STUDYING THE STUDYING THE REPRODUCTIVE REPRODUCTIVE

TENDENCIES OF THE TENDENCIES OF THE BANGGAI BANGGAI

CARDINALFISHCARDINALFISH

Jonathan CarkhuffJonathan Carkhuff

Period 3 Marine BiologyPeriod 3 Marine Biology

4 / 20/ 20104 / 20/ 2010

TAXONOMYTAXONOMY

Kingdom: AnimaliaKingdom: Animalia    Phylum: Chordata    Phylum: Chordata        Class: Actinopterygii        Class: Actinopterygii            Order: Perciformes            Order: Perciformes                Family: Apogonidae                Family: Apogonidae                    Genus:                     Genus: Pterapogon Pterapogon                         Species:                         Species: P. kauderniP. kauderni

BASIC FACTS ABOUT THE BASIC FACTS ABOUT THE BANGGAIBANGGAI

Banggai Islands of IndonesiaBanggai Islands of Indonesia

HabitatsHabitats Commensalism (Sea Urchins)Commensalism (Sea Urchins) Grass beds, rocks, rubble, sand, coralsGrass beds, rocks, rubble, sand, corals

Life Span Life Span 1-2 Years in the Wild, 4 Years in an Aquarium1-2 Years in the Wild, 4 Years in an Aquarium Approximately 2.5 million worldwideApproximately 2.5 million worldwide ENDANGERED SPECIES!!!ENDANGERED SPECIES!!!

More Basic FactsMore Basic Facts

Maximum length of 8 cmMaximum length of 8 cm Depends on environment, food, etc.Depends on environment, food, etc.

Best known for… Best known for… Their Striking Appearance Their Striking Appearance Paternal Mouth BroodingPaternal Mouth Brooding

BIOLOGY OF THE BIOLOGY OF THE BANGGAIBANGGAI

Mouth broodingMouth brooding Male or Female?Male or Female? Gestation Period (22-25 days)Gestation Period (22-25 days) Male behaviors during holdingMale behaviors during holding

Usual BehaviorsUsual Behaviors Very shy and skittishVery shy and skittish Pairing / MatingPairing / Mating Pre-egg deposit “activity”Pre-egg deposit “activity”

Orange shade to gut, rear belly, rear finsOrange shade to gut, rear belly, rear fins

Male (holding) and Female in 70 Male (holding) and Female in 70 gallon tankgallon tank

**Note the difference in jaw sizeNote the difference in jaw size

Female is on the left, male is on the right.Female is on the left, male is on the right.

Side view of Male Holding Side view of Male Holding (Tank 8)(Tank 8)

Female from the 70 Gallon Tank Female from the 70 Gallon Tank before depositing eggsbefore depositing eggs

**NOTE THE ORANGE SHADE AROUND THE REAR HALF OF NOTE THE ORANGE SHADE AROUND THE REAR HALF OF THE FISHTHE FISH

WEBSITEWEBSITEhttp://http://cardinalfishjc.wiki.lovett.orgcardinalfishjc.wiki.lovett.org/ /

VIDEOVIDEOhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klwveQFhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klwveQFbd9Ubd9U

My Project:My Project:Studying the Studying the Reproductive Reproductive

Tendencies of the Tendencies of the Banggai CardinalfishBanggai Cardinalfish

HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS

How can I increase the number How can I increase the number of holdings?of holdings?ORIGINAL HYOPTHESIS:ORIGINAL HYOPTHESIS:

If the habitat If the habitat of of Pteragon kauderniPteragon kauderni incorporates more  incorporates more enclosed, private spaces, then there will enclosed, private spaces, then there will be an increase in reproductive be an increase in reproductive tendencies. tendencies.

ANSWER TO ANSWER TO HYPOTHESIS 1HYPOTHESIS 1

Minor adjustments to tank 11Minor adjustments to tank 11 StressStress RisksRisks

Tank 8Tank 8 No changes observedNo changes observed

72- Gallon Tank72- Gallon Tank Plenty of enclosed areasPlenty of enclosed areas Very little activityVery little activity

HYPOTHESIS 1 REFUTEDHYPOTHESIS 1 REFUTED

HYPOTHESIS 2HYPOTHESIS 2 If If PteragonPteragon  kaudernikauderni are kept in tanks with  are kept in tanks with

both enclosed, private spaces and the water both enclosed, private spaces and the water temperature is held at approximately 78-81 temperature is held at approximately 78-81 degrees Fahrenheit, the fish will become degrees Fahrenheit, the fish will become much more active and thus more prone to much more active and thus more prone to mating.  mating. 

