Breeding Maroon Clowns

[afrayler]

Hey all, I have been a part of the forums for some time now however never really post anything I just read! I decided I would post up some info about a project of mine I am starting.

I work at a local fish store, and have had my 65g mixed reef since this past summer. At some point I need to do a thread on my mixed reef because I have had such a blast and so many learning experiences from it! Long story short we had a customer bring in a large female maroon due to him taking down his tank he had for years. It stayed in the shop for only a few days until I decided this fish needed a new home rather than a little cube... so I set up a 20g long with the idea of maybe breeding.

I have had her for about a month now, and waited until our owner could get me a wild caught baby. Yesterday that day came! I brought home the baby with a 10g back up tank just in case things went south and so far so good!

The female messed with it a few times in the first hour as I kept a close eye, then to my surprise started swimming with it all around the tank. I made some small areas with rocks in the tank where she could not fit and turned the lights off checking in every few hours to make sure things were ok and in the morning now they wont leave each others side.

I guess my question is after watching videos and reading it seems pairing and getting them to lay eggs isn't the challenge but rather keeping the babies alive... Does anyone have any insight on this from past experience and possible guidelines for me to follow? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[username in use]

Here's a good starting point http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=86

Also, for maroons you may want to step up to something like a 40breeder as their minimum tank size to help with aggression as the male matures. That's kind of a small tank for a pair of them, even if they are all that's in it.

 

[davocean]

I agree a bigger tank would be preferable.
Actually pairing maroons in particular can be challenging itself, an older larger female can easily kill a male very fast, so you got lucky so far.
As for breeding it is a lot of work, and that forum posted is good, also Joyce Wilkerson's book on clown fish is a really good read, but start w/ the forum since it's free.
Most pass on breeding when they learn what is really involved.