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

[mwp]

Well, the clowns in Batch VIII are 6 days old. I'm up late, finally had some time to get them their desperately deserved water change. 7 or 8 gallons came out, approximately 2 are going back in.

What's interesting to me is that this evening, before I started draining water, I tossed in some more Otohime A and watched...I'm pretty sure that they're already starting to figure out that it's FOOD I set up my brine shrimp hatchers (will have baby brine by Sunday morning) as a backup, but for now, I'm sticking with the "Otohime Only" trial run - I asked around in another thread and got some interesting answers - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1016811

G'nite!

Matt

 

[mwp]

This morning things are going fine with Batch VIII - threw in Oto A and they started taking it down - they're only 6.5 days post hatch! I did add some L-Strain rots that had been selcon enriched overnight as well. And I forgot to add the Brine Shrimp eggs last night, so oh well...guess I'm adding them now and will have BBS tomorrow afternoon For now, I'm foregoing adding any phytoplankton to the larval tank today...we'll see how they fair. The water change last night didn't do much to help the Ammonia level, so another water change is going to be done today...I know they can tolerate some ammonia during metamorphosis, but I'm hoping that I can keep that minimized...who knows how metamorphosis conditions can affect 2nd stripe development (which won't be happening for a month or more).

FWIW,

Matt

 

[Elmo18]

Hi Matt!

Oh my, I missed your Green banded goby thread!??! Those guys are awesome! Did you document them in a thread, or am is my eyesight getting worst..hehe

Love this thread. Keep it going! When are you seeing a little bit of black start to show between the first and second white stripes?

I'm on Day 4 of a half onyx pair, and it's fun to see them grow.

Best,
Ilham

 

[xfury]

I know i am a few days behind times but I can only read so many threads a day before my eyes bleed.... anyway
Kudos on your 1100+ lay... I hope they all survive. lol

 

[mwp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8971797#post8971797 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elmo18
Hi Matt!

Oh my, I missed your Green banded goby thread!??! Those guys are awesome! Did you document them in a thread, or am is my eyesight getting worst..heheIlham

Ilham, just for you (and anyone else who's interested) -> http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=844416

Today has been a fun day with the baby clownfish...rescued "Ghoststriper" from the filtration system of the 6 gallon cube, did another water change on the larval tank for Batch VIII, gave them Oto and more L-Strain Rotifers etc. What was MOST surprising to me was how quickly the attacked and devoured every last Tiggerpod that happened to make it's way into the larval tank with the L-Strain rots. The pounded them with extreme eagerness!

The other news...this afternoon while viewing them from above I could see the headstripes forming

Matt

 

[Kathy55g]

Ah, headstripes. A wonderful thing....A milestone achieved.

 

[mwp]

Batch I - just a quick BTW before I hit the sack...I noticed today that on the larger 2 in Batch I, the black is now fully in place on the tail and anal fin...I gotta post some new pics (They're now around 105 days old I think?) Also, I want to say they're around 1"+ TL.

FWIW,

Matt

 

[mwp]

So I need to update the last 48 hours of Batch VIII, now 9 days old - yesterday I gave them some BBS, considering I have a ton of it hatched. They also got Selcon Enriched BBS Monday morning, and once more Monday Evening, in addition to Otohime A.

One again as they've grown up it looks like their numbers are thinning out...maybe 75 or so running around at this point. 2/3 probably have headstripes and are fully through meta...the rest should follow through in the next 48 hours or so I think. Water quality remains sub-par, so before I go to bed tonight they're getting another water change I think

Matt

 

[Cosmo^Kramer]

Matt.I just want to thank you and the other breeders for all this info your sharing.Congrats on TOTM,POTM and getting ingaged
I was just wondering if any of you have tried oyster eggs to feed the fry.I use it to feed my SPS,but it does seem to get the fish into a feeding mode.I was curious to see if it would be a good first food.

 

[mwp]

Thanks Cosmo!

I'd think Oyster eggs would spoil really quickly in the larval tank? Rotifers have that "movement" thing going for them as well. Granted, some folks have done some experimenting with non-live first foods for clownfish and there have been mixed results. In the end, I think the best response is "Anyone Else Try This Yet?"

