Another clownfish breeding thread

[svynx]

This is the second batch of eggs/fry that I have seen in my tank. The first batch I saw got me studying up on the subject. With all the information, I think I went into info overload and backed off. Now with the second batch my curiosity has gotten the better of me. I did more research on rot cultures and how to raise them. Correct me if I am wrong (trying to regurgitate info):
3-5 gallon bucket about 3/4 full
air stone to make water look like it's about to boil
Instant Algae for food
salinity around .018
feed 2 times per day, with harvesting about 1/3 every day after about 3 days from initial startup
When harvesting, turn off airstone, let sit for a few min, and skim the surface. Put skimmed material directly into fry tank.

I will be putting the eggs (once I get the parents to lay them on a tile and not my back wall) in a 20 gallon long since I have one laying around. I plan on wrapping with with something to keep it as dark as possible. I also have a cheap HOB skimmer...figure something is better than nothing. I'll put some sort of sponge filter on the intake. I do know to keep an airstone bubbling on the eggs. Here are some questions I have. I know I've seen the answers before, but the though of reading another 80 pages to find it hurts my eyes.

When do I start feeding the rots to the fry tank?
About how long/times per day do I feed the rots?
I'm assuming I need to also start a brine shrimp culture that is gut loaded with rots. I guess this question plays into the last one...is there a fry size requirement before feeding the BBS? Is there a better after rot food?
Water changes are a requirement. Would 20% daily be sufficient?
What should my salinity for both the fry tank and the BBS culture be at?


I think that's it for now. I'm trying to get all the information in one place so when I actually go through with this, I don't have to spend a lot of time searching for it.


Just thought of something. I could take my frag tank that I have attached to my main system and make it the growout tank for the fish. I would just have to add a sponge filter to the overflow. Going this road will greatly help on water quality of the fry tank.

 

[svynx]

Found this. I'll put it on here for future referance:

Two very good books to get if you don't have them (both talk about feeding timelines.

Conditioning, Spawning & Rearing of Fish with Emphasis on Marine Clownfish by Frank H. Hoff

Rots (50-150um) Day 0-10
Dry Food (50-100um) Day 3-12
Artemia (300-400um) Day 5-15
Dry Food (100-200um) Day 8-15
Krill Meal (100-200um) Day 8-16
Dry Pellets (100-600um) Day 11-30


Clownfishes Joyce D. Wilkerson

Rots Day 0-12
Artemia Day 8-12
Pulverized Flake food Day 8-12

This is just a quick summary from a couple of charts. I'd picke up these books, great info!

Steve

 

[Mike in AZ]

I'm pretty sure having a skimmer in the fry tank is going pull out a very large number of rotifers and probably some clownfish fry as well. From everything I've read on this board most just use airstones and slight, careful water changes, but no skimmer.

 

[phil519]

svynx - funny avatar and i am a fan of mythbusters too! :bounce3:

Given the fact that the eggs are already developing and you do not have a way of transferring the eggs (and you do not have any rotifers set up yet) - you may want to just use this batch to practice "catching" them - since you will need to do this as soon as dusk falls and they do their thing (after the batch has turned the "silvery" color).

But if you decide to jump in - you should first get yourself the wilkerson book on clownfish. Also the chart you posted does not distinguish what type of clownfish (you also fail to mention). According to wilkerson the type of food needed and when differs depending on the fish. All require Rotifers initially but after that the species will dictate when to move off of rots.

Also I don't believe artemia eat rots. You cannot gut-load them with rots. You really don't need to do anything with the bbs since as babies they are extremely nutritious already. Adult brine is popcorn.

finally do not use a skimmer - you want a gentle bubbler in the fry tank. Get an ammonia badge and do lots of water changes. This post could go and on...the bottom line - get wilkerson's book! Then check out the other black clown thread on there - the guy is raising hundreds of clowns.

Edit: just saw your sig and see that you have two oscellaris. Days 0~3 for rots and then consider going with bbs or a larvae food like orhime (spelling) from reeds mariculture. After day 3 rots can still be eaten but it's a net neutral in terms of energy expended to capture the food.

 

[reefstew]

Don't boil the water as far as airating the rotifers, just a constant stream of bubbles with a rigid airline tube. You need green water in the fry tank & also keep your rotifers well feed. No filtration in the fry tank, just do water changes. And most important, buy the 2 books mentioned on breeding clownfish & read them.

 

[svynx]

Will do. Thanks everyone

 

[blueshroom55]

Sorry to jump in so late. I have a book - The Complete Breeders Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes by Matthew L. Wittenrich that was published in 2007. It's my only decent breeding reference and I should be expanding my library. Can any of you compare this one to the two referenced?

 

[reefstew]

I have Matt Wittenrichs book & it is very good for a wide range of different fish. I also have Frank Hoffs book, Conditioning, Spawning & rearing of Fish with emphasis on marine clownfish. Franks book is a blueprint from start to finish with all the details .

 

[blueshroom55]

Thanks Reefstew. I'll add it to my growing library.