5-6 Week Old Ocellaris, Couple Growout Questions

[tanglovers]

Hi All,

I have two batches (my first two successes!!!) that were born on 12/13/06 and 12/23/06. They are growing great, I currently am still using water from the broodstock tank (1.021) for the water changes done. Each of the batches at in their own 10 gallon tank with sponge filter and temp at about 82 degrees. The older batch there is 11 juveniles and younger there are about 50, both nests were small but still not a real high yield....mostly I beleive due to poor larval water quality (I say this because as my husbandry got better I have more batches after these that have higher numbers ).

I have a couple main questions. What would you guys recommend for a salinity level with these guys? I have heard of some people running it down like 1.009 to help keep disease at bay. What are your toughts?

Also, more in the second batch (12/23/06) batch, there are a few that are smaller then the rest, still eat well and everything. Do you guys ever sort out smaller fish and put them with a younger batch?

Also what are the thoughts on combining hatches if they are about 10-14 days difference in age? Will the larger juveniles stress/pick on the smaller juveniles?

Thanks,
Scott!

 

[Dman]

I keep my water at 1.018 till they're close to sellable size. Clowns ready for sale are in 1.022.

Never hurts to move runts back and bigger ones forward, but once you have over a thousand fish, it a real PITA.

Size is more important than age. I'm trying an experiment where I have a full size Maroon in with little ocellaris. Mixed results so far.

 

[Baalz]

Mix em up you will be fine. I have clowns 1.5" with a few that may even be .25". As long as there is a mob of clowns they dont tend to pick on each other. Speaking from my experience with ocellaris.

 

[David M]

With ocelaris you shouldn't really have much problem with aggression, BUT you do have the bigger ones outcompeteing the smaller ones for food. Over time this can tend to widen the gap even furthur, so there is some agruement to be made for sorting by size. Age is irrelevent, size matters

As for SG I think there as many answers as there are breeders I keep larvae/ juvies at 1.016 until about ~30 days and then move them to GO which is at 1.020. Why? I dunno, just what I've always done. I think it all started with not wanting to shock the rotifers when feeding larvae. I keep them at 1.016 also just for the convenience of having to only mix two water supplies (1.016 for rots & larvae, 1.020 for GO and BS). Salt is expensive, why use more than you have to? I'm no scientist, I just do what works for me.

 

[tanglovers]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the input!

Was hoping/figuring it was size not age that really mattered.