Could it be she is prego?

[saltwater4life1]

Hi guys,
So today (well about 15minutes ago) during feeding i noticed something wasn't normal. My female clown was chasing my blue tang. I though nothing of it til a minute or so later when i realised how fat the female was. Her chest (between the breast fin and slightly past her pelvic fin) is about double it's normal size if not more, she looks like shes going to blow, and when she leans sideways slightly you can see through her except the UDS (unidentified dark stuff LOL). I would call this poo but it seems to far forward and to bloated? Anyways she ate like a horse before and after i noticed her. I probably fed what normally would last at less 3 days worth and everything my tang would come out to snag she would chase him around the tank along with my male clown fish but she's been doing that during feeding for the past 6months or so. So I'm wondering is this most likely poo or eggs? I'll try to get a video or some pictures of her.
Alittle info; They are Misbar Ocellaris and hardly ever hang out together usually the male avoids the female at all cost because if he doesn't she usually attacks him or chases him til he summits but once the lights go out and then they're snuggle buddies. I feed pretty lightly and every other day. Only other tank mates are a skunk cleaner shrimp, blue tang and bi color blenny. The female is sticking around my new heater and my skimmers intake.

Thank you,
~Nick

 

[WDLV]

IThe black thing could be her ovapositor. Look for a spot in the tank near where they live that is cleaned off and or has a mass of eggs that are clear to orange in color. From your description she may be ready to lay. If so, she'll start laying every 1.5-2 weeks thereafter.

 

[saltwater4life1]

Sweet Thanks,
This should be fun haha i am recovering from a cyno outbreak. I assume since they roam around the entire tank that there home is where they sleep?

 

[WDLV]

Often times you will see basement breeder's tanks overgrown with cyano. This is primarily due to the large amounts of food they are fed. This is not such a bad thing. As it was explained to me, the parents actually eat the stuff and it becomes a source of nutrition not unlike selcon. From what I was told, the blue/green cyano is good for this.

That's just what I was told. My general philosophy on algae and cyano is that if what most of us would consider to be undesirable algae is growing, it means two things. One is what most of us think; the tank water is dirty... and that would be correct. The other thing is that the "bad" nutrients are locked up inside those algaes and can be easily removed or left to grow and keep the tank more balanced.
In a reef tank I don't want anything to do with those algaes and can get all OCD trying to get rid of them... but in a breeder system what might be unsightly to most of us is actually somewhat beneficial.

 

[saltwater4life1]

I knew it was from overfeeding or something but it's just annoying when it covers my corals up... I checked around where my male is hanging out and i don't see anything nor anything where they sleep (near the male but in the sand) How big are the nest they clear? If it's not to late should i throw in something like a lid or something smooth and hope they decide to lay the eggs on that? I tried to get a video but it's pretty hard to see her belly...

 

[WDLV]

How big are the nest they clear?

I have only had damsels spawn and have not raised any clutches myself but I have done enough reading to make an eagle go blind.

The cleared spot is usually 3"-6" The egg clutch is typically 2"-4" in diameter with varying densities. The eggs will be clear to white or orange. Your goal will be orange. This will depend on nutrition.

I would not tamper with their nesting site at all for now. Once they start spawning regularly, you might try throwing in a 6x6 tile near their usual spawning site with the rough side out.

You will see that the first few spawns will be sparse and/or small in diameter. As they spawn more regularly they will have larger, denser clutches. I would let the first few clutches become tank food. The parents are inexperienced and may either eat the eggs before they hatch, or else abandon them or under-tend to them. They will get better at it as they go along.

If you're really interested in raising the fry, you might also check out marinebreeder.org and rareclownfish.com. They are more focused on raising clowns. Most of those guys are experienced clown breeders.
You might also pick up Joyce Wilkerson's Clownfish book. There is a lot of great info in there.

 

[saltwater4life1]

Thanks so much,
I'll keep an eye out for a nest. I've been meaning to get her book just always bought a coral instead... I do have a few other ones but they don't got in details about them breeding.

 

[saltwater4life1]

Hmm is it normal to be able to see a difference in size within a few hours? I mean i swear her belly is bigger then it was earlier. It looks like she ate a grape. If only she wouldn't move so dang fast i could get a picture -_-
Here is a reference to about the size change i seen. (These are obviously not my pictures nor my clownfish, Credit to those whose they are)
Earlier today:

Now:

 

[saltwater4life1]

Well after checking 2-3 times an hour since the lights when out about 2 hours ago. I havn't noticed anything. Here are some pictures i took. Forgive the poor quality they wouldn't stop moving lol

 

[dalilgriffith]

Check where the male is. That is a HUGE bloat.

 

[saltwater4life1]

What do you think?
I'm looking at the tank right now. The female is above my liverock about 1ft from the left side and about 1ft from the sand. The male is sleeping in the sand on the right side of the tank (where they usually sleep).

 

[dalilgriffith]

if they laid, they ate them. However, i dont think they laid.

 

[WaffleWalffle22]

My clowns had their first spawning attempt on the recent new moon. The female didn't have eggs at the time, but they were trying to lay eggs! It was their very 1st time so you gotta give them points for trying! Anyways, my female is slowly starting to bulge after their attempt. They sometimes look very fat after you feed them.

 

[saltwater4life1]

Shes still kind of dark in the belly like in the picture above. Guess I'll see what she looks like in the morning.
Cool! I was wondering if that had something to do with mine just someone forgot to tell them the date. She might of gotten one small flake of food before i noticed her size so i doubt it was from the food. Unless she has been hunting pods o.0

 

[saltwater4life1]

Well today i noticed she is starting to lean sideways. Is that normal? Also i noticed when she did this i could see little dark dots inside her but only about half way full. o.0

 

[phil519]

the male should be vigorously cleaning a patch of space for them if she is about to go. I mean my male never picks at anything on the LR or glass - but when he is prepping the nest - he's picking at that spot like no tomorrow.

 

[saltwater4life1]

Thanks Phil,
I haven't noticed him cleaning anything. I was thinking maybe it was some stomach disease but she is still eating alot so i don't think it's that... If it's not tonight i'm going to start worrying. Lights go out in about 10minutes so I'll be watching closely

 

[saltwater4life1]

Well lastnight i didn't notice anything. I'm am now almost positive she must be ill... :worried: i made this short video to try and see what others think is wrong, if anything.

 

[msman825]

it dont look good man

 

[saltwater4life1]

Any ideas? What should i do?