Amphiprion Percula Home Breeding

[CoralsAddiction]

I'm a big fan of true percula clownfish and this thread is dedicated to my breeding attempt of Amphiprion Percula clowns. The photos below show the male and female. Both are wild caught. The video after shows my first attempt at raising their fry. The babies hatched just over an hour ago. Any breeding tips will be greatly appreciated.
Male photo:


Female photo:

 

[CoralsAddiction]

The babies:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fCtJsOOUBuc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Only 90 mins has passed and the majority of them are laying on the bottom either dead or dying. Only a few are swimming normally
However, I didn't expect to succeed the first time.
I think the air flow was too strong and many clowns were kinda bouncing around. So I lowered it a little.

 

[OrionN]

If it is not an adjustable air cow you can raise it up to near the top

 

[OrionN]

It is very important that the water chemistry and temp stay the same. I use the water from the brood tank for the hatch tank 100%

 

[CoralsAddiction]

If it is not an adjustable air cow you can raise it up to near the top

It is very important that the water chemistry and temp stay the same. I use the water from the brood tank for the hatch tank 100%

Thank you
Everything is ok this morning. I used 80% water from main reef tank with broodstock and 20% clean water. The air is adjustable. The fry seem to be a little more balanced and swims less neurotically. About 30-35% of them are hanging out by left and right side aquarium glass. The rest are in between.
Almost all, if not all, have silver stomachs. I read it means they are eating rotifers.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Pics from this morning
1. Top down view of right side of the tank. Clownfish fry can be seen towards the bottom of the picture hanging out on aquarium glass.

2. "FTS"

 

[D-Nak]

Did you tint the water? It helps to keep the babies off of the glass (and could help to prevent flat faces in the process, but that's anecdotal). Have fun!

 

[OrionN]

I completely cover the tank during hatch night. They hatch better in complete darkness

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Did you tint the water? It helps to keep the babies off of the glass (and could help to prevent flat faces in the process, but that's anecdotal). Have fun!

Thanks. I haven't tinted the water. I was going to use RG complete to do it but online search results including posts by Reed showed that RG complete shouldn't be used as greenwater. I'm debating whether or not Rotigrow Omega is worth the investment at this point.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I completely cover the tank during hatch night. They hatch better in complete darkness

thanks. I'll be more patient next time and will wait out as long as possible at hatch night.

 

[D-Nak]

Thanks. I haven't tinted the water. I was going to use RG complete to do it but online search results including posts by Reed showed that RG complete shouldn't be used as greenwater. I'm debating whether or not Rotigrow Omega is worth the investment at this point.

Many people use RGCompete to tint, and it does what it's supposed to. I thought I remember reading that Reed said it was okay to use but that there were better options (Omega, as you mentioned). I know that greenwater is supposed to help the babies see their prey and keeps them from bumping into the walls. My goal was always to avoid fish with flat faces. When I used RGComplete for tinting, I had 0 flat faces, but did have misbars.

I've since switched to Rotigrow Plus + Rotigrow Omega for tinting. I can see a difference in terms of the rotifer buckets being cleaner, but production seems a bit less than when using RGComplete. I have one test bucket with RGComplete and two with Rotigrow Plus so the test isn't very scientific. Only time will tell if I can see a big difference in the fish.

 

[president89]

I like rotigrow omega because it provides the HUFA required for healthy babies. Without enriching the rotifers with that, your fish won't turn out so well. Google Pickle's guide to clownfish and it'll tell you everything you want to know.

1. Paint all sides of the tank black - or 3 sides and get a black door for viewing.
2. Tint with rotigrow omega
3. Air should be from soft to moderate - I put the stones on one end, so the babies can escape the turbulence.
4. Do 50% or MORE water changes daily to keep water quality up
5. Use an ammonia detoxifier
6. Use an ammonia alert badge
7. Don't add in a sponge filter until the fish are off rotifers - the nitrifying bateria will compete with the rotifers.
6. If you keep the lights on for 24 hours from hatch to Meta, they will grow faster. Not required, but it works.
7. Percula grow much slower than Ocellaris, so don't be alarmed if you see your fish growing slower than someone's Ocellaris

That's all I have for now.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Google Pickle's guide to clownfish and it'll tell you everything you want to know.

Thanks, I'm familiar with his write up on clownfish rearing.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Does anybody here use probiotics for their clownfish fry diet?

 

[president89]

Yes, they are in Larry's reef fertility frenzy

 

[D-Nak]

Yes, they are in Larry's reef fertility frenzy

This is what I feed to the parents. Though the texture of the food is smaller than normal LRS blends and held together with gelatin, I think it's way too big to feed to fry.

 

[president89]

I think you mean leave. Fry is a live-bearer term. I feed to babies 30 days old. They eat it, much of it falls to the tank floor.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I think you mean leave. Fry is a live-bearer term. I feed to babies 30 days old. They eat it, much of it falls to the tank floor.

AND... I guess you meant larvae

That is a beautiful Percula pair. I'm looking forward to seeing the babies grow out.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I think you mean leave. Fry is a live-bearer term. I feed to babies 30 days old. They eat it, much of it falls to the tank floor.

Yes that's what I mean, larvae. I read an Advanced Aquarist article that said probiotics increase health and growth in larval clownfish. So my next question was going to be where one can get Lactobacillus rhamnosus probiotic and feeding instructions, both to rotifer culture and larvae..if anyone knows and willing to share the information.