My Black Ocellaris pair are spawning!!!

[rkelman]

Which fry tank? The larvae tank has no filtration. I have to keep changing the water until they are big enough to put a sponge filter in. I use water from the parent tank so it doesn't shock the larvae for the first few days then slowly introduce new water. The sponge filter I had them in my sump for my main tank but I still get a cycle in the growout tanks. I just keep changing the water and using Amquel until it equalizes. If you want the sponge filters seeded properly I've found out that putting them in my sump does not work. Contrary to popular belief. They need to be running so the water is drawn through them to build up the bacteria. So from now on I'll put them in my sump and hook up a small airpump so they can run for a few weeks. Now I have a few on the go I just rinse and reuse. I've lost another 10 - 15 today during the day. Hopefully tomorrow is a better day.

 

[rkelman]

I lost another 20 last night I think I'm down to about 60. This is going to be a very small batch. It seems that when we catch manually / transfer to the larvae tank our success rate is much lower. I can only assume its from physical damage. We are carefull but who knows.. Another problem I feel we have with Black Ocellaris is the food.. I think the rotifers are too big. They don't start dying until Rotifers are fed. I get 0 loss the first night. I feed in the morning and I get some deaths. I may try and find a smaller strain. I think the ones I have are S.

 

[sandyc]

Rkelman, I will get the sponge seeded by running it in my sump so I am ready for the grow out tank. I know I am being optimistic but I am planning ahead so that I can succeed. I am glad you pointed out that there is no filtration in the fry tank, only in the grow out tank. You have saved me from making my first mistake. Thanks.

 

[rkelman]

After about 5 days you can put a sponge filter in Sandyc. It will give you a break from the water changes. Good luck. PM me if you need any help.

 

[rkelman]

More losses last night. Probably 15. I noticed I seem to have a physical trap problem in my tank. I had about 15 or so of them under my airstone dead and a few stuck behind the thermometer. This could explain a good portion of my losses. I took the thermometer out and raised the airstone off the bottom. I still haven't changed the water. I'm using Amquel this time. Its a small batch so I'm doing some experimenting.

 

[dazed]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13069521#post13069521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rkelman


Its funny Dazed my wife and I were just having that discussion this afternoon. The survival rate is less than 1% in the wild as far as I know.

Only 3. Ok no worries man. You don't even know if the eggs are good to start with. (poor eggs = poor larvae to start with) I've been told it takes a while to get quality eggs from the broodstock. I could see the difference as time went on how much bigger / better the nests looked. Now this one was small possibly because of the break they took. Who knows.

Yeah i could easily see 1% as the survival rate in the wild which i am sure is the reason why they produce so many eggs. My pair have been laying eggs for almost 6 months now this is just my 3rd try with live larvae though, so i think the issues are with me and not the eggs. lol, sorry to hear about the problems with the current batch, hopefully you can figure out what is going on.

 

[rkelman]

Well I have about 40 left in various stages of Meta. I was forced to do a water change as the amquel just wasn't getting the ammonia down enough. I also decided to put my sponge filter in (earlier than ever) We'll see if that was a good idea or not.. I started some BBS in my hatchery last night. I'll feed them tonight. I'm going to give them a little BBS before I switch to Otohime. Here's some pics I took for Dazed in his thread showing various stages of metamorphosis. These pics were taken tonight at 7 days.

Pre Meta (notice they are skinny and look like mosquito larvae)

Mid Meta (Noticeably chunkier / Slight headband / Kinked tail)

Post Meta (Pretty much a full headband / slight middle stripe /slow waggy tail

 

[FB]

Great pics. Exactly as I was trying to explain.

 

[agsansoo]

Excellent photos ! Shows greenwater tint and rotifer density too !

 

[FB]

I won't try and outbid you on the clowns LOL, although guelph is much closer to me. Are you sure I don't have territorial rights. JK Hope you get them. My wife would kill me if I bought another pair.

FB

 

[rkelman]

What are you talking about FB? Did you forget your medication again? lol.

 

[FB]

Sorry a little out of context I guess.

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/pp-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=14260&cat=26

 

[rkelman]

Ahh ok. Now I get it. You can have them. They aren't currently breeding and when they were in another tank they were eating eggs.

 

[Magga Pie]

How often should I feed my clowns that I just got? Also what are some good foods to feed them? Right now Im feeding them mysis shrimp, blood worms,brine shrimp, and cyclopeeze. Can you think of anything else I should be feeding them?

 

[rkelman]

Once a day Magga Pie. Yours are old enough they don't need as much as my babies. As far as food. You pretty much have it covered. I like to feed Formula 2 or another food with some kind of sea weeds as well to my adult fish.

 

[rkelman]

Here's some updated pics. There isn't much going on really. The older guys are well.. Older and the little ones are growing steadily. I only hatched one batch of BBS for them. Since I've been feeding Otohime.
The parents haven't laid another nest yet.. Stupid fish.

This is the older guys. They stick their heads right out of the water at feeding time. Little pigs.

This guy is the boss. That is "His" sponge filter and anyone who tries to come near it is promptly chased off.

Hmm. Must be a misbar. He looks like a Clarki.

 

[FB]

Nice Pics

 

[billsreef]

Looking good

 

[SeaMunky]

Wow, they lookin great ..

 

[MYDRAAL]

Awesome