Clownfish food

[Pearfish]

I decided to breed clownfish. I picked up a pair at the lfs (proven pair) and had them for about three weeks. They are very finicky. All they seem to eat is pellet food. (New life spectrum, Sustainable aquatics hatchery pellets. Etc) they don't like frozen mysis, they pick at lrs fish frenzy. The only frozen they eat is brine shrimp but the nutritional value isnt there... Any suggestions? Maybe seachem garlic gaurd?

I also see little white strings on the ground. Like 1/2 inch long. Could this be parasites? Was considering treating prazipro. Just in case. Pls help.

 

[ThRoewer]

I had the same problem with one of my pairs.
The solution is a bit of tough love - just feed Mysis. If they don't eat they will go hungry. After a day or two the hunger will get them to eat.
Sometimes it is also required to find out which brand or which size they prefer. Mine didn't like the Hikkari blister packed Mysis but take the San Francisco Bay brand and the Hikkari pound plates (they are smaller).

Another factor is if they are alone or have some competition. Competition usually helps to get them go after food less hesitant.

 

[koko maung]

May I know why aren't you happy with them eating pellets?

 

[Pearfish]

They are alone.

I want them to eat a variety of nutritious food so they feel lije they could breed

 

[Pearfish]

Will the pellets be sufficient enough nutrition for them to breed if i have a variety. I miggt go with plan b... Feed them frozen until they are hungry enough to just eat it.

 

[Ginger bay]

Not sure if any pellet food is nutritious enough for spawning clownfishes. Variety in meat protein desireable.

 

[Code4]

Mine eat pellets, as a treat. They also eat black worms three times a week. Their normal diet is fresh clams and oysters. Sometimes I add mussels also. I freeze them, then chop them up and freeze them into small ice cubes. I pop them into a freezer container for easy use. Good luck with your breeding program.

Shelley

 

[Pearfish]

Thank you i have been meaning to pick up squid and clams at supermarket and prep them for freezer.
For some reason they only eat the small particles... Is this normal?If its small they will consume it but the larger pieces they let fall and /or spit out. So as a solution i took a cheese grater to the lrs fish frenzy amd fed it to them they ate every bite.
I fed them mosquito larvae today and they went crazy for it.
I also am going to try cyclop eeze.
Lastly i found out to feed them real slow and they seem to be more enticed to eat.

About the parasite problem i might treat for it because the white droppings are still there. If they don't hang from the clownfish is it not parasites? Any reason the poop is white?

 

[Code4]

Do not know about parasites. But yes, they like small pieces. And I feed mine slowly also. They are like nobleman with dainty table manners. :beer: Mine will almost jump out of the water when they see my long baster bringing their food. :celeb2: My male, Jackson, also enjoys eating baby brine shrimp from a feeder that I use to feed my mandarins. By the way, my male mandarin started to eat small pieces of clams on his own. Unexpectedly I must add.

Shelley

 

[Pearfish]

One quick question off topic of this thread. The pair i just got (only pair) is a proven pair (already spawned together). I have had them for about 2 or 3 weeks. How long until they spawn againin my tank?
My friend got his new ORA pair on may 28 and the just spawned today. (kind of jealous)
My water parameters are perfect.
Salinity 1.021
16 hr photoperiod
28.3°C

 

[Pearfish]

Tank is going through diatom is this a problem. Also it's a fairly new tank. (3-4 months)

 

[Amoo]

I feed Thera A and have a spawning pair of Picasso. I don't feed anything else except some reef chilli every now and then for the other stuff in the tank. I haven't even fed my 3 Nems in a few months as they're a size I'm happy with.

So the "myth" that clownfish will not spawn on only pellets is simply a myth IMO.

 

[Reeferside]

I make my own mixture and my fish love it. On a side note, my clown seems to eat everything though..

Go to your local supermarket and buy a variety of seafood. Scallop, shrimp, clams.. etc.

Blend it/chop into fine pieces and add some garlic oil. Since I have tangs, I add some shredded nori.

I then add selcon, some rodi, and Vit. C. Pour into a ziploc bag and freeze.

 

[ThRoewer]

In the wild the diet of clownfish is composed of copepods, small fish eggs, fish and shrimp larva, small shrimp and all kind of zoo-plankton that may drift by their anemone. They also graze algae around the foot of their anemone.

The best foods for clownfish are Cyclops and other copepods, ideally saltwater species but freshwater is ok too. The more red the better. Mysis is another good food. If frozen ocean plankton is available I would definitely feed that too.
Clownfish also need some algae in their diet.

