Clownfish newbie, maintenance question.

[vikubz]

I have managed to collect my first batch of clarkii fry. I have them in a 2 gal black container lighted 24/7, small heater, air stone, have two cultures of rotifers to feed them. Almost thru their second day and probably 40 of 'em still kickin'. My question is about keeping their container clean. I see what appears to be a pile of dead larva, but when I suck them up with a baster and put them in a container (making sure they're dead) and there's a bunch of larva wiggling and darting. I've read that when they are starving/dying they will sink to the bottom and I assumed that I could just suck up the casualties, but they seem very lively when I get them out. I think I'm killing more trying to clean out their tank.

I have taken samples from their tank and there are lots of rotifers, like 15 to 20 per ml, and I green the water a bit to keep the rotifers going. I see the fry darting around, apparently feeding, so I am inclined to leave them alone and just keep them fed.

I have done a water change with a piece of filter over the end of the tube.

Any tips to pass along?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Don Quixote]

I would suggest a larger rearing tank. Water parameters must be pristine with any fry. You need to sterilize everything that's used in the tank (including the tank itself) if you wish to have good surival rates. After food, and water stability, parasites and viral loads are the number one killer of newborn fauna.
Try copepods, you will see an increased survival rate. Use multiple sieves to get the size desired.

 

[temper76]

You have a defuser on your light? How about temp? And oxygen?blocked of light from heater? Are u using prime??that helps with the ammonia,

 

[temper76]

U should put them on a 5g glass tank for better viewing,keep checking for ammonia n enough oxygen

 

[ernieq]

The dead ones have an opaque look to them. I usually syphon them out with a piece of airline tubing. Best to do it midday when they have all awaken.

 

[D-Nak]

U should put them on a 5g glass tank for better viewing,keep checking for ammonia n enough oxygen

I disagree. If using a glass tank, the walls should be covered with black paper or painted black. The larvae have poor eyesight and will bump into the glass. I believe is one of the causes of stubby- or "bull-dog" faces. They can be viewed from the top down until they are ready to be moved to a grow out tank.

 

[D-Nak]

The dead ones have an opaque look to them. I usually syphon them out with a piece of airline tubing. Best to do it midday when they have all awaken.

+1. The larvae have a tendency of resting either on the bottom of the tank, or close to the sides. This is very common pre-meta. If the water volume is increased, then the dead larvae will cause less water fouling.

More damage is done to larvae that are sucked up thinking they are dead. This could cause deformities as they grow.