Bluestripe pipefish breeding?

ThePurple12 · Nov 30, 2020

Thanks for the list, I have some of that already from raising Nanno. For the light and container, can I just use a CFL bulb and a 5 gallon bucket?

ThRoewer · Nov 30, 2020

ThePurple12 said:
Thanks for the list, I have some of that already from raising Nanno. For the light and container, can I just use a CFL bulb and a 5 gallon bucket?

A bucket is unsuitable for micro algae culturing. It is to easy to contaminate it. You need to keep your cultures clean and pure.

ThePurple12 · Nov 30, 2020

That makes sense

ThRoewer · Dec 3, 2020

Paul B said:
If they are fed enough by being in a matured, not to clean tank, you can't stop them from breeding.
They spawn constantly and I never have to feed them as they hunt all day.

Btw, what is the longest you ever had a Bluestripe Pipefish? And at what size was it when you got it?
I'm trying to fin out how long they might live under ideal conditions.

Paul B · Dec 3, 2020

I don't remember but the female I have now is about 5 years old as I got her as a pair in my last house. My Janss pipefish killed the male by almost biting him in half.

I am pretty sure I normally keep them for 4 or 5 years.

ThePurple12 · Dec 3, 2020

Paul, you mentioned 3-4 years in your pipefish article

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ThePurple12 · Dec 3, 2020

The last few died last night, so I got them to 4 days. That must be how long it takes them to starve to death, because I didn't see any of the fry eating.

Before I invest in a Parvo+Iso culture, do you think a smaller strain of brine shrimp would work, like San Francisco, which is 425 microns? I'm not sure what strain I currently have, but the nauplii seem relatively big. I know Till Deuss in the Coral magazine said that he successfully raised bluestripe pipefish with only brine shrimp, but he didn't say what kind.

Paul B · Dec 3, 2020

ThePurple12 said:
Paul, you mentioned 3-4 years in your pipefish article

OK 3 or 4 years. The one I have now must be a Geezer.

FullSend · Dec 3, 2020

What's the down side to trying the smaller brine shrimp first? Even if they are too large wouldn't you be able to transition to them earlier than the larger brine shrimp? If they are small enough maybe you can avoid the cultures.

ThePurple12 · Dec 3, 2020

Paul B said:
OK 3 or 4 years. The one I have now must be a Geezer.

5 years, that's great! Mine are coming up on a year.

ThRoewer · Dec 3, 2020

Paul B said:
I don't remember but the female I have now is about 5 years old as I got her as a pair in my last house. My Janss pipefish killed the male by almost biting him in half.

I am pretty sure I normally keep them for 4 or 5 years.

5 years sounds about right.
I also tried to keep one of my pairs with a single janssi and it somewhat worked for a good time. But there was always some form of harassment going on... It's better to keep them separate.

ThePurple12 · Dec 12, 2020

I just got some San Francisco strain eggs from Brineshrimpdirect. Next hatch is tomorrow night, we'll see what happenes.

ThePurple12 · Dec 13, 2020

Hey @ThRoewer and @ichthyogeek (and anyone else), I'm still going to try the brine shrimp, but I went ahead and ordered some F/2 and some Isochrysis. I have a light and air pump, and plan to use a soda bottle to culture.

Can you explain what the bleach and sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate (can we call this STP lol) are for? I assume the bleach is for sterilizing. Why is this necessary with RODI water?

Thanks

ThRoewer · Dec 13, 2020

Everyone calls it just "thio". It's to neutralize the bleach. The bleach is for sterilization of the water and equipment.

ThRoewer · Dec 13, 2020

RO/DI water can still contain bacteria. There is actually a bacteria strain that thrives in ultra clean water and causes great problems in medical device factories with centralized RO/DI plumbing.
Also just by adding salt you may introduce bacteria.
And let's not forget air!

ichthyogeek · Dec 13, 2020

^^. Nothing is sterile. Bleach to kill any pests like bacteria, etc. Sodium thiosulfate (i've never seen it referred to as thio before, but most people at leastdrop the pentahydrate bit, or may refer to it as thiosulfate) to neutralize whatever bleach is left.

ThePurple12 · Dec 21, 2020

I got the iso, set up a 2 liter (I don't have the thio yet, so it's not sterilized) with 1.022 sg, F/2, room temp, heavy aeration, 100 watt equivalent LED bulb. Then, it was a light shade. Now, 2 days later it's clear! The seller (I actually went with Ebay) said it's normal and should regain color in a week or so. What do you guys think? What's a good aeration level?

I saved half the starter culture and have it sitting in the fridge.

ThePurple12 · Dec 21, 2020

Oh yeah, I also got some apocyclops pods several days ago and they're doing fine in a partially filled 5 gallon bucket with no aeration and only ambient lighting. I think their numbers have increased, but it's hard to tell. Spirulina powder is working.