Breeding clown question

x0xvi3t

New member
I brought the setup and pair of breeding black onyx clown from this guy, which they lay eggs every week but when I brought home they don't lay anymore any suggestion on what I can do? It been almost a year now and same set up same water even the rock and stuff was from him. Please help thank
 
that is typical of clowns to stop breeding after being moved, some will stop completly and other may start again after they feel comfortable.

this is one reason why I will never fork out big money for a pair of breeding clowns, cause you don't know if they will continue to breed or just stop.
 
From what I read, it is based on whether or not they feel 'comfortable'. I assume water quality, the environment itself, tank mates, and feeding (quality and quantity) all may play a part in that. Are you following the same husbandry techniques as the previous owner to keep good water quality? Maybe check your feeding (quantity / quality vs what they were used to be fed from the previous owner)? I don't have a lot of experience breeding, but I personally would work to assure quality water and feed on the heavy side, while keeping my hands out of the tank as much as possible.
 
I pay lot money on it trying to do a breeding project I guess I have to continue waiting or should I feed them Viagra Lolz jk. Thank you for the help very appreciate, as for the clown the female get so big and fat almost twice the size of the male. When I got them it only a little bit bigger then the male do I over feed them?
 
maybe the male is no longer attracted to the female since she's let herself go... I've seen pairs that the female is MUCH larger. I don't think I'd worry too much about that. You might look into a healthy variety of foods.

And you could try your hand at pairing a new set too. It could take a year or two though.
 
If they spawn once, they will spawn again. The trick is to mimic the same water conditions the previous breeder used, SG, Temp, light schedule, food, feeding times, and decor.

I can't tell you how many "deals" I have picked up because a person bought a set of proven spawners from someone and could not get them to spawn. I got a set of Black Photons (Sanjay variety) this way for $150.

The longest I have ever waited for a pair to start spawning again is 6 months.

For my clowns, 84-86 degrees, lights on @ 0700 and off at 10:30. No tank mates, pot or tile, and no substrate. Feed 0700, 1600, 2000 and 2130.

Your mileage may vary.
 
If they spawn once, they will spawn again. The trick is to mimic the same water conditions the previous breeder used, SG, Temp, light schedule, food, feeding times, and decor.

I can't tell you how many "deals" I have picked up because a person bought a set of proven spawners from someone and could not get them to spawn. I got a set of Black Photons (Sanjay variety) this way for $150.

The longest I have ever waited for a pair to start spawning again is 6 months.

For my clowns, 84-86 degrees, lights on @ 0700 and off at 10:30. No tank mates, pot or tile, and no substrate. Feed 0700, 1600, 2000 and 2130.

Your mileage may vary.
Thank you for your help that info help me a lot thank you.

I just brought them the rose anemone for Christmas gift lol hope they like there new bed and breed for me soon I want to see some baby after Christmas. :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I have read mixed things about the anemone assisting with breeding. What's your water temp and salinity? You feeding 6 times a day? What are you feeding? How many hrs of light?
 
Probably not what you want to hear.

Probably not what you want to hear.

I brought the setup and pair of breeding black onyx clown from this guy, which they lay eggs every week but when I brought home they don't lay anymore any suggestion on what I can do? It been almost a year now and same set up same water even the rock and stuff was from him. Please help thank



Hello,

I'm not sure why the person that sold them to you told you they would spawn every week. Clowns will spawn and then tend the eggs for 7-10 days until they hatch depending on water temp (all my tanks are on 80F).

Then, typically they will hatch on the 8th or 9th day. After the hatch they will/should spawn again 6-10 days later, depending on nutrition and it doesn't take three feedings a day. So at best you will get a spawn every 14-16 days give or take. Please understand I'm not someone that's read a bunch of threads and am now trying to offing advice. I have raised many clutches of 2-4 hundred to selling size.

Keep in mind it's a lot of work feeding the larva, getting them through metamorphosis and having baby Clownfish. It is a rewarding feeling when you do it, start to finish.
 
Hello,

I'm not sure why the person that sold them to you told you they would spawn every week. Clowns will spawn and then tend the eggs for 7-10 days until they hatch depending on water temp (all my tanks are on 80F).

Then, typically they will hatch on the 8th or 9th day. After the hatch they will/should spawn again 6-10 days later, depending on nutrition and it doesn't take three feedings a day. So at best you will get a spawn every 14-16 days give or take. Please understand I'm not someone that's read a bunch of threads and am now trying to offing advice. I have raised many clutches of 2-4 hundred to selling size.

Keep in mind it's a lot of work feeding the larva, getting them through metamorphosis and having baby Clownfish. It is a rewarding feeling when you do it, start to finish.

Good catch Sport. I just assumed the term "every week" was to mean regular spawners.

However, the key, for me anyway, is consistency in the environment. Once they are happy, they will spawn.
 
Hi there most of my pairs I get are none breeding I get the at 1 or 2 yrs old cheaper , I bond them my self. Most of my pairs are each by themselves not even a cleaning crew .nem thats more work for you keeping the water to its liking .I keep my tanks at low salinity 1.16-1.17 my temp 84 the temp make them hyper low salinity helps them burn out their metabolism and get hungry often I feed small quantities but upto 4 to 6 times a day I feed them nls thera A+ brine shrimp w/sperilina & selcon 2 or 3 times a week .I dont go crazy buying 7 different type of food .and yes light cycle is very important
 
If you tape a photo of a pair of clowns tending to the eggs, it'll speed up the process.





NOT. Sorry, just tired of reading the nem hosting threads where people say that a photo of clowns being hosted by a nem helps to speed up that process. It doesn't. The only thing that works is patience. Same goes with breeding clowns. While many pairs are predictable, others are not. My Onyx pair lays eggs like clockwork, but my friend's snow Onyx lay only every so often. My pair are in my DT, his are in a dedicated tank with a clay pot. You'd expect that his conditions are far superior than mine, but my pair are far more productive.

I agree with the following:

1. Feed your pair a lot, a healthy, mixed diet is best. Keep the female fat so all she'll want to do is lay eggs. But not too fat where she's having trouble swimming or having movement issues laying eggs. I've seen females that can't build nice clutches because they're too fat. As a result the male has a harder time fertilizing the eggs.

2. Keep the tank away from anything that'll startle the fish. This means not having the tank in the garage where a car comes in and out. Or near a TV. Or in an area where kids can bang on the tank.

3. A nem is a nice to have, but not a requirement. However, since most nems (BTAs aside) require pristine water conditions, they are a good indicator of tank health. For example, magnifica will wander if nitrates are slightly elevated. Nems also provide a shelter -- assuming the pair have taken residence in the nem -- which gives the pair a sense of security.

4. Don't have any predators, or any fish that interfere with the pair's presence, in the tank. The clowns will use energy defending their territory and may focus on this more than laying eggs. This includes tangs. They have a way of meandering around live rock, picking algae off as they go, but they are also oblivious to the pair of clowns "trying to get it on".

5. Some clowns weren't meant to be parents. I've seen males not defend a nest, and I've seen females eat the clutch. Sometimes it just wasn't meant to be.

Good luck!
 
Back
Top