Pelagic Spawning Difficulties

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Hey everyone! So, I’ve been doing a lot of research on fish breeding, and the general consensus is that successfully breeding and raising pelagic spawning species is difficult. I know some of the reasons for that, but what some other reasons it’s so hard?

The reasons I know:
-Tank needs to be tall (I think I heard somewhere the tank needs to be at least 30-36” tall for many species and possibly even taller for others).
-Mechanical filtration (like skimmers) removing the fry and their food.
-Predators and cannibalism in the tank.
-The fry need specific microfauna foods which can be difficult to maintain in large enough quantities (i.e. rotifers, pods, phyto, etc.) [I understand this one is a general breeding issue].

What other issues are there?

 

[MnFish1]

IMHO - you hit the major factors. There is also the trial and error in getting a 'pair'.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Thanks for the reply!

So, I'm sure this has been asked somewhere before, but if we removed the mechanical filtration and used dosing instead of water changes, what would keep someone from raising/culturing the foods in the same tank as the fish/fish fry that need them?

 

[Udest]

If memory serves correct Ora or somebody wrote an article on how they breed their coral beauties and it is a similar process , also someone out there did hog fish and did a write up on it.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Would you happen to have the links to those (or know what I could search to find them)?

 

[HomebroodExotics]

Thanks for the reply!

So, I'm sure this has been asked somewhere before, but if we removed the mechanical filtration and used dosing instead of water changes, what would keep someone from raising/culturing the foods in the same tank as the fish/fish fry that need them?

My theory as well.

 

[Udest]

here's the boar fish https://reefs.com/magazine/captive-propagation-of-the-boarfish/
cuban hog fish https://www.risingtideconservation.org/aquaculture-of-the-cuban-hogfish/
coral beauty https://reefs.com/magazine/raising-coral-beauties-landlocked-hobbyists-basement/

 

[MnFish1]

Thanks for the reply!

So, I'm sure this has been asked somewhere before, but if we removed the mechanical filtration and used dosing instead of water changes, what would keep someone from raising/culturing the foods in the same tank as the fish/fish fry that need them?

The waste products - and the oxygen demand/CO2 produced by the phytoplankton.

 

[MnFish1]

here's the boar fish https://reefs.com/magazine/captive-propagation-of-the-boarfish/
cuban hog fish https://www.risingtideconservation.org/aquaculture-of-the-cuban-hogfish/
coral beauty https://reefs.com/magazine/raising-coral-beauties-landlocked-hobbyists-basement/

Great articles

 

[Udest]

also watch out for predators i know one project had a problem with hydroids settling in the bottom of one of the tanks.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

The waste products - and the oxygen demand/CO2 produced by the phytoplankton.

Would it be possible to deal with these using things like refugium algae and added flow?

 

[Udest]

hmmm probably , Id say you probably can if you use less mechanical means that way you don't chop your fry up , old school bubbler tech is pretty gentle.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

hmmm probably , Id say you probably can if you use less mechanical means that way you don't chop your fry up , old school bubbler tech is pretty gentle.

Good point - I'd forgotten about the dangers of the fans.

 

[Udest]

lol yeah i had a loach a long time ago find his way up the tube o death.

But yeah a good pump with a foam filter / fuge w uplift tube set up might work.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Great info - Thanks guys!

 

[Udest]

also maybe something like this.