Rock flower garden

[Brandon103095]

The only things in that tank have been a sapphire damsel (recently swapped out for a lightening maroon), some snails, and a pom pom crab. Also the flow in that tank is very low so I dont think they were carried out of that tank. Only a few of my rfa's are pretty big, so maybe that's why my numbers were low.

i wish my pom pom would pick up a RFA lol

 

[Caseyoidae]

In mine that I've been able to catch offspring from it's been 60+, I believe many of them get lost in the system and die or possibly eaten. Smaller adults will absolutely produce less

How can you tell when she’s ready to give birth?

 

[AcroNem]

How can you tell when she’s ready to give birth?

There isn't a way that I know of, I've kept them in breeder/nem boxes to capture offspring. My breeding system (whenever I get around to actually going with it) has the adult system bare bottom so they don't get lost.

 

[tweeter]

Interesting. I have in my waterbox 100.3 around a dozen peppermints and over 100 rock nems without issues.

I would love to see your rock garden! Wow thats lots!!

 

[hart24601]

I would love to see your rock garden! Wow thats lots!!

Just a couple phone pics with dirty glass haha.

 

[Peace River]

@Ron Reefman recently started a thread about RFA breeding experiences so if you have not seen or replied to his questions yet then please take a look and share your insights:

RFA breeding help

I intend to set up a 16g RFA breeding tank (22x16x12). I think I may have some help from another reefer here who has done a fair amount of fish breeding and lives within a couple of hours from me. I'm hoping I can rope him into doing a RFA breeding tank as well. Actually, he put this idea in my...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[AcroNem]

Just a couple phone pics with dirty glass haha.

This looks fantastic, I'm anxiously waiting to order another batch.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Anyone else obsessed with rock flowers.

Late to the party here in this thread, but I've been keeping RFAs for about 10 years! I was collecting the ordinary looking ones from the shallow waters in the Florida Keys (snorkeling) before anybody started finding the super colorful ones in deeper water.

Has anyone had peppermint shrimp eat RFA's? I lost two of them to peppermint shrimp. They weren't stealing food from them because this was well after I fed the tank and they only did it after lights out, I'd catch them in the act when I turned on the lights and they'd scatter back to they're hiding holes. I have since moved the two shrimp that were doing this to the sump. I have other RFA's that they don't touch so I'm thinking maybe the ones that were eaten were dying although they looked okay.

Funny, I have about 50 RFAs and added 7 peppermint shrimp and 2 cleaner shrimp. The RFAs are fine. The cleaner shrimp are fine. But all the peppermint shrimp are gone in just 3 weeks!

So I have had babies twice and both times it was smaller numbers than I've seen online- MAYBE a dozen that I could find each time. The first time none survived. This time 6 are growing. I've been more careful to feed each one this time.

I've had 3 rounds of offspring over about 3 years. The first 2 rounds were only 10 to 15 babies. I think it was due to a wrasse that ate them while they were floating around in the tank. The wrasse was gone by the 3rd round and I had about 25 babies survive. Now I have a RFA breeding tank with no fish, no coral and lower flow.

This is just the start. The RFAs had not been in the tank long when I took this photo. Some of them are now reaching up out of the PVC end caps. I hope to add more when I find any that are 'special' or at least 'different' from the ones I already have. BTW, I still have about 20 TFAs in my 90g DT. But they are all smaller offspring and attached to rocks which I don't want in the breeding tank. I'll be snorkeling in the Keys around May and will probably bring home a few that are more ordinary colors but with more vivid patterns.

 

[Mkus]

I love them mine I’ve had a couple years doing very well.
The only ones I’ve had reproduce are my mini red Bali carpets they spilt like mad selling them as they are not easy to find!

Hey

 

[tweeter]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing!.....I just love them! I've been in saltwater for 8 yrs and just added some last year. I'm sorry that I had not done so sooner...I don't know why I didn't! That are so easy! I did try about 3 yrs ago. I had three that just dissappear on me, never to be seen again, so I thought I could not grow these things. But I'm glad I tried again!
Just a couple phone pics with dirty glass haha.

 

[Cambrian Reef]

Probably my favorites. The colors and patterns are mesmerizing. Just added a couple this week.