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Raising Amano Larvae

Would it be an idea to split them over 2 tanks, since you have the hatching tank spare now? That way if something goes wrong it with one tank you still have the other. Since you are investing so much to see this through it might be nice to have some failsafe :) Good luck on raising them!
 
Would it be an idea to split them over 2 tanks, since you have the hatching tank spare now? That way if something goes wrong it with one tank you still have the other. Since you are investing so much to see this through it might be nice to have some failsafe :) Good luck on raising them!

It makes sense. It's just hard to know when to give up on the hatching tank, since each day there are yet more larvae. But I am assuming it will be free very soon.
 
No further new larvae in the hatching tank, I'll give it one more day and reuse the tank.
Larvae seem to be doing fine in their tank.

The larvae tank has just a sponge filter on a very low setting, thinking I will add an air line slowly bubbling. Since many of them hang out at the top I wonder if some flow from bottle of the tank to the top may help to circulate algae.
 
Following this with interest.

I've read that adults are unable to survive the brackish water that the young require - have you managed to work out how and when to start transitioning them back to fresh water?
 
Following this with interest.

I've read that adults are unable to survive the brackish water that the young require - have you managed to work out how and when to start transitioning them back to fresh water?

The adults stay in freshwater, I initially moved the female to a smaller "hatching" tank, it just makes it a lot easier to suck up the larvae and transfer them to the salt tank.

I now have to wait until the larvae metamorphosis into baby shrimp; at that point they won't find the light interesting and will also move in a forward direction like the adults.
(officially I'm meant to move them just before metamorphosis since they will be much easier to catch that way)

I hope the larvae will survive long enough for us to do that part :)
 
Are you taking any measures to prevent/limit cannibalism in the planktonic stage larvae? I’m not sure if Amanos do this at the planktonic stage but most other marine invertebrates do (lobsters in particular). If this issue arises it might be worth looking at a Pseudo Kreisel setup to keep the larvae suspended in the water column and separated from each other until ready to metamorphose and settle out on the substrate.

:)
 
Are you taking any measures to prevent/limit cannibalism in the planktonic stage larvae? I’m not sure if Amanos do this at the planktonic stage but most other marine invertebrates do (lobsters in particular). If this issue arises it might be worth looking at a Pseudo Kreisel setup to keep the larvae suspended in the water column and separated from each other until ready to metamorphose and settle out on the substrate.

:)

I'm not, but this is interesting, because I did wonder if I've been seeing the larger ones annoying the smaller ones... (perhaps they are trying to eat them!)
 
(perhaps they are trying to eat them!)

I wouldn’t discount it entirely, this may be one of these situations that doesn’t get discussed (I never see it mentioned in papers discussing Amano breeding) because it’s something experts would know or have experience of and it keeps it in their sphere of influence if they can successfully breed them in greater numbers, effectively cornering the market.
 
This paper from 1968 shows a basic setup in a jar container, wouldn’t be hard to setup, there’s been more development in Kreisel since then with specialist tank setups (mainly seen for Jellyfish rearing).

This is a Hughs Cup which is a circular flow Kreisel tank for rearing Lobster fry.

1B42AC93-FA0E-46C9-B418-C7B5E51A0809.png


You just need to keep the larvae suspended in the water column, this also means their food can be suspended this way also (phytoplankton and rotifers) so they have easy access to it but not each other.

:)
 
I use a dd refractor, its self calibrated for temperature, so can test freshly made or tank water no issues. Though always tended to just buy ready made when I needed it.

Could you run the tank as a mini aqua scape, most marine outlets will have a few species of macro alage in the sumps for free or some times for sale, and can have other salt tolerant plants if you so desire, then it's always cycled and ready for a gravid female.
 
Sad news, mass deaths overnight.
This is day 20 since first larvae, 6 days since last one.
Since they arrived in the tank over a long period, I assume this is an environmental issue rather than a feeding issue.

Water parameters:
Ammonia: undetectable
Nitrite: undetectable
Nitrate: 0.2 (if you believe the tests)
Salinity: Refractor: 1.026 (34.5ppt), Glass Hydrometer: 1.022 (29ppt)

Their bodies were all collected into one spot on the sponge filter (which is running at a very slow rate) - which seems weird.
 
So sorry to hear that...hope you will try again as you got further with the project than anyone I "know", and have been more detailed about your experience.

I've got £20 of salt left, so will 100% try again.

It seems I have 1 larvae left.
 
Sad news, mass deaths overnight.
This is day 20 since first larvae, 6 days since last one.
Since they arrived in the tank over a long period, I assume this is an environmental issue rather than a feeding issue.

Water parameters:
Ammonia: undetectable
Nitrite: undetectable
Nitrate: 0.2 (if you believe the tests)
Salinity: Refractor: 1.026 (34.5ppt), Glass Hydrometer: 1.022 (29ppt)

Their bodies were all collected into one spot on the sponge filter (which is running at a very slow rate) - which seems weird.

I've been following this thread with excitement, sorry to hear they didn't make it :(. Great to see someone try and attempt something which is as technical as this, look forward to the next brood ;)
 
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