Scallops, clams and squid are normally not on the menu of clownfish in the wild and shouldn't make the bulk of the feeding.

Garlic is something that shouldn't be in the regular food as it can cause liver damage in fish.

 

[ThRoewer]

...
So the "myth" that clownfish will not spawn on only pellets is simply a myth IMO.

Spawning is not the issue - they may spawn even if only fed flakes.
The issue is egg and larva quality. Any food that provides the right nutrition will do fine.

As for getting them to spawn more quickly, I found live foods to be effective.
Anything that causes excitement - food or other fish will get them going faster.
A pair that lives in a dull environment or is bored all the time is less likely to spawn in my experience.

 

[Amoo]

Spawning is not the issue - they may spawn even if only fed flakes.
The issue is egg and larva quality. Any food that provides the right nutrition will do fine.

As for getting them to spawn more quickly, I found live foods to be effective.
Anything that causes excitement - food or other fish will get them going faster.
A pair that lives in a dull environment or is bored all the time is less likely to spawn in my experience.

I think we have a similar mindset here, but feel it's worth clarifying since the guy is trying to learn.

The key in what you said is "any food that provides the right nutrition". I look at fish food similar to dog food (wife and I own a vet clinic). Sure you can feed your dog pedigree and think you're providing this great food (Known as Tetra Pellets in the fish world ), but the reality is you're either loading your dog up with things they don't need or things with little nutritional value (similar to iceburg lettuce for humans).

I don't feel there is any denying the closer we can get to feeding our animals what they eat in the wild, the better off we will be. This is true, but oftentimes people mistake an "all natural" diet with one full of all the nutritional value our animals need.

There are very few dog food companies I trust, and similarly there are very few fish food companies I trust. In my experience and research Thera A is a product worthy of my money. My last clutch of eggs was probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 (2nd clutch) and I haven't tried to rear any yet as I don't have the time due to a bathroom remodel.

Now that we have a true reason and not a suspected reason for the question I feel we can better answer it.

The pair i just got (only pair) is a proven pair (already spawned together). I have had them for about 2 or 3 weeks. How long until they spawn again in my tank?

The reality here is, when they're ready. Tank Params, Temp, food quantity, food quality, environment (including the smallest changes), stimulation...etc are all factors. Give your fish time to settle in, adjust to their environment, make sure you've got all your ducks in a row and chances are in your favor.

 

[Pearfish]

Ok thanks. Like stated above i do feed them nls with lrs fish frenzy. I does makes sense about when they are ready. Ill change diet a little try more live food(mosquito larvae, brine shrimp) and give it time thanks all for the help. Still fairly new to the marine breeding world.

 

[Pearfish]

The best foods for clownfish are Cyclops and other copepods, ideally saltwater species but freshwater is ok too. The more red the better. Mysis is another good food. If frozen ocean plankton is available I would definitely feed that too.
Clownfish also need some algae in their diet.

What brand of cyclops. I just found out cyclop eeze is no longer available. My lfs has some older freeze dried cyclop eeze but people say the freeze dried sucks.

 

[Pearfish]

Also im going to treat the clownfish for parasites... Will this interfere with the breeding? Treating with prazi pro and then removing medicine with chemi clear. I kno thwy haven't spawned yet but if they are close will it ruin the process?

 

[ThRoewer]

What brand of cyclops. I just found out cyclop eeze is no longer available. My lfs has some older freeze dried cyclop eeze but people say the freeze dried sucks.

Other Cyclops should be fine too.

Also im going to treat the clownfish for parasites... Will this interfere with the breeding? Treating with prazi pro and then removing medicine with chemi clear. I kno thwy haven't spawned yet but if they are close will it ruin the process?

I would not expect any fish to spawn while in treatment.
How soon they may start spawning also depends on size and age and if you have a bonded pair or a newly mated. Believe it or not, but sometimes a newly mated pair of adults will spawn sooner that a bonded pair that has been moved to a different location/tank.
I usually prefer to make my pairs of young adults. The pairs I put together myself usually worked out better than the ones I bought as pairs and spawned sooner.

Generally, with clownfish it may take a few months before they start breeding, that is if are adults. If you start with juveniles it can take much longer.
With fish like marine bettas or dottybacks or even dwarf angels I can make a pair with a male and female and have them spawn within a month. This is because they don't really bond.
Clownfish are more complicated and need to bond first before they will spawn.