Clownfish spawn!

[AquaEquestrian]

Hi guys. Last night I was checking out the tank and looked in the back corner and the male Ocellaris clownfish was fanning some orange eggs and mouthing them! I was so excited!

I got them from a person who had had them for three or four years and I don't think they ever bred for him. So, this is their first time! I'm not sure if I'll try to keep the babies this time since I'm not really prepared. I thought it would be a year or more before they would breed but I guess I was wrong! A good wrong though.

Just wanted to let you guys in on my excitement!! I'm proud because they must be happy enough to breed in my little 10 gallon without an anemone. I always thought they needed a bigger tank and an anemone to really be happy enough to spawn but I guess not. Live rock, live sand, and good water parameters must just be enough!!

 

[jacksonsmom25]

Congrats! very exciting

 

[Driftwood]

Great job! You must be doing something very right!

 

[smtarr]

My tomato clowns spawn regularly since I added an anemone. I've yet to get any free swimming fry. Last time they laid the spawn on the back glass so no chance to retrieve the babies. Keep us posted on your guys. My 'Alice' the male takes very good care of the eggs and hatched babies. Hardly ever see 'Ralph' the female near the eggs, the male takes all the care of them. Sue

 

[AquaEquestrian]

Thanks for all the encouragement and good words, guys!! There are still eggs back there and they are tending to them pretty well so we'll see how it goes.

 

[bunsenburner]

I've no idea how to raise clown but have rotifer, brine, Iso, and maybe pod starts if you are going to give raising fry a whirl.

 

[AquaEquestrian]

Hey, thanks Matt!

Well, a couple days ago they got the silver color around their eyes and I kept watch to see if they were going to hatch but the next day while the lights were on I saw that they were still there. Get this -- I went to go answer the phone and came back five minutes later and they were all gone. The parents were over cleaning the rock where they were. They must have eaten them!

 

[smtarr]

That's as far as I get with mine too. Mine get that silvery eye bit for a couple of days and then 'Alice' eats them. I think they don't become free swimming for some reason. Sue