My clowns(black and white ocellaris) have been laying eggs lately and they arent as orange as when my friends black and white's lay eggs. My clowns eggs are orange but not as orange kind of like a dullishh orange. What would cause this? Does it mean that the eggs aren't as fertile?
Clown egg question
- Thread starter Magga Pie
- Start date
WaffleWalffle22
Zoa Extreemist
When they're first laid they are orange, then the turn brown, the black, then silver. 
If they aren't doing that then they are probably unfertilized.
If they aren't doing that then they are probably unfertilized.
WaffleWalffle22
Zoa Extreemist
Is the male fanning and biting at them? If he's not doing that then they probably aren't fertilized.
Here's how my Black Occy's eggs looked when they were being laid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRSPxXpq31U
Yes the male is fanning and biting them. I know the first batch they laid the eggs where white then the next one was more orange and now this batch is orange also just not bright orange like I see in other people's pictures. I just checked on them to see if they are still there when I got home from work and they are. They laid probally over 300 eggs this time very tight nest bigger than a 50 cent piece.
WaffleWalffle22
Zoa Extreemist
What are you feeding your clowns and how often? Diet might affect the eggs.
Bananafish
Member
How long have they been laying eggs? Did any of these eggs ever hatch? This sounds like a nutrition problem. They should be the color of salmon roe and every one of them should hatch. You might get 1 or 2 dead eggs per clutch, but they should all be bright orange with a small whitish spot - the actual egg spot - visible on the free end as soon as they are laid.
I don't use pellets, but I use 2 kinds of flakes. One is all Spirulina, the other is Spirulina/Whitefish. Don't feed your fish brine shrimp - it's worthless. Feed them squid, clams, mysis, krill (dried or frozen), flounder, etc. You should also feed beef heart once a week if they are breeding. They need the astaxanthan, for good egg and sperm production.
I don't use pellets, but I use 2 kinds of flakes. One is all Spirulina, the other is Spirulina/Whitefish. Don't feed your fish brine shrimp - it's worthless. Feed them squid, clams, mysis, krill (dried or frozen), flounder, etc. You should also feed beef heart once a week if they are breeding. They need the astaxanthan, for good egg and sperm production.
They just started laying eggs a month and a half ago. The first 2 batches didnt seem like they where fertilized enough by the male since the eggs where white. Then the next batch they where better color wise and where eaten the following day. This batch of eggs have lasted 5 days and are now a greyish/silverish color
WaffleWalffle22
Zoa Extreemist
Brine shrimp is like cotton candy of the fish world. Feed your clowns beef heart for the astaxanthan and drop brine shrimp. I feed my clowns squid, Rod's Original Blend, spirulina enhanced brine (not very often), live brine shrimp (rarely), and mysis shrimp. I supplement amino acids in their foods twice per week.
Bananafish
Member
Sounds like the eggs you have now are on track. At 80F, they should hatch on the night of day 7. That day, you'll see VERY reflective eyes staring at you, and the fry will be restless in their egg casings. You may be right about the first two runs -- it takes them awhile to figure out how to get it right. After about a year, my female started taking care of the eggs, too. Gives the male a chance to eat
Take our advice on feeding, though (mine and Waffle's) and you'll get better quality eggs every time. If you have any plans on raising the babies, you need to start with good eggs. I breed clowns, and sometimes I just let them go if the eggs don't look right.
WaffleWalffle22
Zoa Extreemist
Sounds like the eggs you have now are on track. At 80F, they should hatch on the night of day 7. That day, you'll see VERY reflective eyes staring at you, and the fry will be restless in their egg casings. You may be right about the first two runs -- it takes them awhile to figure out how to get it right. After about a year, my female started taking care of the eggs, too. Gives the male a chance to eat
Take our advice on feeding, though (mine and Waffle's) and you'll get better quality eggs every time. If you have any plans on raising the babies, you need to start with good eggs. I breed clowns, and sometimes I just let them go if the eggs don't look right.
Everyone's experience with mating pairs of clowns will differ depending on the clowns' personalities. My pair's eggs hatch every 8-10 days at 80F-82F and my male is a slacker so the female has to take care of the eggs 50% of the time. When it's feeding time both of my clowns leave their clutch of eggs for more than two or three minutes to eat. My pair of clowns lay their eggs upside-down at midnight when the room is pitch black. My clowns are wild caught which could explain their jankiness. :lolspin:
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