BlennyLover
Membership Expired
I hope this is the right forum to post this ...
I've never really given any thought to breeding any fish until now. In the past I had two Maroon Clownfish purchased from Live Aquaria as a *bonded* pair. About 10 months later, I had one batch of eggs. Never saw anymore eggs and the clownfish were the only fish that I had more than one of -- so they definitely mated.
I currently have five starry blennies that were all together in a 75g. One that has no interest in anyone else and not bothered by any others. It's like he's a ghost. 2 others each have their own SIDES of the tank and each day stare each other down and go back and forth to *guard* their side ... and they have never fought even at feeding time -- these 2 don't know the other 3 exist as they are focused on one another only.
My other two PLAY ... they pick at the same rock, side by side on the sand ... they won't be without the other. I noticed the smaller one had a HUGE large marble ball size belly and knew she was pregnant. I put both of these into my 45g that also has a damsel, clownfish and 2 firefish. The very next day ... both blennies were in the PVC tubing and when the little one left it - there were hundreds of eggs in it ... the bigger one stayed in the tube and *fans* the eggs. He would come out once in a while and turns on his *courting* coloration - bright white on entire body and she would follow him back into the tube. This had been going on for weeks now. The eggs are hatching exactly on day 8 while the other fish swim side by side in a frenzy to feed on them ... then 5-6 days after that ... there is another batch. This is kind of sad ... hundreds/ thousands of little blennies are part of the food chain. Even if the other fish were not in there, the system is not set up to raise them.
The male is currently watching over batch number FIVE that many hatched today and the tube will be empty by morning. The female is getting a BIG belly again and I expect the tube to be filled with eggs again on Thanksgiving day ... Friday at the latest.
How many times is this going to repeat?
These are my favorite fish! First one I ever saw was the ugliest fish I ever saw, but was told it's a good fish to have to clean up the algae on the rock and glass, yada yada ... so I bought one ... a nasty one that use to pick up a mouth full of sand and spit it at me if I was too close when looking at the tank. He started to become very amusing. This same fish *attacked me* when I was removing powerheads for cleaning so I just dangled my hand over the rim waiting for him to calm down and he got in my hand. When I started to take my hand OUT ... he bit me again, so I stopped and he got in my hand again. This was just the coolest thing ever. I love starry blennies ... so much *individual* personality, soooooo entertaining.
I've talked to a couple of LFS owners that state it is near impossible to successfully breed & raise blennies, but don't have any answers or suggestions on why, or how or anything.
Does anyone know what I need to possibly raise them? Steps?
I truly appreciate any help and answers ... thanks in advance!
Grace & Peace ... Lisa
I've never really given any thought to breeding any fish until now. In the past I had two Maroon Clownfish purchased from Live Aquaria as a *bonded* pair. About 10 months later, I had one batch of eggs. Never saw anymore eggs and the clownfish were the only fish that I had more than one of -- so they definitely mated.
I currently have five starry blennies that were all together in a 75g. One that has no interest in anyone else and not bothered by any others. It's like he's a ghost. 2 others each have their own SIDES of the tank and each day stare each other down and go back and forth to *guard* their side ... and they have never fought even at feeding time -- these 2 don't know the other 3 exist as they are focused on one another only.
My other two PLAY ... they pick at the same rock, side by side on the sand ... they won't be without the other. I noticed the smaller one had a HUGE large marble ball size belly and knew she was pregnant. I put both of these into my 45g that also has a damsel, clownfish and 2 firefish. The very next day ... both blennies were in the PVC tubing and when the little one left it - there were hundreds of eggs in it ... the bigger one stayed in the tube and *fans* the eggs. He would come out once in a while and turns on his *courting* coloration - bright white on entire body and she would follow him back into the tube. This had been going on for weeks now. The eggs are hatching exactly on day 8 while the other fish swim side by side in a frenzy to feed on them ... then 5-6 days after that ... there is another batch. This is kind of sad ... hundreds/ thousands of little blennies are part of the food chain. Even if the other fish were not in there, the system is not set up to raise them.
The male is currently watching over batch number FIVE that many hatched today and the tube will be empty by morning. The female is getting a BIG belly again and I expect the tube to be filled with eggs again on Thanksgiving day ... Friday at the latest.
How many times is this going to repeat?
These are my favorite fish! First one I ever saw was the ugliest fish I ever saw, but was told it's a good fish to have to clean up the algae on the rock and glass, yada yada ... so I bought one ... a nasty one that use to pick up a mouth full of sand and spit it at me if I was too close when looking at the tank. He started to become very amusing. This same fish *attacked me* when I was removing powerheads for cleaning so I just dangled my hand over the rim waiting for him to calm down and he got in my hand. When I started to take my hand OUT ... he bit me again, so I stopped and he got in my hand again. This was just the coolest thing ever. I love starry blennies ... so much *individual* personality, soooooo entertaining.
I've talked to a couple of LFS owners that state it is near impossible to successfully breed & raise blennies, but don't have any answers or suggestions on why, or how or anything.
Does anyone know what I need to possibly raise them? Steps?
I truly appreciate any help and answers ... thanks in advance!
Grace & Peace ... Lisa