Breeding clowns?

[ag09g]

I bought a pair of baby ocellaris clowns about 2.5 years ago. They were in the same tank when I bought them, and have not left each others sides since then. One has gotten clearly bigger than the other, and the tiny little boy submits to his wife always (as it should be :lolspin.

They havent ever laid eggs or anything though. Are they still maturing? Or do some just never spawn? I really want to see some mating behaviors and clownfish eggs one day!

 

[seamonkey84]

I don't have personal experience yet, but from what I've read, to get them to spawn you should fatten them up with a variety of high quality food 2-3 times a day, and make sure the temp is 80-82F. If they are comfortable in your tank, and are properly conditioned, they will spawn. Not always the case though, and be careful with water quality with increased feeding. Also if they do start spawning, they will prob be alot more aggressive towards other tank mates.

 

[ag09g]

If the tank is less than 80 degrees will they not spawn?? So at this age, if conditions were right they could have theoretically spawned by now?

 

[Tmoriarty]

My female is less then 2 years old and has laid her first clutch of eggs, I keep my tank at 80-81. Having aggressive tank mates or poor water quality will decrease the chance for a spawn.

A male can fertilize eggs far earlier than a female will lay them and can potentially start fertilizing eggs at around 6 months + (from a large breeder in my area).

Also if your avatar picture is in your tank, they will probably never spawn

 

[ag09g]

Haha nooo I have five different tanks and definitely don't have a lion in with my little clowns!!
They're in a reef tank with near Perfect water. Tank mates are a hamlet and Molly miller blenny...

 

[ag09g]

I'm pretty sure water temp is running at 78ish though

 

[seamonkey84]

Temperature does have a big role in it, as does food quality/quantity, and size from what I'm told, as having lots of small particles to feast on means more food for fry. Many things can stimulate spawning, but it comes down to the stability of the environment and ultimately the fish themselves.
Then other silly things can keep them from spawning. I don't remember who, but they said that their fish (that were previously spawning like clockwork) stopped spawning when they moved a chair that was once in front of the tank, and didn't start again till the chair was put back.

 

[BigCountry74]

is there a proper place for her to lay the eggs? flat rock? rock cave? etc.

 

[BigCountry74]

Then other silly things can keep them from spawning. I don't remember who, but they said that their fish (that were previously spawning like clockwork) stopped spawning when they moved a chair that was once in front of the tank, and didn't start again till the chair was put back.

haha thats awesome

 

[ag09g]

BigCountry (or anything else who knows more about this than me) I took some pictures of the tank to show the rocks that are available, let me know whether they look good or not.
Also try to avert your eyes from the horrible cyano/algae issues :O

i took several pictures because the clowns hang out in three different areas. It used to be largely in the hairy mushroom at the bottom, but today theyve been around the frogspawn and the two mushrooms at the top, so ill show you each of these spots.

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[Tmoriarty]

There are spots, clowns will lay on the glass if they really want to.

Some advice I have gotten from breeders is to increase the light cycle (longer hours represent spring/summer when they usually breed) increase temperature 81-84 degrees (hotter temps represent warmer waters) and possibly decrease salinity (lower salinitys represent an influx of rain water to the coastal reef zones. Also increase feeding, fat clowns are more willing to lay eggs .

Hope that helps.

 

[ag09g]

Ya the temp is around 76 so I think im gonna add a heater and see if I cant get that up a bit!
How long of a light cycle would you say? Or would it just need to be longer than now because its all relative to the fish?