to feed the Tisbe Bimineinsis and Rotifers. From Day 9 onwards, once they are larger, I will start to feed the Baby Brine Shrimp and T. Californicus too.
Any feedback is very, very happily taken and appreciated!
Thank You!
I've noticed breeding behaviour from my orchids for some weeks now, and noticed them guarding eggs. Lockdown's stronger than ever and I am not going anywhere. So, why not give raising these Orchid Dottyback eggs a go.
These are some eggs I have managed to capture today, but don't think these will have much chance as much of the equipment is not here.
Here they are for a closer look:
The plan for this is as follows:
1) Capturing the Eggs.
The Orchid has been spawning in a cave for a few egg batches now. I plan to insert a PVC tube into this cave, hope the orchid takes a liking, and then lay the eggs in this PVC tubing. Assuming all goes to plan, I will let the egg's remain for 3 days, and then pull the PVC tube, and gently dislodge the egg's into a fish egg tumbler, which will keep a gentle flow over the eggs until they hatch.
2) Raising Larvae
The fish egg tumbler will be put into an old, black iQuatics salt bucket, filled with 15l of fresh salt water, rigid airline tubing and a heater directly in the centre to create even, donut shaped flow. Flow restrictor on the air pump to make sure the flow is not too great.
Hopefully once they hatch, which should be right after lights out, I can remove the egg tumbler.
3) Nutrient Management
I will do a 5l/day water change which will be done through almost drip acclimating the new water in and then removing 5L using the airline with floss over the end. I will also use approximately 1ml/ a day of prime in the water change water to combat ammonia.
A small Ikea desk light will provide gentle light. There will be a small Sochting Oxidator in the bucket/larvae bucket.
4) Feeding
Food is without the biggest hurdle people seem to face. So far, I have a Tigriopus californicus culture in my old quarantine tank. I have a Tisbe Bimineinsis culture going in a pair of 4.5l culture vessels. I will culture Rotifers in an old salt bucket as well, feeding them live phyto concentrate and rotifer enrichment from reef phyto. I also have Artemia Eggs and a hatchery kit on the way. The plan is to, for the first 9 days to feed the Tisbe Bimineinsis and Rotifers. From Day 9 onwards, once they are larger, I will start to feed the Baby Brine Shrimp and T. Californicus too.
Any feedback is very, very happily taken and appreciated!
Thank You!