Specimens 1 an 3 have received their names - Mandinka and Tshaka, respectively. Still waiting on the equipment upgrade to post some previously collected footage for updates, but here is a short one of both of them out and about in the tank today.
More to come!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Updates
Well, Specimen 2's behavior has been relatively consistent, and he has not died. Last week I came to the conclusion that he probably won't make it. In the original shipment, Richard had included a third specimen that was about half the size of 1 and 2. I immediately brought him into my LFS, assuming that he would likely stand a poor chance of making it in the same tank as Specimen 1. After coming to this conclusion about Specimen 2, I decided to go and get him back. Since introduction, he has been doing well, accepting several target feedings, and building himself a burrow in a small hole a few inches away from the entrance to Specimen 1's burrow.
Video:
Last week, I had the baffle in Specimen 2's chamber removed temporarily, and forgot to replace it. I later realised my mistake when I heard what sounded like a mantis shrimp striking plastic. It turned out Specimen 2 had flown into the main tank, holed up underneath the powerhead, which is buried into the back left corner of the tank, and was being accosted by Specimen 1. He ended up on the open end of the tank and I quickly netted him, replaced him in his chamber, and replaced the baffle. He has been safely contained therein since, with the baffle installed!
Just a few minutes ago, shortly after turning on the actinic light, I observed Specimen 1 darting out of his burrow in the front of the tank, and heading into the rock. Shortly thereafter, Specimen 3 was observed rejecting Specimen 1's moult from his (Specimen 1's) burrow! Specimen 3 appears, at least temporarily, to have claimed the beautifully constructed burrow as his own. Specimen 1 was shortly thereafter observed in plain sight on the open area on the opposite side of the tank, and accepted the 1"x3/4"ID airline tube artificial burrow I buried into the substrate.
Video:
The diadem pseudochromis showed up today, after being missing yesterday. He was found on the filter intake prefilter sponge, with a large hole eaten out of his abdomen. I assume the work of Specimen 1, who has already proven to be a fish eater.
I'm undergoing a slow video hardware upgrade, and when it is complete, should be posting new video, in much higher quality. More to follow.
Video:
Last week, I had the baffle in Specimen 2's chamber removed temporarily, and forgot to replace it. I later realised my mistake when I heard what sounded like a mantis shrimp striking plastic. It turned out Specimen 2 had flown into the main tank, holed up underneath the powerhead, which is buried into the back left corner of the tank, and was being accosted by Specimen 1. He ended up on the open end of the tank and I quickly netted him, replaced him in his chamber, and replaced the baffle. He has been safely contained therein since, with the baffle installed!
Just a few minutes ago, shortly after turning on the actinic light, I observed Specimen 1 darting out of his burrow in the front of the tank, and heading into the rock. Shortly thereafter, Specimen 3 was observed rejecting Specimen 1's moult from his (Specimen 1's) burrow! Specimen 3 appears, at least temporarily, to have claimed the beautifully constructed burrow as his own. Specimen 1 was shortly thereafter observed in plain sight on the open area on the opposite side of the tank, and accepted the 1"x3/4"ID airline tube artificial burrow I buried into the substrate.
Video:
The diadem pseudochromis showed up today, after being missing yesterday. He was found on the filter intake prefilter sponge, with a large hole eaten out of his abdomen. I assume the work of Specimen 1, who has already proven to be a fish eater.
I'm undergoing a slow video hardware upgrade, and when it is complete, should be posting new video, in much higher quality. More to follow.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
09/27/09
Specimen 1 was quite active today, appearing from new spots in the rockwork, and apparently doing some excavating. He and the damsels have met now. They like to gang up and display by rapidly shaking their bodies side to side in front of his burrow when they see him out. He flashed his meral spots at them once, then proceeded to keep moving about the rockwork.
He made his way back to the cave into which he immediately settled upon introduction. He spent somewhere around 1 hour either in that cave, or moving around and then shortly back to that cave, in which time he had some interactions with the urchin and the damsels.
Video:
And another:
Specimen 2's behavior is consistent with yesterday.
He made his way back to the cave into which he immediately settled upon introduction. He spent somewhere around 1 hour either in that cave, or moving around and then shortly back to that cave, in which time he had some interactions with the urchin and the damsels.
Video:
And another:
Specimen 2's behavior is consistent with yesterday.
09/26/09
Observed Specimen 1 clubbing a Palaemonetes vulgaris (common shore shrimp), seemingly for coming too close to his burrow. He observed the shrimp for a minute before finally clubbing it. The shrimp went flying away faster than my eye could follow and i heard an audible 'click' sound. The strike was impressively fast.
New impeller for the Rio NanoSkimmer came in today, and the skimmer is reborn. Big thank you to Kevin at TAAM for the prompt and knowledgeable service, not to mention the free fix.
Added a 225 gph powerhead and replaced the heater with a shatterproof unit today.
Received a shipment of feeder shrimp (Palaemonetes vulgaris) today.
