Maroon Clowns Laid Eggs!!! Now what?

[flamehawkfish]

hi Everyone

I've had a pair of Gold-rimmed Maroon Clownfish for about 4 years. The female is about 5X larger than the male, but both adore each other.

They JUST laid eggs along the glass. The smaller male nuzzles the eggs and protects them. The female is also wary and watchful.

How can I successfully hatch the eggs & raise the fry? How long does it take for the eggs to hatch? Are there any existing ReefCentral threads that discuss raising clownfish eggs?

Please let me know! I've wanted these clownfish to mate for years, and it's finally time.

Take care,

Flamehawkfish

 

[timrandlerv10]

once they start mating, they should maintain the same cycle of mating, so dont worry about this clutch not making it...you arent ready!

everyone i have seen try to raise fry have had phyto and rotifers...and there is a magic book that people have referrenced...this is where somebody smart posts the name of the book by that jane...janet...janice lady...

 

[flipteg]

you mean Joyce Wilkerson...? haha...

 

[Dawman]

"Clownfishes" by Joyce Wilkerson will get you on track for the knowledge and items needed .

 

[dc]

Good luck with them. From what I read, most let the first couple go. Hopefully now that they laid it will be a regular occurrence.

 

[Dawman]

It usually takes the first few batches to get the new parents to get everything correct .

You will need a lot of rotifers as the fry eat a lot of them . I`d let the eggs go until you have enough rotifers and phytoplankton . The female should lay approx. every 10-14 days from now on .

 

[Mikigo]

Read, read, read... Good luck.

 

[bluerug]

Find live rotifers and make sure you keep a constant supply and it always helps to read as well.

 

[flamehawkfish]

hi Everyone

Thank you for the feedback. I have Joyce Wilkerson's book, and am reading more and more.

To update you, the eggs continue to develop. As I take a magnifying lens to them, I can see the eyes in each egg as the larvae continues to mature.

With so little time, I'm doubtful that I'll get enough rotifers to feed them, but I'm still trying.

Stay tuned, and thanks again for all of your feedback.

Sincerely,

Flamehawk

 

[mst3kguy07]

What do you think they do in the ocean. Let them live the natural way!

 

[zma21]

Yes, but the ocean isn't a closed system.

 

[flipteg]

the ocean does not have spinning impellers, and filters that can suck them up... the ocean also has an abundant of little things for the fry to eat... even then, only a fraction of them actually survive to maturity...

 

[flamehawkfish]

To update everyone, my female Maroon clownfish has now laid 3 consecutive clutches of eggs. Like somebody else pointed out, she's like clockwork now.

For previous clutches, the female Maroon Clown laid eggs along the glass of my tank. I had no way of removing the eggs, so I let them hatch in the tank. I just woke up in the morning, noticed empty shell-casings of eggs, but not a single sign of ANY larvae. I have an active tank, so hermits, other fish, or their parents probably ate all the larvae before they even had a chance.

Since then, I coaxed the female Maroon clownfish into laying eggs on a removable rock (rather than the side of the glass). Tomorrow, I'll transfer the eggs to a 10 gallon larvae tank. Hopefully, they'll hatch and get through those first few days. Stay tuned.

I have greenwater ready, and the rotifers (kinda last minute) are in the mail. Hopefully, I can get them through that critical period.

Thank you to everyone who offered their advice. I really appreciate it.

Sincerely,

Flamehawk

 

[TOURKID]

nice! my maroons started laying eggs a few months ago. there schedule was WACK at first, but now they even lay the eggs at the exact same time. I hope your adventure turns out well. Ill be trying myself here soon as soon as summers over and everything calms down a bit

btw- Ive never even found larve even less than an hour after hatching. I think most go right down the sump into a filter sock or various sponges.