Berghia nudibranch breeding help!

[dollar.reef]

I have replicated Sixy_reefer's technique in my sump to farm berghia nudibranchs. For those who have similar experience, I'm really hoping to ask a couple of questions! Please see below my set up!

As you can see, I have the two containers following Sixty_reefer's technique of RO tubing siphon into the aiptasia container, which overflows into the berghia breeding container, which overflows back into the sump. I've used bulkhead for the overflows.

I have around 10 coils of eggs in the berghia container now and have relocated my breeding berghias into the display tank because I was on vacation and couldn't tend to feeding them aiptasia while I was away. So now the berghia container is empty and I'm just waiting for the coils of eggs to hatch and the babies to breed. Do you think this is enough eggs?

I'm also very worried the babies will climb into the overflow bulkhead instead of staying within the container and because they are microscopic there's not much I can do to save them. Thoughts or experiences?


Much appreciated!!

Tom

 

[Peace River]

Congratulations on the new project! FWIW, I don't seem to be able to see the pictures in your post.

@sixty_reefer

 

[TokenReefer]

Would love to see pics! Looks like they didn't post

 

[dollar.reef]

Oh strange, thanks for pointing that out guys! Let me know if this works.

I apologize for the bright purple, I took these pictures when the fuge light was on which was the brightest time of day in the sump

 

[TokenReefer]

Lookin good! Are those berghia I see in the tub?

 

[Jmp998]

Each coil is hundreds of eggs-but the yield varies greatly. You may get no larvae (unlikely), or you may have a hundred larvae from each. So 10 coils is probably more than 'enough'.

If you are worried about them leaving their designated area, make sure they always have food and a dark/shaded place to hide. If they have food and good hiding spots, they tend to stay in the same area (relatively). If they lack either they will search around until they find what they are looking for.

 

[dollar.reef]

Good tips! Ok I'll make sure to implement some shade with small rocks and of course always keep it full of aiptasia.

Each coil is hundreds of eggs-but the yield varies greatly. You may get no larvae (unlikely), or you may have a hundred larvae from each. So 10 coils is probably more than 'enough'.

If you are worried about them leaving their designated area, make sure they always have food and a dark/shaded place to hide. If they have food and good hiding spots, they tend to stay in the same area (relatively). If they lack either they will search around until they find what they are looking for.

Lookin good! Are those berghia I see in the tub?

All the berghias are in the main tank now and there's only eggs in the tub now.

 

[Jmp998]

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364790232_State-dependent_visually-guided_behaviors_in_the_nudibranch_Berghia_stephanieae

This paper describes them orienting toward dark areas.

 

[TokenReefer]

All the berghias are in the main tank now and there's only eggs in the tub now.

Oh I'm sorry I missed that in your op. Nice!

 

[Saminpa]

How is your setup going? I started a Nudi adventure myself back in June. I love seeing new egg coils, im a fan lol

 

[Cheri Vegas]

How is your setup going? I started a Nudi adventure myself back in June. I love seeing new egg coils, im a fan lol

I’ve raised some nudis in a 10 gallon tank and got quite a few egg coils. The problem is keeping up with enough aptasia to sustain them. They totally cleaned out my reef tank.

 

[Saminpa]

I’ve raised some nudis in a 10 gallon tank and got quite a few egg coils. The problem is keeping up with enough aptasia to sustain them. They totally cleaned out my reef tank.

That’s why I have separate tanks. One is for nudi breeding and the other aiptasia growing. This way I control the food. They will eat daily if provided, but only need to eat every 3-5 days to stay alive.

 

[dollar.reef]

How is your setup going? I started a Nudi adventure myself back in June. I love seeing new egg coils, im a fan lol

Is that a big butt amphipod I see waiting to eat the eggs?

 

[dollar.reef]

My babies have hatched! I count about 30 visible young adults at the moment and they've decimated the aiptasia I have in the container. I am having to "harvest" from the display tank to sustain them. Just waiting for them to get a bit bigger than I'll load them into the display! Will be doing before/after pics of the display aiptasia

 

[Saminpa]

Is that a big butt amphipod I see waiting to eat the eggs?

There are some pods, but no amphi that I’ve ever seen messing with eggs. I’ve had hatchings going on, seeing more and more juveniles daily. It’s funny to see nudi on the glass that are the size of rice grains lol.

 

[Saminpa]

My babies have hatched! I count about 30 visible young adults at the moment and they've decimated the aiptasia I have in the container. I am having to "harvest" from the display tank to sustain them. Just waiting for them to get a bit bigger than I'll load them into the display! Will be doing before/after pics of the display aiptasia

Awesome. Great job man. Just make sure to put them on a rock that has aiptasia on it and they will go to town. Also it’s best to add them after lights out because your fish are hiding or sleeping.

 

[Saminpa]

Some juveniles roaming around

 

[dollar.reef]

There are some pods, but no amphi that I’ve ever seen messing with eggs. I’ve had hatchings going on, seeing more and more juveniles daily. It’s funny to see nudi on the glass that are the size of rice grains lol.

Right on! It's pretty exciting to see them hatch haha.

 

[William Bruckmann]

That’s why I have separate tanks. One is for nudi breeding and the other aiptasia growing. This way I control the food. They will eat daily if provided, but only need to eat every 3-5 days to stay alive.

I have found the egg coil production reduces greatly if I have them on a 5 day schedule. I think I am going to test an every other day schedule. Their color changes greatly when well fed. If your berghia are bright white you are starving them.

 

[Saminpa]

I have found the egg coil production reduces greatly if I have them on a 5 day schedule. I think I am going to test an every other day schedule. Their color changes greatly when well fed. If your berghia are bright white you are starving them.

I agree eggs are much less with low feeding. Daily eggs happen like wildfire. I’ve been doing every 2-3 days. While a ton of eggs sounds great in theory, there’s no way to consistently feed a hundred mouths daily. My goal is to have in the ballpark of 15-25 available. As soon as I post them as being available in my local reef FB groups they are gone. It also helps I sell them for $8 each