Breaking up a happy family :)

[Blitzburggirl]

So, about 3 years ago, I got a pair of picassos and a LTA from a fellow reefer. He'd had them together for a while. They are sooo happy together, and the clowns started laying eggs last spring. They are quite good at it, and very regular. I don't raise them, I just like to know they are there. Well, it's tank breakdown time, and, the picassos are being moved into my new tank.

As any reefer worth her salt, I want to play with nature, and would rather see my picassos in the gigantea that is living in my new tank.. alone. When is the best time to pull the clowns from their existing tank? I don't want to disrupt their little family any more than I have to.

1. Do I switch them between egg batches (this is what I'm leaning towards?)

2. Do I do it when there are eggs (probably easiest...)

3. Do I not need to even worry about it, the move will be disruptive enough that it doesn't make a sliver of difference?

Thank you for the thoughts!!

 

[hvacman250]

IMO, it wont matter. They will stop laying when you move them.

 

[davocean]

I agree it shouldn't really matter, but I don't know why anyone would think they would stop spawning just from a swap, mine have been through several, w/ new hosts each time, never stopped them from spawning.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Do it when it works best for you.

About 6 years ago I moved -- about an hour -- part of that move was my mated pair of Clarkiis (( since sold them )); they didn't miss a beat, spawned within a week of the move. Granted this pair would continue to spawn even when I was doing a water change, would even stop spawning for a second to grab some food, then go back.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Dbl post.

 

[Blitzburggirl]

That's wonderful to hear These guys are moving about 4 feet

 

[jbax]

i moved last july and mine laid 4 days before the move.:furious: i moved 10 mins away. well they ate the eggs and didn't lay till the first week of november. the new tank was aquascaped the same as the previous. they went straight to their home without a blinking a eye. but they are laying like clock work now. i wouldn't worry if they stop laying, they will come around.

 

[rssjsb]

My occelaris stopped spawning when I moved them, but it was only temporary. They're back to clockwork now.