Help! My clownfish eggs always disappear by day 3!

[kevin.kang.5205]

My golden nugget/gold stripe maroon pair has been laying eggs for the past few months. However, for some reason the clownfish eggs always disappear completely by the third day. I have tried moving the rocks, changing the current, placing clay pots, pvc fitting.... All with the same result.... Gone by the third day! Does anyone have the same experience? Poor egg quality? Parents eating eggs? Any help will be much appreciated!!

 

[juniorrocketdad]

What else is in the tank, I haven't heard of clowns doing it but many fish will eat their own eggs

 

[ThRoewer]

Did you see the parents eating the eggs? They usually only do that when the eggs were not fertilized or have died off.
Where the eggs still there at lights out on the second day and gone the next morning?
In that case it could be some snails, crabs or other night active predators that go after them when the parents are sleeping.

If you can convince them to lay their eggs on a small rock, ceramic shard or tile or flower pot you could take them out and try incubating them in the larva tank.

 

[kevin.kang.5205]

For the past two times, she laid eggs in flower pot, and they were guarding the eggs pretty tight right at the one way entrance. It's a mixed reef tank, so tank it's got everything.... However, I just can't imaging anything even getting close to the eggs!
If I were to take the eggs out as soon as they were laid, will the egg even survive til hatching without parental care?
Thank you!

 

[domination2580]

As long as they are fertilized they will continue to be fine and hatch but you must remove from tank without introducing them to the air. If they are stuck in the tank, the parents could eat them, snails, hermits, other fish could eat them.

 

[ThRoewer]

A flowerpot is the best for taking the eggs out - just hold your finger over the bottom hole and you can take the eggs out with water and without exposing them to air.
It is important to provide the eggs with enough oxygen or they will die. I've done it in the past with a circulation pump, though an airstone (coarse bubbles!) should work as well.
Important is also to remove white (=dead) eggs so that they don't infect the surrounding eggs. This is usually done by the parents. You can try to carefully suck or blow them off with a rigid airline tube.

Usually it is best to let the parents care for the eggs until the evening of the hatch, but I've also done it like described above. Though you may only get half or even less of the eggs to hatch.

If the parents don't eat the eggs it may help to leave a moon light on so that the parents can see enough at night to chase possible egg thieves away.

 

[domination2580]

Agreed. Very well put....I didn't even think about mentioning moving the eggs and parents to a seperate tank untill they hatch then take out the parents....and agreed on the air....but I would stick with course air bubbles like you said.

 

[beertech]

Hmmm, maybe the male is sterile? The parents would still be going through the motions, but the eggs aren't actually being fertilized?
By the way, that is a beautiful pair! I LOVE Gold Nugget Maroons!

 

[kevin.kang.5205]

Thanks all! Will try to move the eggs to a separate tank as soon as they are laid... This is my favorite pair too! Can't wait to breed some gold nugget babies!