Breeding Yellow Tailed Damsels

Chrysiptera parasema

I am proud to announce that I have raised three yellow tail damsels, Chrysiptera parasema beyond metamorphosis (MMP). They are now beautiful juveniles and I expect them to do well from now on. In the past I could raise the larvae past 20 days and when MMP was reached they suddenly died for no obvious reason. I suspected that artemia (SF brand instar 1) feeding had something to do with these unexplained deaths and so raised this last batch strictly brine shrimp less. Rotifers plus phyto was and still is, the main course. After 14 days, I tossed some Mikromin and larval crumble but I could not see them taking it. This is the first time I have raised this species and I am not aware of any report of them being raised before. I began trying to raise these larvae in 1977, but quantity and quality of food in those days was very poor and they didn't survive beyond the 5th day, seemingly dying of starvation. It was only in 1994 that some larvae began to survive and grow but then only to die after day 20 at the onset of MMP. Following is a summary of this my 26th rearing attempt with this species (since 1994).

Progress

• Day 1 - Many larvae hatched.
• Day 2 - Still many.
• Day 3 - Many dead.
• Day 6 - About 25 larvae. Larger. NO2 - 0.25ppm. Change 10 percent of the water.
• Day 9 - More larvae dead. NO2 - 3ppm. Water slightly cloudy. Start with daily 10 percent water changes.
• Day 15 - NO2 4ppm. Dead larvae everyday. About 10 survived. Started with small amounts of dry food.
• Day 19 - NO2 5ppm. 6 larvae, big, deep body.
• Day 20 - Put some PVC pipe pieces for shelter. Cleaned sponge filter.
• Day 21 - 4 larvae remain. Back becomes darker.
• Day 23 - One with blue back. NO2 - 4ppm. In the afternoon they change behavior staying quiet in the corners. Up to now they patrolled the tank at full speed.
• Day 24 - One dead. 2 completely blue. Moved from corner at the bottom to corner at the surface. Third larva still uncoloured and swimming fast.
• Day 25 - All 3 are blue and show the yellow tail. Colours are still washed out on the sides but intense on the back. Swimming pattern of adults explore the tank all together. Removed permanent light and black wall covers.
• Day 26 - Still in the upper corner most of the time. Swim together but show occasional aggression. These large (1cm) juveniles are still on rotifers. I must start giving artemia sometime but am afraid to loose them. In the meantime I have been trying instar 2 artemia+Algamac with clowns and it seems not to produce the lethal reactions of instar 1. Will try it with my new batch of parasema after day 14.

Previous Attempts

For many years I have been trying to bring the larvae of the yellow tail damsel (Chrysiptera parasema) through the golden gate of metamorphosis (MMP for short). These larvae have the annoying habit of suddenly dying just when you feel they will transform tomorrow. This time I've been closer than ever, so close that some of them actually reached MM but unfortunately they were DOA.. The larvae were past the 20 day mark,10 mm long, tall damsel body, swimming at high speed all over the tank. Only 7 remained. I looked from above and could capture a glimpse of shiny bright blue over the head. Man, what a sight!. The following day the blue colour covered the front half of the dorsum but could not still be seen from the sides. The day after I came to the tank and found 2 dead fish in the bottom and could not see any swimming. Then I discovered a post larva hidden under a sponge filter. It had full adult colours, yellow tail and all!. What I did then? I am still kicking myself. I wanted to see it better so I aimed a very strong Magnalite flashlight at it. The fish darted in a crazy loop, hit the bottom and died. Many things have I said to myself which I do not post for respect to the list but the most painful is "what would have happen if I did not shine the darn torch on the fish?". Anyway I still had 4 smaller larvae. This morning 3 were dead. The 4th hides under the sponge as ready for MMP. Will it be around tomorrow? Just wanted to share my bruises and give you folks a sound advice: "Beware of flashlights!". In older experiences only few survived and losing them it was easy to blame water conditions or lack of proper food but this time it becomes very clear that larvae die just when they are ready for MMP. Larger larvae die. Smaller keep growing OK until they reach the fatidic moment of MMP and they don't die sick or weak. They die suddenly, sometimes before my eyes. I now believe that they die of stress for lack of a quiet suitable environment. Pre MMP are seen very nervous cowering in corners and breathing fast. They seem to suffer from stress. Younger larvae just swim around happily feeding and growing without particular losses. These fish need a special habitat for MMP and lacking it become stressed and die. The problem is to find out which might it be. I put a coral skeleton and some Caulerpa in the tank but they don't care. Some settle under the sponge filter, like taking cover from above or favouring a shady spot. It seems to me that they are calmer in green water and get unsteady when it clears up.

By Luis Magnasco