Live vs Frozen Rotifer

[SuperNemo]

SFB sells frozen rotifer. Would that be an okay substitute for live rotifers? Or would the baby clowns not eat them?

Anyone try this?

 

[billsreef]

Larval fish cue in on movement, and therefore rarely accept non living foods. That said, some limited success has been had using frozen rots as a last ditch effort at trying to get at least a few larvae to survive till they get big enough to eat fresh hatched brine shrimp.

 

[SuperNemo]

thanks

 

[reefstew]

X2 with Bill. The only hope is to have enough water movement to keep them in suspension & not to much so they can't catch them. Rotifers are easy to culture, just go live.

 

[Caesra]

I cannot speak for clowns at all, but currently I use 100% frozen food for rearing bangaii. On average across my last 6 batches I have lost less than 20% in the first 30 days. Only a few after that, but they are off rotifers by day 30 anyways. If I remove the batch where I was exploring your very question, the rate goes to less than 8%.

The key is just what was stated above. They must perceive the food as live. In my fry tank for the bangaii, the flow must be very specific. I can very reliably produce striking reactions on frozen food with the flow. Specific pattern, they strike. Take it away to anything else, and they just watch it float by.

I will be testing out these ideas on clowns at some point, but I am probably the only one who didn't start breeding with clowns. =)

I am about to attempt my first pajama batch. Release should be tonight actually, but I will be doing live and frozen foods in my attempt.

 

[billsreef]

The Bangaii's are different, in that they are fully developed by the time they are released and start feeding. Clownfish larvae on the other hand, are still developing for several weeks after hatching. Makes them finicky to feed.

 

[jake levi]

What Bill said:

Live rotifers are a known quantity, and about the easiest live food to raise, right there along with artemia in ease but smaller which is what the larvae need. About the same footprint to culture phyto and rotifers as a 15L tank.

 

[SuperNemo]

i figured as much. i just thought that if frozen was a good alternative then there would be no raising necessary.

i'll get the culter started soon. thanks

 

[seafarm]

Most frozen rotifers are freshwater rotifers and likely will not have the nutritional profile needed for saltwater fish. If you can get some non-live saltwater rotifers that will be a significant improvement, but live is MUCH better.