setting up breeding sites for digital camera

I am trying to setup a few 10 gallon aquariums right next to each other on a bench. The tanks are going to be positioned so I can see all at same time with a digital camera setup for time lapse recordings. Goal is to observe pirate perch around clock to determine how old babies are even though I can not be around all day and night. Anyone done such a thing with other types of fish where cameras are left unattended?

Maybe you have the camera part all figured out, but you might consider inexpensive (< $30) analog security/spy video cameras which often have infrared light sources built in. Connect to an old-school VCR or to a video-in on a computer for virtually unlimited recording. USB connected digital video cams are another option. Resolution on any of those might not be enough to watch an entire row of tanks, but may be cheap enough to set up one cam per tank. Also, can get fairly inexpensive security VCRs that will cycle through 4-8 camera inputs in series, and can be set to record 24 hours or more per tape. Digital equivalents for computer video-in available now, too: http://www.spytown.com/edv-xv425.html .

I did a bunch of this kind of "nature surveillance" years ago with bird nest boxes, including first known video recording from inside Resplendent Quetzal nests in Costa Rica. Really neat to see all kinds of behaviors you'd be very unlikely to catch in the limited time you can actually physically watch something per day.

Thanks jase,

Most of the room will be under a red (flourescent light) with back part of tanks under full spectrum about 16 hours of day. Want dark side of tanks at front where pirate perch will hopefully stay to be out of full spectrum light and near spawning sites.

I imagine you could find discussion of whether or not any fish can see infrared online. The birds I've worked with do not seem to be able to, as I never saw any reaction when infrared lights switched on/off.

Working with infrared is interesting. I had to wire up my own infrared LED assemblies, and it was strange to plug them in and have no idea whatsoever if they were working until I aimed an infrared-capable video camera at them.

For clarity, I'm talking near-infrared -- just below what the eyes can detect. Very different from far-infrared, which is what heat-sensing cameras like military and police use (with no additional light source other than heat emitted from subjects).

Jase,
I will be working with near-infrared with the camera and visible red behind my blind in rest of room. My fish either can not see near-infrared or it does not bother them when switched on and off, even following prolonged acclimation. I do not think my pirate perch will radiate appreciably in far-infrared.

Edited by Pirateperch, 15 March 2010 - 09:21 PM.

Tonight I would like to stage for the video taping a pirate perch courtship dance. It is pretty cool and very different from most fishes.

Two males have been kept alone for a day and a few females have been isolated from males and fed heavily. This evening when lights are turned off I will be introducing a single wide bottomed girl in with each male. The camera will be rolling in infrared mode. If works as before the males should put on a show and I will film it.

How do I convert the video clip to something I can upload to this forum?

You'll need to upload to a separate hosting site and link to it here (PLEASE link here ).

Please PM me if you need any help.

You'll need to upload to a separate hosting site and link to it here (PLEASE link here ).

Please PM me if you need any help.

Thank you Uland,

I will practice with another video today to see how it works. Then hopefully I will be able upload image short clip.

How do I convert the video clip to something I can upload to this forum?

YouTube will convert just about any video format you can upload to Flash video, which nearly everyone can view.