AnimalNerd98 Posted September 16, 2022 Share Posted September 16, 2022 (edited) After trying several methods, I have finally been able to keep the Zoe alive for more than a few days. The Zoe were released September 11, 2022. I’ve found that the strain that I have does best at salinity levels close to that of seawater (30-35 ppt, or 1.022-1.025 specific gravity). I tried 14 ppt, 18 ppt, and 20 ppt in the past and the Zoe never made it. They are in a 3 gallon unheated set-up with a sponge filter. I leave the light on 24/7 with blue LEDs to encourage algae growth. I still supplement with 3-4 drops of SeaChem Reef Phytoplankton every 4-6 hours. I learned a lot from this thread: Thank you @BettaQueen124 for starting the topic and everyone who contributed to it. Edited September 16, 2022 by AnimalNerd98 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 Great job. Hopefully you will have continued success. Looking forward to updates. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfish Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 Tagging for interest. These projects are so much fun. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnimalNerd98 Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 (edited) 1 week update: Some of the zoe are beginning to assume a more curved body shape, instead of just looking like upside down and straight sticks in the water. Hopefully they’ll metamorphose soon! I’m going to need a macro lens… Edited September 18, 2022 by AnimalNerd98 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted September 18, 2022 Share Posted September 18, 2022 @AnimalNerd98do you happen to have a decent saltwater shop near you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnimalNerd98 Posted September 19, 2022 Author Share Posted September 19, 2022 On 9/18/2022 at 5:08 PM, nabokovfan87 said: @AnimalNerd98do you happen to have a decent saltwater shop near you? Yeah! There’s one about 10 minutes from me. Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robstar Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 This is a cool project. How long do they have to stay in saltwater? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnimalNerd98 Posted September 19, 2022 Author Share Posted September 19, 2022 On 9/19/2022 at 11:21 AM, Robstar said: This is a cool project. How long do they have to stay in saltwater? They have to stay in there anywhere from 30-60 days until they metamorphose. From there, I’ll need to acclimate them back to freshwater and let them grow out 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 On 9/18/2022 at 7:04 PM, AnimalNerd98 said: Yeah! There’s one about 10 minutes from me. Why? Sometimes saltwater only you can get various size foods for corals / fish. I didn't have the stuff you had available, but I tried using the frozen rotifers. I had no idea how often and how much, so you're ahead of me there. Mine lived about ~10 days before I saw some pretty big die offs. I also want to try again WITH a greenwater tank to use to feed them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnimalNerd98 Posted September 19, 2022 Author Share Posted September 19, 2022 On 9/19/2022 at 3:39 PM, nabokovfan87 said: Sometimes saltwater only you can get various size foods for corals / fish. I didn't have the stuff you had available, but I tried using the frozen rotifers. I had no idea how often and how much, so you're ahead of me there. Mine lived about ~10 days before I saw some pretty big die offs. Ah, I see what you mean. I ordered the food on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YLJ822?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder-t1_ypp_rep_k0_1_13&&crid=1X1SISGKS465I&&sprefix=reef+phytopla Hopefully they can last until adulthood! I will keep you posted! "I also want to try again WITH a greenwater tank to use to feed them." - Yes, for this reason, I have an LED light on 24/7 to grow algae 😛 It's coating the sides of the tank really well, but not much in the water column itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 (edited) On 9/19/2022 at 3:47 PM, AnimalNerd98 said: - Yes, for this reason, I have an LED light on 24/7 to grow algae 😛 It's coating the sides of the tank really well, but not much in the water column itself. yeah. That's where I'm at. I need to have a setup where I can run a tank JUST for green water and be able to feed some live foods. It's something I've been following @modified lungefforts with live foods and learning a lot. I don't have a setup, but it's an awesome place to be and learn from so many experienced and passionate hobbyists 🙂 Edited September 19, 2022 by nabokovfan87 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnimalNerd98 Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 Day 13 update: More of the shrimp have that bent look to them. They have also taken on a reddish-bronze color. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 Huge step. Nice work! If you can, for posterity. What are your nitrates at right now? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnimalNerd98 Posted September 25, 2022 Author Share Posted September 25, 2022 I don’t have a marine water test kit. I just have the Co-Op strips so I guess they’ll have to do: Nitrates 0 Nitrite 0 GH/Hardness (off the scale, 300+) Buffer/KH 40 pH 8 Chlorine 0 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnimalNerd98 Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 Day 22: Important Development! Some of the Zoe are actually moving towards the bottom and trying to walk around before being carried off by a current. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSwissAquarist Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Are they still in brackish/marine water? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnimalNerd98 Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 (edited) On 10/3/2022 at 11:03 PM, TheSwissAquarist said: Are they still in brackish/marine water? Yeah! They’re still in marine conditions (30-35 ppt). There’s a range bc I just top off the tank with distilled water whenever I remember to 😂 Once they metamorphose, I’ll be acclimating them to freshwater Edited October 4, 2022 by AnimalNerd98 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Found this. Might be worth posting so I figured I would! As always, exciting stuff. Loving seeing this full circle. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnimalNerd98 Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 On 10/4/2022 at 4:28 PM, nabokovfan87 said: Found this. Might be worth posting so I figured I would! As always, exciting stuff. Loving seeing this full circle. I actually saw this in another thread on the forum, so I watched it already, but thank you! Yes, it is all very exciting! I am counting the days for when it is time for them to be in the post-larval stage 🙂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSwissAquarist Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 On 10/5/2022 at 12:28 AM, nabokovfan87 said: Found this. Might be worth posting so I figured I would! As always, exciting stuff. Loving seeing this full circle. Easy by who’s definition?🙃 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 On 10/4/2022 at 9:24 PM, TheSwissAquarist said: Easy by who’s definition?🙃 Exactly! Lol. It's all about making it seem easy so more people do it! I think something Cory said a long time ago makes a lot of sense. About how when you want to breed them, do it at a big enough scale because it's easier when you can do it that way. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnimalNerd98 Posted October 11, 2022 Author Share Posted October 11, 2022 Bad news… I went out of town for two days and one night and there was a huge population crash. I’m not sure if it was because too much water had evaporated or because they missed too many feedings. Now there are only about 15 or so left, but their time for metamorphosis should be coming up soon! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted October 11, 2022 Share Posted October 11, 2022 Very likely because of the food. That's unfortunate. Let's go 15 little amanos! You can do it!!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSwissAquarist Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 At least now you know what NOT to do next time! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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