Clowns Will Not Spawn!!!

[sean1]

I have had a pair of ocellaris in my 29 g for over a year now. Over the past three months I have been supplying them with live food daily. They seem very happy and there are no other clowns in the tank and I even supplied them with increased flow. What am I doing wrong?

 

[skippy2]

Your not doing anything wrong. They'll get busy when the time is right Hell, it took my pair of false percs 5 yrs to spawn. I was totally excited but then the female died 6 days later so be careful of what you wish for.

 

[da1jewfish]

I will preface with, I have not bred fish before, but I am doing and have done much research and am underway with the process.

there are ways to induce spawing: increase photo period to 12 hour days, even as much as 16 hour days; live foods as you said; lunar lighting could help; lwering salinity over some time to no less than 1.017;
there are some more, a good book is by Wittenrich-Complete illustrated guide to breeding marine fishes

 

[espenlg]

Also I've read that a large waterchange of 40-50% can help.

 

[Atticus]

Consistency is key. To increase spawning decrease trying new things and increase patience... My broodstock clowns were on a steady 13.5 hour day light cycle, 83 degrees, regular feeding schedule with a vairety diet, and all sides of the tank were covered to decrease distraction. Water changes were kept to a minimum and my hands never entered the tank.

 

[iceemn360]

Indeed a consistent environment is important. Your clown may simply not have matured yet. My female became reproductively active after three years and the male after 1.5 years. I was amazed the first time they spawned but now they spawn about every two weeks like clock work. In a proper environment you can expect to be rewarded in time.

 

[Luis A M]

You´re touching a sensitive point that for some reason nobody likes to talk or hear about.Clowns are not easy to spawn,they are difficult.Some do spawn and then they keep doing it evry two weeks for ever.But for unclear reasons many other pairs will never do it no matter what you do.
It is in human nature that we prefer to give word of our success and hide our failures.You´ll always find posts of spawners.
But if we don´t address the problem of non spawning clown pairs,we won´t solve it.Sorry to be realistic...

 

[CT Clownfish]

I found temp to be the big issue with my clowns. If I keep the tanks77-79 they will not spawn. Get the tanks over 80 and they are spawning every two weeks.

 

[cl2ysta1]

I feel your pain we have about 10 pairs of clowns and havent seen a single egg. two of our clown pairs are over 7 years old, and the others are about 3 - 4


still waiting

 

[Bebo77]

have you tried playing some Barry White?... works for me...

 

[cl2ysta1]

i've even tried putting on clown porn. no go. and most of these pairs even have their own anemone. it's a losing battle. my dream is for little clownfish eggs of my very own.

 

[kerusso316]

Play ABBA,Cher and Show tunes................All clowns start as male.LOL

 

[d9sccr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11755466#post11755466 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kerusso316
Play ABBA,Cher and Show tunes................All clowns start as male.LOL

lmao

 

[iceemn360]

Thanks Luis for that insight. I apologize for giving the impression that they will surely spawn in time. Perhaps what I meant to say is that keeping a consistent environment (consistent salinity/ waterquality/ lights on timers) and feeding in my experience (as well as others) have often resulted in successful spawning events. Never the less there is no real gaurantee and indeed some pairs of clown just never really get to that point. In my opinion I would just say that the best you can do is keep consistent/feed well (mix of live/prepared foods) and see what comes of it. If that doesnt work then perhaps you might consider aquiring another pair clowns.

 

[Evansbr]

I have 4 pairs total. 3 are spawning, and the 4th just too young.
I run about 80-81 degrees. 12 hours of light, but they do get ambient light from windows above them also. they are fed 3 times a day, one of those being frozen foods. each pair has their own 20 gallon tank. they have moonlights over the tanks, have noticed that low salinity and high nitrates will stop/stunt them.
salinity I run is 1.020 and nitrates are less than 50. If you move a pair it can take a few months to start again.

 

[Luis A M]

You see some people are lucky,or found the right conditions!
I have some few pairs spawning regularly,WC,and CB F1 and F2.
But many others never spawning under the exact conditions.
There was a nice thread about these things time ago.Question was if a pair in a large reef tank with an anemone had more chances to spawn than in a small bare tank with a flowerpot.Everybody felt first option was best but nobody was 100% sure,as almost nobody keeps clown pairs in both ways.
There is also the species factor,there are easier species and others more difficult.For some reason difficult ones are always spawned in the first scenario.Which commercial breeders seldom adopt however

 

[Atticus]

I have always belived it is the stability found in the reef tank that is fooling everyone into thinking that it is the best way. I went 100% with getting all of my previous broodstock pairs to spawn by using the methods I mentioned above. Keep it simple and it will be. Moonlights are not necissary, anemones cause more problems than good, just keep the water conditions and lighting stable and you will be rewarded. I also swear by completely covering the tank so outside lighting and visible items in the surrounding room will not distract them. I only used 20H's with HOB filters, bare bottom, with flower pots. Similar to many commercial breeders. The reason commercial breeders stick with what they are doing is because it is proven, its cheap, and it WORKS.

 

[Luis A M]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11789658#post11789658 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Atticus
I only used 20H's with HOB filters, bare bottom, with flower pots. Similar to many commercial breeders. The reason commercial breeders stick with what they are doing is because it is proven, its cheap, and it WORKS.

Thanks Atticus for the input.
Meaning stand alone,not in a system tanks?

 

[Atticus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11794706#post11794706 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Luis A M
Thanks Atticus for the input.
Meaning stand alone,not in a system tanks?

Yes, mine were even stand alone tanks. The commercial breeders have the added benefit of increased stability from their linked broodstock tanks. Some believe that link systems allow hormones from a spawning pair to "que up" a reluctant pair. In my case hormone crossing was not possible and I still noticed clowns spawning on similar cycles that coordinated with moon phases. Not artificial moon phases either, the real moon which they had no way of seeing, as no light was allowed in their room. A very interesting finding IMO. If you watch the forum you will also see a trend of first time spawn postings increase with a new moon cycle.

 

[Lifes A Beach]

I had my pair for 4 years before they spawned. Interestingly, when they remained the only fish in a 75 gal. reef tank, that's when they started spawning. No anemones, lights on for 10 hrs. and moonlights on when I'm awake to enjoy them, good outside lighting and they love it when they watch me come near the tank! I feed them every day. Salinity at 1.025 and all other parameters good for my reef. I think when nature calls, they will listen!

Mine are now laying a new clutch every 10-11 days!