Billsreef- The next spawn isn't really what concerns me. They did quit for a few months once. He appears to be tending the nest ok and acting normal for now. I think I'm just going to observe him closely and wait and see.
vessxpress1- "I just read this whole thread start to finish to see how it turned out. Your persistance i commendable. I thought maybe you would have gotten out of it by the end but instead, you've expanded! You've come a long ways. Congrats!!"
Thanks I appreciate it. Its alot of work. But its worth it.
"They started laying eggs on the back glass about 9 months ago. I get a new large batch of eggs about once a week. I've never stayed up to watch them hatch because everything I've read says they hatch in the early morning hours. I didn't even know if they would hatch because of my moonlight (which replicates moon phases but can be bright). I also didn't know if the male was doing a good enough job fanning them."
Mine hatch with moonlights on. No problem.
"Well, last night, I went to feed some of my acan lords about 30 min. after lights out. For the first time, I found the tank was swarming with clown larva! They were a little bigger and more active than I would have imagined. The corals were feeding on them. But I did dip some out into a cup."
That's a pretty cool sight isn't it? Your corals I'm sure love them.
"I've thought about trying to raise them before. I do have Wilkerson's Clownfish book and have read the whole thing. If I make a go of it, I think I would probably go smaller than your setup."
Well as you've read I started alot smaller. The demand in my area has allowed me to expand.
"I don't think I would try to raise every batch. I think I would end up with way more than I could handle. Plus, I don't know how hard it would be to sell them or move them if I needed to."
With maroons you are probably right.
"Maroons will start to fight with each other after they get too old. I'll have to read up to see how long I could keep them together. I would probably use my 24 gal. Aquapod for a growout tank."
That would work. I don't know how long they could be kept. I'd think after they reach 6 months it would be a bloodbath..
:I'll have to look in to that instant rotifer food that you spoke about. Not having to keep phyto going would be a huge relief. I would probably spend the extra money on decapsulated BBS instead of fighting the shells as well."
I love the Roti Diet. I also as you've probably read stopped using BBS. Otohime is a great replacement and much easier.
If you try definitely start a thread. You'll get lots of help here.
"If something happens to him, will you look for anything special in the fish you choose to replace him with? Like demeanor or color? Or will it be a random, lucky winner?"
Oh yeah. I'm a picky bugger. The replacement would have to be a "Perfect" fish.
"Also, do you think if you replaced him that the newbie would catch a disease in your display?? I'm glad you brought that up because I hadn't thought of it and I am concerned by that aspect. Wouldn't most of the clowns the store sells go to a mixed tank? Is there anyway to rear them that would prepare their immune systems better??"
No I think you misunderstood something I said.. I would just QT him and drop him in after a month.
"(Sorry for the long post and all the questions!) But thank you for your time."
No problem any time