Much higher rate of overall activity in ALL Much higher rate of overall activity in ALL tankstanks

Much higher rate of reproductive Much higher rate of reproductive tendenciestendencies Tank 70 Tank 70

3 separate holdings since the end of February3 separate holdings since the end of February

Number of Male Number of Male Holdings during the Holdings during the

YearYearOrganized by Tank NumberOrganized by Tank Number

0123456789

10

70Tank

72Tank

Tank8

Number ofMale Holdings

HYPOTHESIS 2 (Cont.)HYPOTHESIS 2 (Cont.) 70-Gallon tank 70-Gallon tank

Enclosed areasEnclosed areas Water temperatures around 77-80 degrees Water temperatures around 77-80 degrees

FahrenheitFahrenheit 2 baby banggais successfully transferred to 2 baby banggais successfully transferred to

Tank 3Tank 3 Exceptionally high rate of mating / holding. Exceptionally high rate of mating / holding.

Usually 4 weeks holding, 3-4 weeks not holding, Usually 4 weeks holding, 3-4 weeks not holding, etc. etc.

The rate for the 70-Gallon pair was 4 weeks The rate for the 70-Gallon pair was 4 weeks holding, one week not holding, etc. holding, one week not holding, etc.

HYPOTHESIS CONFIRMEDHYPOTHESIS CONFIRMED

QUESTION 1QUESTION 1

1.1. Will changes in habitat affect the rate Will changes in habitat affect the rate of reproduction for the Banggai of reproduction for the Banggai Cardinal fish? (i.e. Water temperature, Cardinal fish? (i.e. Water temperature, addition of grass beds or more rock)addition of grass beds or more rock)

- As confirmed by my second - As confirmed by my second hypothesis, slight hypothesis, slight changes in habitat do changes in habitat do affect the rate of affect the rate of reproduction of the reproduction of the Banggais. Slight increases in Banggais. Slight increases in water water temperature are much more effective than temperature are much more effective than

changes in habitat, however. The changes in habitat, however. The addition of live addition of live rock actually stressed rock actually stressed the fish out more than it the fish out more than it helped them.helped them.   

QUESTION 2 AND 3QUESTION 2 AND 3

2.2. Will the addition of a second mated pair Will the addition of a second mated pair (to a large tank) affect breeding cycles? (to a large tank) affect breeding cycles? If so, how?If so, how?

3.3. If the male Banggais are separated after If the male Banggais are separated after they begin carrying eggs, will there be a they begin carrying eggs, will there be a higher baby Banggai survival rate? higher baby Banggai survival rate?

- The movement of fish (other than the - The movement of fish (other than the newborn newborn babies) was never attempted. babies) was never attempted. Thanks to the Thanks to the observations of previous observations of previous research groups, it was research groups, it was recommended not to recommended not to move the fish due to stress move the fish due to stress and the and the possibility of abortion by a carrying male.possibility of abortion by a carrying male.

QUESTION 4QUESTION 4

4.4. What is the best setting in which to What is the best setting in which to breed breed PteragonPteragon  kaudernikauderni??

- - The best setting in which to The best setting in which to breed breed PteragonPteragon  kaudernikauderni is in as large a  is in as large a tank as tank as possible with as few other possible with as few other organisms as possible organisms as possible with the water with the water temperature kept around 78-81 temperature kept around 78-81 degrees Fahrenheit with a fair amount of degrees Fahrenheit with a fair amount of private, private, enclosed spaces. enclosed spaces. 

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS Success rate from deposit of eggs to Success rate from deposit of eggs to

hatching was very low hatching was very low Total 1/11Total 1/11

The 70-Gallon Tank was the most successfulThe 70-Gallon Tank was the most successful Warmer, enclosed spacesWarmer, enclosed spaces Blue Tang competition?Blue Tang competition?

Tank 8 and Tank 72 were most Tank 8 and Tank 72 were most disappointingdisappointing Temperature was reasonable, enclosed spacesTemperature was reasonable, enclosed spaces No Competition?No Competition?

FUTURE SUGGESTIONSFUTURE SUGGESTIONS Study more in-depth the relationship between fish Study more in-depth the relationship between fish

activity and water temperature. The Banggai activity and water temperature. The Banggai Cardinalfish is originally from warm Indo-Pacific waters Cardinalfish is originally from warm Indo-Pacific waters and warmer tank waters would be more natural for this and warmer tank waters would be more natural for this species.species.

Try moving a carrying male to a separate tank with no Try moving a carrying male to a separate tank with no other organisms. Although he may abort in the process, other organisms. Although he may abort in the process, the success rate is not high anyway.the success rate is not high anyway.

