How to catch fry

[Sprockett]

I have two false percula's that have been with us for about 5 years, they are named Itchy and Scratchy (or other more colorful names when they bite my hand!!)...

They have started to lay eggs, we are on our 5th batch, it's taken a while to get everything setup. I have a 10G fry tank running at the same temp as the main, with the same water. Using just an air stone and a heater and a little 25w light, 3 sides are covered in black, ammonia monitor, temp monitor. It should be all ready.

I have Rot's growing, so I have plenty of food and have Wilkenson's book on the way (finally found out about it).

But they are laying on a very large base rock in the tank, right next to their anemone and there's no way I can move the eggs. This last batch we tried to catch them but it's hard to get the timing down, they hatch normally while we are at work. And I did get some but there was a malfunction in the fry tank and they died (the problem has been addressed)...

So are there traps I can build using a light as the source?, what if I tried putting a piece of pottery on the rock for them, so I could pull them out next time?

I've considered putting put a 30g to isolate them, but I'm pretty sure that would stress them out and they would stop laying. The whole family's excited, and we'd love to save at least a couple. Any advice would be welcome...

Thanks

-Paul-

 

[Toddrtrex]

What you might try, and would be a lot easier on you, is placing a tile in the tank -- ceramic one. At first I would place it near (( but not covering )) their spawning site, and then move it closer with each spawn until they are laying the eggs on it. That way you can just remove the tile with the eggs on them.

This is the type of tile I am talking about, (( really old pic ))

 

[2Addicted]

I dont know of any traps and im pretty sure you have to be there shortly after they hatch to catch them if you want to go that route. Or you could just put a piece of tile where they lay and hope they lay on it next time.

 

[Sprockett]

I'm already working on getting a piece of tile for the tank, but I'd like to at least try and catch the current crop if possible.

Where this is all leading too is a seperate tank at some point just for breeding clowns, for now I'm tried of losing entire batches of eggs.

Thanks

-Paul-

 

[NirvanaFan]

The fry hatch when the lights go off. Keep the lights on the day of the hatch until you get home. Then turn off all the pumps and lights and keep the room very dark. After a half hour shine a flashlight in the top corner near where the eggs are, but don't shine it on the eggs. Just shine it in the corner across the top of the tank. The fry will swim towards the light. Then carefully scoop them out with a cup.

 

[Dan]

If you want to try a fry catcher here is what I used. A large, plastic soda bottle with the top and bottom cut out. A cone shaped coffee screen (Mr. Coffee?) was glued onto the bottom using silicone. That is placed in a 5 gallon bucket of salt water. A mini jet 404 (or other slow pump) is placed inside the soda bottle. A siphon is started from the tank into the bucket. The pump is also started. The bucket is set so that the top of the bucket is even with top of the tank (so no floods). You can start the trap a day or two in advance of the expected hatch date so all the water is equal. When hatch evening arrives, place an LED moonlight close to the siphon tube input. Turn off the lights and the aquarium pumps. The fry will hatch, swim toward the moonlight, and be sucked into the bucket. The coffee screen will keep them from being pumped back into the tank. Good luck.

Dan

 

[Sprockett]

Dan...

That is pure genius, I even have all the parts to make that work...

I'll give it a try on this round..

Thank you...

-Paul-

 

[davocean]

If it's the first few batches of eggs, I'd let those go, as usually the first couple/few are kinda weak.
The tile trick is most commonly used, and you will see eyes just before they hatch, and then you need to have a breeder tank at the ready w/ live rotifers.

 

[ctenophors rule]

U could get chad vosens trap on MOFIB.

I just ordered mine, everyone that has had one gives rave reviews and their very cheeply priced for the quality.

If not, you could always try kirkendolls pvc larval snagger, should work for all phototrophic larvae.

good luck.

tommy