how can i collect clownfish fry from tank?

[Chad Vossen]

i got a 100 gallon tank, lots of live rock, and the cinnimon clowns spawned on the 13th. i expect hatching this weekend probly sunday night.

i remember reading a topic on rc about catching fry useing a trap. but i cant use the search to find it and manual searching found nothing.

could someone point me to the right thread or explain how they have done it.

 

[Fezzik]

Well I've heard that be at the tank when the hatch with a flashlight and a ladle (sp) or something that will scoop them up safely. When the lights turn out for the night is usually when they hatch and when they do hatch, turn off any pumps when collecting. and shine a light at the surface and they will collect in the source of the light. then it should be easy to scoop them up.

 

[Chad Vossen]

i came up with something, a 2 liter soda bottle with top cut off and slightly glued backwards. makinga trap. paint the outside black with waterproof nontoxic paint, cut a small hole and insert a white LED light and use lots of silicone to make sure the wires do not come in contact with the water. place the open end of the trap towards the nest, and wait.


since the fry is lured by the light, it should find its way through the hole, and to the light. the LED shouldnt get hot or harm the fry if they swam right up to it would it??

 

[ahbroody]

Let me know how it works never thought of that.
MIke

 

[Chad Vossen]

LED lights are a pain to find. this batch of eggs became fish food when they hatched. ill work on this with next batch

 

[ahbroody]

Dude, just do what i do it only takes 20 min or less to collect 80% of the eggs.
Get a small 5 watt light, like nite light kind at your lfs little clam shape or something. on night of hatch kill everything in the tank and black out the room. Wait 30-45 min then turn on little 5 watt light and place in the corner of the tank. wait 20 min for all fry to MOVE TOWARD THE LIGHT (ECHO EFFECT). Then take a cup and use surface tension to suck the fry in. It is quick and easy and you will get 80-85% with a couple of tries. The rest you can get if you really want, but I usually give up on them and let them become tank food.

Additional,
Use a 5 gallon tank, use main tank water only fill 1/2 way for first day. Only tank water initially and pull it out at collection time or the temp will be different and will effect fry. they cant handle much variation in that first day or so.
Mike