Study the relationship between the fishes’ diet and their Study the relationship between the fishes’ diet and their mating habits. Due to time constraints I was unable to mating habits. Due to time constraints I was unable to do this but it would definitely be interesting to see the do this but it would definitely be interesting to see the correlation between diet and mating.correlation between diet and mating.

Let the mated pair in the 70-Gallon tank be the only fish Let the mated pair in the 70-Gallon tank be the only fish in that system. The other fish may have eaten some of in that system. The other fish may have eaten some of the babies. That pair has a very high mating rate. OR…..the babies. That pair has a very high mating rate. OR…..

See if competition plays a role in mating habits. Maybe See if competition plays a role in mating habits. Maybe move the pair in Tank 8 to the 72-Gallon tank and vise move the pair in Tank 8 to the 72-Gallon tank and vise versa. versa.

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHY"Banggai Cardinal Fish - Pterapogon Kauderni." "Banggai Cardinal Fish - Pterapogon Kauderni." AC Tropical Fish & AquariumAC Tropical Fish & Aquarium. . 2004. Web. 18 Apr. 2010.<2004. Web. 18 Apr. 2010.<http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/marinefish/banggaicardinalfish.phphttp://www.aquaticcommunity.com/marinefish/banggaicardinalfish.php>.>.

"Banggai Cardinal fish." "Banggai Cardinal fish." www.fishlore.comwww.fishlore.com. Fishlore.com, 2007. Web. 27 Sept. . Fishlore.com, 2007. Web. 27 Sept. 2009.2009.

Banggai CardinalfishBanggai Cardinalfish. MicrocosmAquariumExplorer, 2008. Web. 27 Sept. 2009. . MicrocosmAquariumExplorer, 2008. Web. 27 Sept. 2009. www.MicrocosmAquariumExplorer.comwww.MicrocosmAquariumExplorer.com..

"Banggai cardinalfish." "Banggai cardinalfish." www.wikipedia.orgwww.wikipedia.org. Web. 27 Sept. 2009.. Web. 27 Sept. 2009.

Buchheim, Jason. "FISH, a Quick Course on Ichthyology." Buchheim, Jason. "FISH, a Quick Course on Ichthyology." Odyssey Expeditions - Odyssey Expeditions - Tropical Marine Biology Voyages!Tropical Marine Biology Voyages! Odyssey Expeditions. Web. 18 Apr. 2010. < Odyssey Expeditions. Web. 18 Apr. 2010. <http://www.marinebiology.org/fish.htm#FISH%20SEX-%20how%20fish%20reproducehttp://www.marinebiology.org/fish.htm#FISH%20SEX-%20how%20fish%20reproduce>.>.

"Marine Mouthbrooders--Cardinalfish: Cardinalfish Are Some of the Best "Marine Mouthbrooders--Cardinalfish: Cardinalfish Are Some of the Best Saltwater Fish to Breed ." Saltwater Fish to Breed ." Pet CarePet Care. N.p., 18 Jan. 2008. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. <. N.p., 18 Jan. 2008. Web. 17 Apr. 2010. <http://petcare.suite101.com/arhttp://petcare.suite101.com/ar

Marini, Frank. "Captive care and Breeding of the Banggai cardinal fish Pteragon Marini, Frank. "Captive care and Breeding of the Banggai cardinal fish Pteragon kauderni." kauderni." Captive care and Breeding of the Banggai cardinal fish Pteragon Captive care and Breeding of the Banggai cardinal fish Pteragon kaudernikauderni (1999).  (1999). Reefs.orgReefs.org. Reefs.org, 31 Jan. 1999. Web. 27 Sept 2009. . Reefs.org, 31 Jan. 1999. Web. 27 Sept 2009. <www.reefs.org>.<www.reefs.org>.

Marini, Frank. "My notes and observations on Raising and Breeding the Banggai Marini, Frank. "My notes and observations on Raising and Breeding the Banggai Cardinalfish." Cardinalfish." The Journal of MaquaCultureThe Journal of MaquaCulture 4.4 (1996).  4.4 (1996). My notes and observations My notes and observations on Raising and Breeding the Banggai Cardinalfishon Raising and Breeding the Banggai Cardinalfish. JoM, 1996 Web. 27 Sept. . JoM, 1996 Web. 27 Sept. 2009. 2009. www.breedersregistry.orgwww.breedersregistry.org..

The Fish Breeding ForumThe Fish Breeding Forum. 2007. Web. 17 Nov. 2009. <archive.reefcentral.com>. . 2007. Web. 17 Nov. 2009. <archive.reefcentral.com>.