Matt

 

[mwp]

A quick round of larval updates this evening:

Batch I - 109 days old, I need to post some pics

Batch III - 82 day old - "Ditto" on the pics.

Batch VI - 36 days old - There's a BIG size range in this group now. Probably 5 to 10 cullable fish, the rest look really good. They'll eat anything. Still only ONE that has black on the pelvic fins, and no 2nd stripes at this time. I'm trying to feed more often and paying more close attention to the condition of the smaller juvies...too often they look "thin" compared to the largest 75%. I've been giving them brine nauplii AFTER regular feedings in case any of the bottom 25% are not really enjoying the other foods being offered (and thus not eating well / staying smaller and thin).

Batch VIII - 11 days old, virtually all have headstripes. The fish ALWAYS seem to look like crap at this stage, i.e. they look disfigured...I'm getting used to seeing that now and worrying less about it I've been sticking with Oto A at least 2X per day, pluse 1 or 2 feedings of Selcon enriched Brine Nauplii (just 'cause it's around). I also gave them Cyclops / Cyclopeze with a bit of selcon mixed in twice today...at both times they hammered it.

Water changes are in the forecast...

over and out for now.

Matt

 

[mwp]

Oops, forgot one thing:

Batch IX - 6+ days since being laid, they should hatch tonight, Thursday night, their 7th night. Currently the larval tanks are full, so this batch is most likely going to be FISH FOOD...I have my hands full. Expect to hear about many more spawns going by the wayside in the coming months.

BTW, one thing I'm thinking about doing is now turning DOWN my heater...I know that if the tank runs at 83-84F I get the 7 day hatch and they all go on the same day (remember earlier batches were hatching over 2 nights). I don't want to burn out the pair, having them spawn like crazy only to let the babies go, so I think I can slow everything down by simply bringing the temp back down around 79-81F.

FWIW,

Matt

 

[EMBRYOGUY]

thanks for update matt! since our clowns hatch/lay almost the same time, its good to compare. my babies which parrallel to your 36 day olds, a few have white "spots" markings in the second bar region. if you look closely yours prob do also. you can almost see how the orange/red is more faint in that area, which is a sign the 2nd band is about to push thru.

anyway, thanks for the update!. im expecting a hatch tonight (day 8 ) or tom. i assume thats the same for you?

 

[mwp]

Mine are definitely going to hatch tonight...

Matt

 

[mwp]

More Pictures - Batch I and III, 109 and 82 days respectively.

left to right - Longstripe, rightside, Batch III; Stripey, left side, Batch I; Runty, left side, Batch I

Stripey, head-on, Batch I

Top - Runty, rightside, Batch I - Bottom - Runty Jr., rightside, Batch III

Stripey, rightside, Batch I

Ghoststripe, leftside, Batch III

Ghoststripe, rightside, Batch III, Runty, rightside, Batch I

Spotty, leftside, Batch I

FWIW,

Matt

 

[xfury]

Looking great Matt. Keep it up.

 

[SkiFletch]

WOW, so I just read through all 19 pages and I must say Matt, your dedication is mind boggling and astounding at the same time! Your focus and love for breeding fish is inspiring, thank you :thumbsup:

 

[Kathy55g]

I always enjoy such nice pix.

 

[Elmo18]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9018316#post9018316 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kathy55g
I always enjoy such nice pix.

I agree Kathy! Keep it up Matt. I'm on Day 9 on mine right now....hope I have the same luck as you do.

Best,
Ilham

 

[mwp]

Josh, Mike, Kathy, Ilham - THANKS

So the updates are pretty quick. Yesterday both larval tanks got large water changes (60 to 75%). I added in a huge clump of red gracilaria to the larval tank holding Batch VIII. Ammonia levels in both tanks seem under control for the moment. Batch VIII is eating anything I throw into the tank at this point.

Batch IX - hatched on cue last night after lights out. Didn't collect the larvae, and I'm sorry to say I completely forgot to take a picture of the nest before hatching (to get a count to see what kind of loss we had during the incubation period of 7 days). Woulda Shoulda Coulda but just plain out FORGOT! RATS!

FWIW,

Matt