Amphiprion Chrysopterus: A Breeding Pair

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9114778#post9114778 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ron Popeil
john, the tanks are directly across from a large window. they get a nice dose of eastern morning sun. there are no overhead lights in the room, but the nigripes tank right next to the chrysopterus tank has its lights on from noon to 8 pm.

So we can assume that their true photo period is closer to 15-16 hours than 7-8 based on direct overhead lighting.
 
this is one sweet thread....that tank is so cool with that nem and the pair of clowns. good luck raising the fry.

Mark
 
marina, the male and female are very close in size. the female is definetely huskier. ive upped the feedings of all types with emphasis on proteins and algaes. any suggestions on specific foods you would recommend?

john, you would be correct then. lots of light. providing a reliable morning light, on a much more naturally shifting scale.

at what time should i assume the nest was laid? early in the morning or after lights out?

here are the pictures of the nest today. day four since discovering the nest.

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at this point the anemone has its tentacles hiding most of the nest. i assume this isnt a problem, but i would also assume the male to take a more active role in shaping the anemone so its not so close. but no one seems to mind. the nest has shrunken in numbers, taken on a more sporatic shape, but the eggs seem to be continuing their development. the current temperature of the system is 79 degrees.

later today, i begin work on my algae/rotifer/fry set up...
 
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That's awesome. Keep us posted on the fry rearing. I seem to recall that you and I both got our chrys at the same time, with their native purple crispa from Vanuatu (around June 2006). They must have been well collected and cared for, since both our pairs are spawning. Someone's doing something right.

I do think that maybe we overthink some of this stuff. I'd love to be able to definitively say what causes clowns to start spawning in captivity. But truth is, mine have spawned on different diets, different lighting, different lighting schedules, water change, no water change, other clowns, no other clowns, other fish, music blasting, and even sharks on TV (which is near the tank). They just cut loose whenever the mood seems to strike them. I guess they just get horny, and that's that. Why fight it (we don't).

Dan
 
ha. precisely. thanks dan. have you started rearing any of the fry yet? what do i have to look forward to? you say they spawn without regard to any external stimuli, but is there a specific time of day they spawn? what about length of time before the eggs hatch?

what do your fish look like at this point, as drab as mine have become?

and with what frequency do they spawn? every two weeks? if i were to slip a tile in place of their current nest, how much would that throw off their spawning, do you think?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9134899#post9134899 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ron Popeil

at what time should i assume the nest was laid? early in the morning or after lights out?

My pairs have always laid in the afternoon, usually between 2:00 and 4:00.

I've never had chrysopterus spawn though.
 
Congrats...Great looking set. Check out the Fish breeding form for all the info you'll need for these guy's. Best of luck...Carl
 
Yes, they got very drab. I have tried many different foods, to no avail (female has perked up a little perhaps) This issue has been speculated on in another thread somewhere. I think it was Gary M. that suggested the bright lights as a possible culprit, but I have not tested that. They spawn about 8:00 pm every 2-3 weeks. There is some video of them spawning at my webpage. The eggs hatch on the 9th evening. Don't be surprised if they move any tiles out of the way, but do try it anyway. Good luck.

Dan
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9136000#post9136000 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ron Popeil
what do i have to look forward to?

Massive die-offs :(. Fry is very small.

My WTC still has very vibrant color, not sure why.
 
this is now day five since the nest was discovered. the nest has gotten progressively smaller and sporatic. the other noticeable change is in the eggs, they are increasingly more silvery and more developed. i imagine the eggs will be hatching within the next few days.

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unfortunately, i have to be out of town until sunday evening, i hope they hold out until that night before hatching. after the eggs hatch, i will try to insert an acrylic tile in place of the nest and keep my fingers crossed they use it for future nests.

should i expect a brighter color out of eggs when first laid? this batch seemed much more paler than expected. i have really upped my feeding in hopes of increasing future nest size and health, perhaps even egg color.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9146941#post9146941 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ron Popeil

this batch seemed much more paler than expected. i have really upped my feeding in hopes of increasing future nest size and health, perhaps even egg color.

J, something is not right with the nest. I am not sure what. LMK when they hatch.

Bathing a tile with eggs in Formalin might help, but it is not your option at this time :(

Here is how my (their) nest looked liked

parents1-vi.jpg
 
carl, the link isnt working for me. sorry.

marina, can i ask what types and brands of food you use?
 
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got the link to work carl, and its a great read, definetely keeping it handy. thanks again.

well, the eggs took on an even more silvery appearance yesterday, leaving me to believe the hatch was imminent either last night or tonight.

this is day six since discovering the nest (it could be between 6 and 9 days old at this point):

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lights out around 1030 pm, i waited around an hour. still saw the silvery masses. waited another hour. still no change. i inadvertently stayed up til 3 am, and by the time i went to sleep the eggs were still present.

however, as of 10 am this morning the entire nest was gone. i dont know if this means they hatched sometime later than 3 am and then the nest was consumed, or if the parents finished it off for whatever reason spontaneously after i left.

i worked on my closet hatchery last night. setting up bottles. organizing air line tubing. shelving. lights. im a bit cramped for space, but i think it will work just fine. ill have some pictures up when its in its prime.

i now have three 5x8 clear acrylic tiles i plan on sliding into place of the nest. i was thinking of putting two in the tank, and using the third to switch in post-egg laying. i really hope this doesnt interrupt them.

any thoughts or suggestions? marina, help me get some nice dark orange eggs like yours.
 
I would just use a ceramic tile ( back side ) ro a tara Cotta clay pot drip plate. Place in that spot as soon as possible after a hatch. Ussually mine hatch within an hour of lights out, but it must be very dark, not lunars and cover tank with a towel if you have any lights on in the room. Hope this helps...Carl
 
J,

Several things to consider:

1. Eleminate temp swings, throw another heater in the sump.

2. Extend photoperiod to 14 hours.

3. More greens and frozen CP.
 
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