The Berghia Project, take 3!

returnofsid · Jun 10, 2011

Well, I've tried my hand at raising Berghia, twice before.

Attempt #1. I started with about 15 adult Berghia. Everything was going great, with lots of eggs, lots of babies, and running out of Aiptasia to feed them. Then I screwed up and crashed the whole thing! Grrr

Attempt #2. Not worth talking about, as it lasted about 4 days, before they all died. GRRRRR!!!

Attempt #3. I'm doing things different this time, hoping for more success, even though I'm only starting out with 2 adults.

My last two attempts failed because I wasn't diligent in keeping water quality up, and keeping a stable temperature. This time, I'm making it much more convenient, so I'll keep up on it easier. I'm starting out with 2 of these containers, hanging inside my 40 breeder.

The larger container holds the 2 adult Berghia and Aiptasia. The smaller container will be the egg nursery.

Some eggs will remain with the adults, some will be moved to the egg nursery. I'm doing this because the larger aiptasia will actually eat tiny Berghia. I'm allowing the eggs to mature, for a couple of days, after being laid, and then transferring them to the smaller container. Here's some eggs, in with the adults.

There are currently 4 egg strands, in with the adults and 2 egg strands, that are about a week old, in the egg nursery.

This set up will accomplish a couple of things. It'll make it very easy for me to do water changes. This tank is right next to our bathroom. I remove about 12 ounces of water, from each container, every day, dumping it down the toilet and replacing it with tank water, from the 40 breeder. I'm also topping off each container, every day, as I top off the 40. Also, with the containers hanging inside the 40, the temperature stays stable.

In the smaller container, I'm seeding baby aiptasia by collecting large ones and cutting them up. My main concern, right now, is running out of aiptasia. The only place I have any growing is in the overflows of the 200...lol. They're HUGE in there, but not spreading to the display or sump/fuge area, so I've always left them alone. They're coming in handy now! Anyone got aiptasia??

MoneyPit · Jun 10, 2011

Sounds like a good start to me, keep us updated !!

returnofsid · Jul 6, 2011

Success!!

After thinking that the egg strands must not have been viable, but leaving them alone, last night, we discovered some visible baby Berghia. This morning, I was able to take a few pictures of them, though they aren't the best photos. I did a quick look and removed 5 babies, with a pippette, to move them to a container, for photographs. I placed a dime near them, for size comparison. The largest appears to be about 1/16"!

I believe there are probably more, that are too small to see yet.

Nate82 · Jul 6, 2011

Awesome! Good luck with the venture, I know there's a big demand for these little guys.

_Alex_ · Jul 6, 2011

Awesome! Ill be needing some!

ryanuy · Jul 6, 2011

wow. tagging along!

xxbrianxx · Jul 6, 2011

wow that's pretty cool, is that really all you need to breed berghia? just two containers and a lot of aiptasia?

returnofsid · Jul 6, 2011

xxbrianxx said:
wow that's pretty cool, is that really all you need to breed berghia? just two containers and a lot of aiptasia?

There are a lot of different ways to breed them, all of which are very simple. Some people are very successful, simply using "specimen containers." The hardest part is keeping them supplied with Aiptasia!
Being able to provide enough Aiptasia was actually a concern, as I started this project. Early on, I placed several large aptasia in the "nursery" container, allowed them to attach and then cut them in half or quarters, through the mouth, with a pair of scissors. This allowed me to cultivate very small aiptasia, which are needed to feed the babies. I've also been able to keep a supply of larger aiptasia, for the adults, by pinching the aiptasia that grow in my overflows, on the 200. However, today, I hit the Aiptasia Motherload!! I was replumbing a guys tank, who was having a plumbing leak. While doing so, I collected several Aiptasia. Also, since I replaced his Durso stand pipes, I kept his old stand pipes, which were absolutely covered with Aiptasia!! Between his tank, and his stand pipe, I must have collected 50 Aiptasia, some large, some small.