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Attempting to breed GSPs

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2017 6:27 am
by NZ fishman
Hi guys,

Sounds like no one has really stirred the pot on the GSP breeding issue in a while, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

So far the only pieces of info I've gathered on their breeding are:
1. The sperm is fully motile in salt water, suggesting breeding occurs there. From research done by UF.
2. Breeding occurs under fluctuating salinity and temp. From an old anecdotal report on a German website.
3. French scientists doing genome research opened up some captive GSP's and found eggs and sperm, implying the fish were capable of breeding, they just needed a trigger. From another breeding thread - viewtopic.php?f=40&t=4757

Most fish require some sort of trigger to start spawning. The main trigger around South East Asia would be the monsoon. Many other fish are triggered to spawn by monsoon conditions. So I have a hunch that GSP's are no different.

I did some research on the effects that the monsoon have on Thai estuaries and coastline and found that salinity decreases substantially, pH decreases somewhat, and temperature also decreases by a few degrees C during the monsoon season.

Most evidence tells me that mature GSP's hang out around high end brackish to full marine conditions. So I hypothesise that a decrease in salinity from maybe 1.024 to 1.016 sg, a decrease in pH from 8 to 7.4, and a decrease in temp from 27C to 24C over a few weeks or months might trigger breeding.

For reference here is an article found on Google which shows the dramatic seasonal change in salinity in Bangpakong Estuary, Thailand.
www.terrapub.co.jp/journals/JO/pdf/5804/58040557.pdf

I'm going to test my hypothesis as soon as I get some new GSP's. I already have 1. Could be a few months down the line yet but I will post results as soon as I can. I know its a long shot but as far as I know no one has really done this before.

If any one has tried similar methods, or if any one has any other info I would love to hear it. Also tell me what you think of my theory. Thanks

Re: Attempting to breed GSPs

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2017 12:43 pm
by Pufferpunk
Good luck!

Re: Attempting to breed GSPs

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:20 am
by Minipuff
Cool project, I wish you good luck - keep us updated :)

Re: Attempting to breed GSPs

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2017 8:24 pm
by powerfulthoughtz
Hi, my puffers have been getting freaky and I caught them on video... how can I post?

Re: Attempting to breed GSPs

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 1:27 am
by NZ fishman
Thats interesting! Best way would be to upload it to youtube and then use the link tool to link the video on here. Are they green spotted puffers?