Specimen 1 was reliably viewable most of the day at either the East or West entrance to his burrow under the base rock.
Introduced 2 (presumed) Parma microlepis (white ear scalyfin damsels) as dither/feeders tonight.
New impeller for the Rio NanoSkimmer came in today, and the skimmer is reborn. Big thank you to Kevin at TAAM for the prompt and knowledgeable service, not to mention the free fix.
Added a 225 gph powerhead and replaced the heater with a shatterproof unit today.
Received a shipment of feeder shrimp (Palaemonetes vulgaris) today.
Specimen 1 was reliably viewable most of the day at either the East or West entrance to his burrow under the base rock.
Introduced 2 (presumed) Parma microlepis (white ear scalyfin damsels) as dither/feeders tonight.
09/25/09
Specimen 2 showed short bursts of activity today but was still mostly sessile. He righted himself several times, and also actively went into the piece of airline tubing in his box for a while.
Video:
Here's a video detailing specimen 2's isolation chamber with audio:
Specimen 1 has been hiding under the center base rock most of the day.
Introduced 1 Chrysiptera parasema (yellowtail blue damsel) today as dither/feeder.
Video:
Here's a video detailing specimen 2's isolation chamber with audio:
Specimen 1 has been hiding under the center base rock most of the day.
Introduced 1 Chrysiptera parasema (yellowtail blue damsel) today as dither/feeder.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Stomatopods arrive 09/24/09
Well the Neogonodactylus wennerae arrived from Tampabaysaltwater.com thursday. Both specimens
seemed relatively active. Specimens were shipped in triple layered bags, and snugly arranged in the package.
This is video of specimen 1 after 105 minutes of acclimation in a ~75% concentration of new water in acclimation bag.
Specimen 2 had a small pinhole through the inside bag, but I did not worry about it. I still assume he just poked it with his raptorial appendage at some point during transport. There was very minimal water loss from the main bag, however, thanks to the diligent packaging. I acclimated to the same parameters listed above for specimen 1. The specimen gradually began exhibiting the behavior to be mentioned in detail later. I can not conclusively state my logic at the time, but in hindsight, am thinking perhaps I should have acclimated longer and more gradually for this specimen. Here is video of the specimen at 105 minutes acclimation time and ~75% new water concentration.
Upon introduction, specimen 2 actively swam out of his bag, hit the open water, and dropped straight to the substrate. Video:
Specimen 1 immediately went into the rockwork and began exploring upon introduction. Video:
Specimen 2's behavior has been fairly consistent since introduction. Video:
Well, it was an interesting day. Specimen 2 remained in the apparent shock state all day, while specimen 1 found his way beneath the center base rock in the tank, and did some more exploring. He investigated a few hermit crabs that i presented to him, but no confirmed consumption. I have a handful of each crushed coral and live rock rubble, a large gastropod shell, and a ~3" long section of ~1" diameter clear airline tubing inside the Aquaclear 500, intended as an isolation chamber for specimen 2. I have read that a molt shortly after introduction to a new environment is common in stomatopods, so I isolated specimen 2 indefinitely.
I would like to thank Richard at www.TampaBaySaltwater.com for all of his help, excellent packaging, and words of wisdom.
More to follow.
seemed relatively active. Specimens were shipped in triple layered bags, and snugly arranged in the package.
This is video of specimen 1 after 105 minutes of acclimation in a ~75% concentration of new water in acclimation bag.
Specimen 2 had a small pinhole through the inside bag, but I did not worry about it. I still assume he just poked it with his raptorial appendage at some point during transport. There was very minimal water loss from the main bag, however, thanks to the diligent packaging. I acclimated to the same parameters listed above for specimen 1. The specimen gradually began exhibiting the behavior to be mentioned in detail later. I can not conclusively state my logic at the time, but in hindsight, am thinking perhaps I should have acclimated longer and more gradually for this specimen. Here is video of the specimen at 105 minutes acclimation time and ~75% new water concentration.
Upon introduction, specimen 2 actively swam out of his bag, hit the open water, and dropped straight to the substrate. Video:
Specimen 1 immediately went into the rockwork and began exploring upon introduction. Video:
Specimen 2's behavior has been fairly consistent since introduction. Video:
Well, it was an interesting day. Specimen 2 remained in the apparent shock state all day, while specimen 1 found his way beneath the center base rock in the tank, and did some more exploring. He investigated a few hermit crabs that i presented to him, but no confirmed consumption. I have a handful of each crushed coral and live rock rubble, a large gastropod shell, and a ~3" long section of ~1" diameter clear airline tubing inside the Aquaclear 500, intended as an isolation chamber for specimen 2. I have read that a molt shortly after introduction to a new environment is common in stomatopods, so I isolated specimen 2 indefinitely.
I would like to thank Richard at www.TampaBaySaltwater.com for all of his help, excellent packaging, and words of wisdom.
More to follow.
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