feeding Mandarin Dragonets

[mattseattle]

that i can't help you with but i think uwscotch can. i just buy them decapsulated.

 

[uwscotch]

Well, are you scientifically oriented. There are a number of ways to do it and I will give you a few links of how to do it. The best way to do it requres nasty chemicals. If you have access to NaOH pellets (extremely caustic), concentrated HCl, and are able to make a .1N HCL solution, then you are set. The remaining chemical needed is household bleach or sodium hypochlorite, pool chlorine. I follow the protocol from Souther Regional Aquaculture Center to get the best decapsulation and degradation of the cyst. The second source is from aquatext, a free on-line aquaculture dictionary, and the 3rd is the Joyce Wilkerson clownfish book. I know she has a protocol somewhere in the book, but I do not have it with me to give you the specific page. #1 http://srac.tamu.edu/702fs.pdf #2 http://www.aquatext.com/tables/decaps.htm. If you live in Seattle area, you can pick them up at Coral Beauty, decapsulated, neutralized, and ready to feed or hatch. The nice thing is if they are dehydrate post decapsulation, they last several months refrigerated and will hatch in about 8-12 hrs once added back to the tank. They also have live Rotifers.

 

[uwscotch]

I see now that you are from Idaho. They may be willing to ship them. ??? You may be able to get away without the HCl, but you may have to come up with a unique way to neutralize the base that the eggs have been soaked in. Maybe acetic acid?? (vinegar). I would not recommend adding them to a tank without being neutralized since it may seriously attack your pH. Using them for culture without neutralization to hatch them, collect, wash, and feed the nauplii or adults to a tank may be ok. You can get the needed chemicals at a chemical supplier such as Sigma-Aldrich or Fisher Scientific. I could then talk you thru the conversions, etc.

 

[cdeakle]

uwscotch,

Can I get an updated picture on my old friend as promised? Would be much appreciated friend.

Last time I saw here she was in bad shape, would like to see how happy she is now. Thanks for taking her off my hands and rescuing her. I'm glad she is in good hands now.....

 

[uwscotch]

I'll see what I can do. I have not had any good chances to get pics of her. I'll try to draw her out with food and have my camera ready. Otherwise she just hangs out in the rockwork.

 

[Wink]

Sheeesh... that first decapsulation link sure is intimidating. The second link didn't work for me at all.

For those who want something a little simpler here is a link to the method I use -

http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/artemiaGuide.shtml

The color change can take anywhere from 7 to 20 minutes. It's better to start with the bleach water fairly cool as the process does generate heat.

HTH

 

[uwscotch]

I agree, the protocol is a lot simpler but fairly inefficient. The use of pool chlorine called hypochlorite would make this a very useful technique. The reason NaOH is required is to convert the NaOCl (clorox aka laundry bleach) into OCl (hypochlorite aka pool chlorine). This is the chemical that ultimately dissolves the corion (cyst). Fortunately pool chlorine is availabe (OCl), however addition of NaOH also available as lye or caustic soda, makes sure the solution remains hypochlorite since the addition of water converts the chemical to Chlorine and OH. (2H2O) + (OCl-) + (Cl-) --------> (Cl2) + (2OH-) We want the chemical reaction to go the opposite way. If it works using laundry bleach and no addition of OH ions, great. Sodium Thiosulfate works well but is expensive compared to hydorchloric acid.

Good luck

uwscotch

 

[Wink]

Sorry... never took chemistry and your explanation goes way over my pretty little head. :lol: But thank you, 'cuz I'm sure those who understand it appreciate it.

All I know is that the laundry bleach method turns them cute little eggs orange and there's a very significant reduction of debris in the hatcher. I'm sure the bleach kills any hydroids and reduces bacteria, etc.

I have no doubt that the scientific lab method is better - but I'd never go to that much trouble... laundry bleach I can handle.

 

[uwscotch]

Sorry

Had no intention to talk about things so technically. I was just evaluating the technique. However, like many things in science, things do not work as cleanly as they look on paper. If that method works, that is great and maybe I'll give it a try since it is not quite as caustic.

Again, Sorry. I sometimes am a science geek, wait, I am always science geek.

uwscotch

 

[k9crawford]

wow thanks for the help. lots of good information.

 

[Wink]

No problem, uwscotch... actually I kinda like science geeks.. my son is a high school science teacher. Got his degree at the UW too!

 

[uwscotch]

Hey Vicky

great website. Congratulations on the baby seahorses. Not very many people discuss seahorses here, I guess few people have them. I have always had a fascination with aquaculture and would love to raise seahorses as well just for the satisfaction of doing it. I have everything I should need as far as culturing live food. I just need to set up a tank. I've thought often about tapping into the plumbing of my main tank and set a cylindrical or tall and narrow hex next to mine that way it gets the filtration benefits of the reef. Your site reignited my interest and I will probably have many questions in the future.

Best

Aaron