| Wow! This morning, as I performed my "check in" | | | | small of an environment, or if another fish were |
| procedure on a 650-gallon saltwater coral reef | | | | picking on them and injuring them. The other |
| aquarium, I was pleased to discover (and film) a | | | | potential source of aggression would be from |
| male Pajama Cardinal fish carrying a brand new | | | | other species of cardinal fish (compatibility). |
| batch of eggs in its mouth. This phenomenon is | | | | Once you at least have achieved a low stress |
| referred to as mouth brooding, and fish that use | | | | environment, including plenty of shelter and ideal |
| this breeding strategy are referred to as mouth | | | | water quality and all the parameters I listed above |
| brooders. | | | | - once you have achieved that - you will be able |
| Pajama Cardinal fish are a very hardy and easy | | | | to turn breeding behavior on and off like a switch |
| fish for beginners to keep. And if you are | | | | - with diet. |
| consistent at maintaining a stress-free | | | | - (quantity) enough food: I know this sounds |
| environment for them, you will likely end up with | | | | vague, but the rule of thumb here is that all other |
| laying eggs (as long as you have a male/female | | | | factors being stable and ideal - food will be your |
| pair). | | | | on/off switch for breeding. If you want to stop |
| But for some people, this experience is elusive or | | | | breeding, reduce feeding. If you want to turn on |
| just occasional, which can be frustrating, especially | | | | breeding behavior, increase feeding quantity. The |
| if you want it to happen. So here I am going to | | | | ideal for consistent and robust breeding is two |
| give you a few pointers on how to make that | | | | feedings per day (morning and evening). But you |
| happen. | | | | can go as low as one feeding per day. In this |
| For starters, the key is a low stress environment | | | | case you may want to feed a bid heavier |
| in your saltwater aquarium. I know this may | | | | (remember not to over feed - no uneaten food |
| sound vague, but pay attention here. So what | | | | left in the tank after 5 minutes). |
| makes a low stress environment? | | | | - (quality) varied diet w/ plenty of high protein |
| - undetectable ammonia (less than 0.15 ppm) | | | | food ; A varied and diverse diet is key here |
| - undetectable nitrite (less than 0.10 ppm) | | | | (quality of diet). We typically will feed, the |
| - stable pH in the range of 8.1 - 8.4 | | | | following (Nori sea weed, spirulina flakes, New Life |
| - stable alkalinity in the range of 3.0 - 4.5 meq/l | | | | Spectrum pellets 1mm sinking, frozen mysis |
| (150 - 225ppm) | | | | shrimp ( is my favorite), spirulina-enriched frozen |
| - stable temperature in range of 77-81F (I usually | | | | adult brine shrimp (San Francisco Bay Brand). So |
| aim for 78F) | | | | you may be saying "that seems like a lot of |
| - stable salinity in range of 32 - 35 ppt | | | | different foods" .... and .... it works. |
| - no noticeable aggression; this means fish can get | | | | So maybe now you're saying, that's not so |
| away from one another and no one is forced to | | | | complicated after all. Remember, the simple key |
| cower in a corner; problematic aggression that | | | | to focus on here is a stable, low-stress |
| would prevent your Pajama Cardinals from | | | | environment. After all, that's what people want |
| breeding would be if you had too many in too | | | | too. Enjoy. |