Attempting to breed clownfish - log

[billsreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13414237#post13414237 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by james37128
In the breeding industry are mis-bars a good thing or a bad thing?

The marketers have learned that coining some "cool" name for some pattern or another of misbars can get Joe Aquarist to spend crazy money on what would have otherwise been a cull.

 

[FB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13414435#post13414435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rkelman
Misbars are a sign of bad water quality / food.

I don't know if I agree with that. I am sure that it can assist in the development of mis-bars but I don't think you can say outright that it is poor water quality.

I have been keeping notes on conditions of my misbars and I have an assumption that it might have somthing to do with growth rates. I am sure our larvae get a lot more food from us than they would in the wild. I would also bet our growth rates are much faster than they are in the wild. I believe that they develop faster than their intended growth rates and this causes certain steps to be skipped. Of course this is completely a guess as I have no way of proving it.

FB

 

[FB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13413834#post13413834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marisol
Thanks for a very engaging thread- keeping me on the edge of my seat.

You are one busy guy! (and will soon be busier!). Congratulations on some great detective work, and sharing the trials and tribulations with all of us.

My general questions is on the breeding patterns in nature. I know your breeders are healthy- you have been taking good care of them... but it's only one pair spawning every 2 weeks- how long can they go on like that, and stay healthy? Does the egg quality change after time?

Also, are you doing anything to encourage your GSMs? Raising temp, extra feeding, etc?

Thanks again...

Thanks for you kind words.

Yes I only currently have 1 pair spawning. I have not idea how long they will do so for. I do know I bought my fish as juvenilles so they are still pretty young.

The only thing I am doing with my GSM's is heavy feeding. The temp is constant. They are currently in a 10 gallon tank, so I'm not sure if it is big enough for them to be comfortable.

FB

 

[rkelman]

"I don't think you can say outright that it is poor water quality."

No I think its food too Not just larvae food. Broodstock health I think has alot to do with it.

 

[FB]

I may have to let this next batch go although I don't want to.

My phtyo culture seems to be coming back but I had to stop feeding my rots and now all three of my cultures are pretty much dormant. Does anybody know what I can feed the rots until I get my phyto back.

Also my wife is overdue on the baby front so that could happen anytime. So my life is going to get much busier very soon. I am taking 6 weeks parental leave with topup from work so I'm sure I may have some time to get my system going.

I've got enough to supply my current customer for a couple of months which is good. However I am going to have to find another customer or I may be only rearing 1 batch per month.

Later

FB

 

[FB]

Just talked to my buyer. He showed the fish to his wholesaler. The wholesaler said they are nice fish but he needs them bigger. The price would be $5.00/fish.

FB

 

[subman719]

FB- What if you were to use those "algae pastes" in lou of growing live cultures? From what I've read, they are a great substitute for live cultures or temp replacement in case of a crash . I'm using them because I don't want the hassle of having to grow yet one more thing. I've been checking my Rots under a microscope and they are eating it. I obviously can't give any "success story" yet but it might be something worth looking into. Just a thought.

 

[FB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13423355#post13423355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by subman719
FB- What if you were to use those "algae pastes" in lou of growing live cultures? From what I've read, they are a great substitute for live cultures or temp replacement in case of a crash . I'm using them because I don't want the hassle of having to grow yet one more thing. I've been checking my Rots under a microscope and they are eating it. I obviously can't give any "success story" yet but it might be something worth looking into. Just a thought.

I have been debating this for some time. It is a lot harder to get this kind of stuff in a cost effective manner in Canada. Someone is selling a full bottle 2nd hand for $65.00 but it expires in Dec 08.

EDIT: I just found a supplier of Reed Instant Algae. I think I will order some!

 

[subman719]

Reed is one of the ones I know of (have a bottle of "Phyto Feast") but mainly have been using the Nonnochloropsis Paste made by FAF but I got it from Seahorse Source. Abby is great and does whatever she can to make it most cost effective. Just a couple more options to chose from. So far my Rot cultures are healthy and successful. No "crashes" that I can see.

 

[FB]

Since I will mainly be using it for feeding rotifers should I get the Nannochloropsis or the Rotifer Dietâ"žÂ¢ HD.

The Nanno is $87.41 CDN and the Rotifer Diet is $83.65 CDN. So not much of a difference in price.

I would love to hear from other who have used both these products.

Thanks

FB

 

[subman719]

I use the Nannochloropsis because that is what was recommended to me for enrichment for clowns. It is also what my Rots were shipped in. I don't know about the "Rotifer Diet" but it sounds like its a special formulation for them. Maybe call the company and ask for advice.

 

[dazed]

FB; a couple of weeks back my phyto cultures either got contaminated with rotifers or just flat out stopped growing. I bubbled one container for almost a month and it still did not really green up. One went from green to clear to green again but it stayed very light in color; So i placed a call to reed and talked with them about what i was doing and they suggested to use their Rotifer Diet. Which is Nannochlopsis and it is a super concentrated product. I have been feeding my rot's with this stuff for a while now and they seem to be just fine. I have actually stopped growing my own phyto due to the fact that whatever i tried i could not get my cultures of phyto to come any where near the density of the rotifer diet. I have been using just 2ml for each 5g rot tank and that's it. It's so simple to use; pull it out of the fridge, feed, and your done. No more splitting etc etc.

 

[rkelman]

FB Talk to Hubert at Reefaquatica.com. He'll hook you up. I deal with him often and he's great and I've been more than satisfied with all the products I've bought from him. He's also a breeder so he knows what works and what doesn't.

 

[FB]

It was reefaquatica that I saw carried the stuff.

I'm really thinking about going that direction.

FB

 

[Lifes A Beach]

I've been using Instant Algae for several months now and I give it an A+. It is so much easier than trying to culture your own phyto. With all we have to do with raising fry, it's one less thing to worry about. If you don't have green water, you won't have rotifers, and then of course no fry.

I buy the quart bottle of the Nanno 3600 which is the super concentrated nanno. A quart will go a long way. I split it up into 2 oz. plastic containers that I put in the freezer. When I'm ready for more, I just take it out of the freezer, let it thaw in the frig, and then I add RO/DI water to it. Basically, I use 1 tsp. per cup of water (more or less depending on how green you want the water). Then I feed this to the rots twice a day.

You can't beat how easy it is. And you'll never have to worry about a phyto crash. Go for it!!!

--Barbara
:fish1:

 

[rkelman]

I plan on doing that as well. I'm just trying to get some more sales in before I put too much more out. I'm not getting the growth rate you are I don't think. I've upped my feedings now. Hopefully that helps.

 

[FB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13426634#post13426634 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rkelman
I plan on doing that as well. I'm just trying to get some more sales in before I put too much more out. I'm not getting the growth rate you are I don't think. I've upped my feedings now. Hopefully that helps.

You may be getting the same growth rate. Every other store I have talked too wants them bigger. Which is fine, I don't plan to keep selling them at current size.

FB

 

[FB]

Well I just got a really good deal on some breeding clowns.

3 Pair of Occelairs clowns that have been breeding for a while. A breeder is getting out of the business. I'm getting three of the tanks they are breeding in with bulkheads and flowerpots. Plus a full bottle of Reeds Nanno 3600 all for $350.00.

Seemed like a pretty good deal to me. Now I just have to get my system setup.

FB

 

[rkelman]

Thats a great deal. I know where you got it too.

 

[FB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13431910#post13431910 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rkelman
Thats a great deal. I know where you got it too.

I'm sure you do