Clowns eating their eggs...=(

jetfixr

Premium Member
I got a pair of ORA Ocellaris about a month ago. They were a mated pair, so I guess they had spawned before. I set up a broodstock tank for them and started feeding them to saturation twice a day. Initially, for the first week they did not want to eat at all, probably shock from being put in a new tank, and then they started eating like pigs. Last night they spawned, but the eggs did not look healthy. They were a milky white color and not the healthy salmon looking color I see in all the pictures. Not long after laying the eggs, mom and dad started to eat them. From what I have heard it is natural for them to eat infertile eggs. The water has been in pretty good shape, nitrates less then 20 and usually closer to 10. Anyone have any idea why the whole batch of eggs seemed to be infertile?
 
Just take good care of them and see what the next patch is like. I am sure new situation my have something to do with it. Perhaps these were bad pair because ORA got rid of them?
My A. percula spawn exclusively on flakes and all most all of the eggs developed normally. Here and there, less than 10 out of the nest would stay orange and remove and eaten by the male, presume due to it did not get fertilize.
What do you deed your clowns?
 
I am feeding them ORA glow pellets, and once a day and for their other feeding I throw some frozen food in. I have a combination of frozen food that I switch up all the time. Mysis, formula reef, and a few others that are basically a combination of different types of mulched up fish frozen into small cubes
 
I think it may be just because it was their first nest in a while. Its completely normal for them to eat the eggs when they are infertile. ORA regularly sells off broodstock. Maybe their numbers weren't good or possibly they just had too many on hand who knows.
 
I agree with everyone else. From all the reading I've done, clowns will eat infertile eggs. It may take them a batch or two to get back in the swing of things. It sounds like they're getting good foods, so nutrition shouldn't be a problem.
 
In addition to infertile eggs...eggs are primarily protein. If the broodstock are lacking in protein (which is common after a spawn), a large amount of protein is needed in the diet. I always feed my broodstock much more after a spawn than when no eggs are present...just my .02
 
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