Breeding Clowns

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Here's a pic of the female in the anemone.....
 
I had my pair for 5 years before they spawned. (Of course, lucky for me, I wasn't trying to get them to spawn and one day I just got lucky!). After I'd had them about a year, they adopted a bunch of 'hairy' mushrooms, but it wasn't until four years later, when I put some more hairy 'shrooms in the tank that they laid their first batch - still within the original site, but I'm sure the coral addition was what prompted it. Since they don't have the option of swimming from site to site until they find what they want, it seems like it could be tricky to get them to go for a compromise. Mine took a full year to adopt the 'shrooms. I think their behavior with the anemone is a good sign. It might just take a little while longer.
 
Wow, 4 more years.... lets hope not, they seem happy... I'm just stoked that they finally went to the anemone....
 
Sometimes a large water change triggers a spawn. I had my ocellaris 4 years, and the previous owner had them 2 years, no spawns.

I added a 210 to my main system with new SW, and that acted like a large water change (total volume with the 210 is 1200g). Within a week they started spawning and are on an 18 day cycle ever since (7 days for the eggs to hatch, 11 days later they lay a new clutch).. You could now set your watch to it (on the 11th day they start spawning 2 hours after lights go on)..
 
Well, I just had my first nest laid yesterday. My clowns were a pair and I was feeding heavy, in their own tank, but weren't doing anything. the water is kept at 78 and lighting is 12 hours.
I put moonlighting over the tank a week ago. Maybe just a coincidence. I have three pairs, Perc, Osc, and gold banded. I hope to be very busy soon!
 
My pair began laying eggs this month after a year of heavy feeding. That is the only thing I did. Same lighting, same temp.

Their spawning site is the busiest corner of the tank. They first laid eggs the weekend of my daughters' slumber party. 5 girls dancing to loud music in the room with the display tank. The spawning corner is right next to the hallway that everyone uses to go upstairs, downstairs, in, or out of the house. So much for stability and quiet....I think when they are ready, they are ready.
 
Depends on the pair, too, I think. Mine have often spawned while i am cleaning the tank, taking pictures, running video, vacuuming in front of the tank... whatever. The only thing that stops them is if I walk up to the tank, they check to see if I have food. :)
 
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