Amphiprion percula "Onxy" (Onyx Percula Clown) Breeding Log!

[Kmiec123]

Wow 1008.. That's awesome. I think I read the placement should happen immediately after hatch not just before spawn. I know you had time issues. My on guess on what to do is maybe a 4x4 piece of Tara cotta and drill a couple of hole in it at the edges and use nylon ties(zip strips) to secure it to the rock. That's all I can think of to see if it works after this hatch. A good turn out with this 1000 should keep your tanks filled for a while so even if the are delayed so be it...Just some thoughts Matt, hope this helps..Carl

 

[mwp]

Yup, the issue really is placement and timing. This next batch I may build a modified collector for, not sure yet. There's really no easy way to secure stuff to their spawning site...doing the zip tie thing - what about "removing" the tile (BTW, wasn't able to find any terra cotta tiles here, only ceramics). The "long tail leaning slate" was the best removeable substrate I could quickly come up with. I think whatever goes in place will have to be VERY securely fastened...Mama did this with the gorgonian for MONTHS before she finally left it alone.

I have a feeling that by hatching time, the # of eggs will diminish by 50% or more (thus I'm curious to take the daily pictures of the nest).

Embryoguy, your's take 8-9 days to hatch, right? With the last 2 or 3 going at 7 days, I'm expecting next Friday, so maybe we'll be ahead then!

As far as trying yet another percula batch, I *may* just do that. If I move Batch VI next Wednesday, I'd move them probably into the GBG's larval tank...I think the tank could handle more than it's 20 current residents, and since the gobies feed on the bottom anyway, there's a dual purpose rearing situation (clownfish get main feeding, gobies get leftovers...).

Yup, this is starting to sound like a plan for many more clownfish...just really wish they had left the tile where it was.

One last note - I'm seriously considering moving Batch III in with Batch I to help diffuse aggression. I'm worried that it's a risky proposition at this point as 2 month old vs. 3 month old, and only 3 of each...aggression could be fierce...
Matt

 

[mwp]

Batch VI - a quick update - the water was smelling FUNKY and the ammonia alert had officially risen into the alert level, so they're getting a 50% water change or so. 17 days old at this point...was finally able to get a better picture as maybe half of them were congregating by the front of the tank (lights went out, but ambient room lights are still on).

MP

 

[EMBRYOGUY]

matt, what are you talking about. ours look exactly alike

 

[mwp]

Mine just always look skinny to me...no fat bellies at all.

Batch VIII update - 12-29-06, just before midnight - shot this latest picture of the eggs, a bit over 24 hours old, so basically 1 day post-laying...6 days pre-hatch (if my estimate is correct).

And tonight's headcount? Roughly 901...

FWIW,

Matt

 

[Kmiec123]

This is cool..Good idea Matt. As far as the Tara Cotta, I used a 4 In. Flower pot base pan that was Tara Cotta from HD for $1.50. I do used the Zip Strips and just snip to move and replace with new upon transfer of eggs. You can also consider braking up a tile to it into your spot better. Just some thoughts and best of luck..Carl

 

[mwp]

Batch I (92 days) and Batch III (65 days) - the big news is that today, I moved Batch III out of their breeder net in the seahorse tank and into Renee's 6 gallon mushroom tank with the 3 from Batch I. All of Batch I is vibrantly more orange than Batch III. The largest 2 from Batch III are larger than the runt (Runty) in Batch I. The smallest of Batch III ("Runty Jr."?) is VERY small...he kinda reminds me of how big the juvies from Batch I were when I placed them into the 6 gallon. while I'm not worried in the slightest about the larger 2 from Batch III, Runty Jr. may be in for a rough time (i.e. all these new corals that could eat him). Pictures in a minute

Matt

 

[mwp]

"Runty Jr." - the runt from Batch III

MP

 

[Kmiec123]

ool...Big color differance. Neat, I guess you are what you eat..Or at least that color.

 

[mwp]

Now the interesting part is that pretty much these were fed the same foods, especially once they could eat them. Environmental factors (i.e. water quality, lighting etc..) may have actually played more of a role in Batch III's coloration development to this point.

Batch VIII - 48 hours post spawn, 5 days remaining to hatch! Tonight I managed to count 924 eggs...so obviously I either overcounted tonight, or undercounted yesterday.

