Hey Jack, we need updates...

[cschweitzer]

And pictures...I want to see how those babies of yours are coming along. How's their growth rate? Any survive through mmp yet? Are you still going with them? How many survivors? What's the viability rate(survived/hatched and/or survived/eggs layed)? Those clowns were very special to me and I'm so glad they went to an environment where the eggs could be found and raised. Have you kept any journals/records/blog/etc? Are they growing fast like oc's or slow like perc's? The only other person that I know to cross-breed to form percularis babies said that his grew slow, like a perc, but his pair was oppsite species/sex combo, so I'm wondering if yours will grow like the oc's.

Thanks for any info you can give...I'm very interested

 

[Boostable]

Hey... sorry for the long delay in posting some udates, my schedule for Feb was just NUTS!!! hope that March slows down a bit..

The 1st batch make it to day 5 and no longer, mainly due to inadequate food supply and mis handling during transfer (we believe)

However the 2nd batch has good much better. Although we didn't harvest NEARLY as many as the 1st batch.. On this batch we got out about 25-30 and moved them to our 10G raising tank. So far so good.. we have about 15 in there now and are at day 9 and looking good.

Whats interesting is that we have ONE go through MMP so far, but the others look to have started.

Will be interesting to see the color patterns that apper.

Here are some pics...

A couple pics from day 8 before MMP.

Top view of the single that has gone through MMP. This is on day 8 when he was still hovering in the corner. You can see the white stripe on his head... cool huh.

This is day 9 of the same fish that is out swimming around now. You can see the others in the background for a size comparison. He is quite a bit bigger then the others at this point, and is shape totally different.

I will be posting additional pics here as we progress..

http://www.wilburnfamily.us/album61

Jack

 

[ricanboy57]

So when you say day 9, do you mean from the day they came out of the eggs or the from the day you transfered the percularis to the ten gallon? Also whats does MMP stand for. This is too cool, I've always heard it was so hard to raise fry but you're making it sound so easy, lol. hope you have GL with all of them.

 

[Boostable]

Day 9 is from the day they hatched, which is also the same time we moved them to the 10G tank.. lol We capture them the same night they hatch and move them to there rearing tank.

MMP means metamorphosis..

Well I can honestly say its harder then I thought it would be. Takes A LOT of time and attention. If my wife was not home during the days it would not be possible at all.

Here is a quick list of what you need to JUST get them to MMP.

Phytoplankton to feed Rotifers
Rotifers to feed baby fry
Baby (Napueii, sp) to feed after 5 days.

-- Setup for Baby Fry
10G or other seperate tank
Decent Heater
Air Pump
Air Tubing
Rigid Tubing
Air Valve for adjustment
Small shop light
Temp Monitor
Ammonia Monitor

-- Setup for Phytoplankton
Starter Culture
5 - 2 Liter Bottles
Air Tubing
Rigid Tubing
Air Pump
5 way adjustable gang valve
Salt

-- Rotifer Setup
10G Tang
Air pump
Air Tubing
Rigid Tubing
Phytoplankton to feed
Plankton filter

-- Brine Shrimp setup
ATLEAST 2 Brine Shrimp Hatcheries
Air pump
Gang Valve
Rigid Tubing
Plankton Filter

CRAZY HUH!!!!! and that just gets you to about day 10.. LOL

Not to mention the husbandry that takes place, daily tank cleaning, daily water changes, and feeding three times a day.

Im sure there is more that im forgetting, but needless to say it is a very involved process.

Kinda nuts when you think about it..

Jack

 

[Boostable]

gezzzz I just read that first post I made... I really can speak much better then that I swear!!! lol

 

[ricanboy57]

wow that is crazy, and very intense. The feeding 3 times a day would kill me. daily water changes and cleaning is time consuming but can be done. Haveing to be at home at least 3 times a day everyday would be impossible unless you had someone helping.

 

[Fuzzy]

I 2nd that -
It takes some serious dedication to raise the fry :thumbsup:

We used to keep Seahorses - so I know exactly what you are going thru!
2 - 10 gal tanks - one for raising baby brine shrimp, and one for raising guppies and black mollies.
Then gut loading the critters with Selcon before feeding the adult ponies the fish, and BBS for the fry........
Almost a full time job taking care of the lil buggers.......

 

[Pacific Reefs]

Nice pics...I may have missed it but what type of clowns are these?

 

[sttaylor]

I stopped by and saw "the kids" yesterday. Pretty cool stuff.

Scott

 

[Rockitmakr]

I have a co worker that raises baby clowns, he has been doing it now for a few years. It is a lot of work, like a full time job!
:beer:

 

[cschweitzer]

Percularis...A. percula X A. ocellaris