Little Man defends the nest...

48 hours or so post spawn...

The photoshop count is 924 tonight:

Happy New Year!

MP

 

[mwp]

One final note for the evening - Batch VI has received 2 water changes today to bring down ammonia in the tank. Additionally, new water has been "fortified" with Reef Plus and Reef Iodide (Seachem products)...for the small number of fish I'm raising, dosing these additives is a non-issue with regards to cost. There is a WIDE size range in Batch VI, but most all are taking down Cyclopeze and Cyclops in addition to Otohime, so for the next several weeks those will probably form the mainstay of the diet along with crushed Formula 1 and 2 pellets.

FWIW,

Matt

 

[mwp]

1-1-07 - Batch VI got the big move today. After doing 50% water changes on both the lower 10 gallon tank (holding GBGs) and the upper tank (holding Batch VI of the percs) I decided to move the percs into the lower tank for further growout. My reasoning is that the GBG's really only feed off the bottom which happens to be the same place that the clownfish juvies avoid like the plague! A total headcount of batch VI reveals that currently we have 49 baby clowns in that batch! There are approximately 20 GBG's in the tank as well.

The other things I did are pretty basic - covered the Duetto filter's intake with netting (to keep any curious clownfish out). The top larval tank will get reestablished with rotifers and phyto, possibly copepods as well, most likely to be used for Batch VIII that's due on Friday.

That's the news - a picture of Batch VIII to come as well!

Matt

 

[mwp]

Batch VIII (or is that technically IIX?) - 72 hours post spawning, 4 days until hatching. 873 eggs remain! Eyes have shown up, although they are not yet "silvery".

FWIW,

MP

 

[Kathy55g]

You are getting into the swing of this! 50 is a good number of survivors! Congrats.

 

[mwp]

1-1-07, 11:00 PM - so I made a mistake and between 5-10 clownfish in Batch VI paid for it with their lives. Shortly after light's out, maybe 20-30 minutes, I looked into the tank and noticed ALL the clownfish squished up in the corner, many stuck to the intake of the Duetto power filter, even with the netting in place. I hadn't had a single one stuck or even come close to the filter all evening, so I assumed we were fine...

I've been running the power filter at the end of the tank "closest" to me since I placed it in...it hadn't caused any issues for the GBG juvies. However, this end of the tank is the end that receives the most ambient light, and the little clownfish are definitely still attracted to light. So, when the lights went out, all the baby clownfish swam over into the corner where the power filter was. Basically I had a bunch of percs constantly in the vicinity of the power filter, heck I'm sure they were practically TRYING to get into it!

I moved the filter to the back wall and "back end" of the tank in the hopes that no more clowns will get stuck tonight...so Batch VI is probably down to around 40 larvae now

FWIW,

Matt

 

[Kathy55g]

If you can figure a way to increase the surface area of the netting on your intake, you will decrease the point flow. In other words there won't be too much suction in any one place, and the babies will be less likely to get sucked up against it.

Maybe put your intake in a breeders net with frame. Or cut some holes in a plastic margarine or yogurt container, and put a nylon stocking around it, and fit that over the intake.

 

[mwp]

This morning I took a count of the DOA's...only 3 on the bottom, the rest seem to have recovered. No more stuck to the filter either. Kathy, the breeder net isn't a bad idea, but won't allow the GBG's to help clean up the clownfish leftovers...

Matt

 

[Kmiec123]

Matt, I used a large filter sponge and cut it in like 2x2x6 in piece and stuck my filer intake into it, just one of those hang on types. seems to work well. sorry for your loss, at least it's only three. hope this helps..Carl

 

[FishGuttz]

VIII is correct! Happy new year- MMVII. How many Juvies do you have in total?

You might want to call your fish- DalMATTians - since they have spots.

 

[mwp]

Fishguttz - apparently 46 from Batch VI, 3 from Batch III and 3 from Batch I.

Carl, the duetto doesn't have an "intake pipe" like many hang on the back filters, so the stick sponge on the intake method doesn't really apply. Doesn't seem to matter anyway...the problem was the placement of the filter in a place where they'd concentrate at night...moved the filter and didn't have any additional casualties or problems and don't foresee any in the near future...

Matt