My Black Ocellaris pair are spawning!!!

[rkelman]

Thanks dazed I'm really happy they are laying again. There is a couple things I would do differently for sure. (if I had room) I would have more room between the tanks and sump so I could get my skimmer in and out properly and have room to setup a filter pad system properly. Also I would return at the back of the tanks instead of the middle. I would think seriously about drilling the back or front of the tanks instead of the bottom. I've broken a couple by bumping my overflows. Its alot of leverage if you bump it near the top (12") and the glass is thin. I'm running a Eheim 1260 I think.. It may be the 1262. I could use a bit more flow I think.

 

[rkelman]

Man my brine shrimp culture didn't take off AGAIN. Man I suck. I can raise clowns but not brine shrimp... If any one has any tips on a successful culture I'd love to hear them.

 

[rkelman]

Ok here's some pics of the anemone prop system. Its a 35g (I think) with a 10g sump for now and about 20 pounds of LR. I will be getting more soon. Eventually it will be plumbed into the DT.

I have 4 39w T5 bulbs (3 12k and 1 actinic) over it with Tek reflectors.

Its pretty low flow right now because I have only a 1" drain. I may have to put a powerhead in there but in a BTA prop tank obviously I'd rather not. If i do I'll have to cage it in mesh.

I added some stock last night. I added a RBTA and a GBTA that I split manually in August, A Policiapora <sp?> frag, a finger leather frag, and of course 2 black clowns

As well as serving as an anemone prop system I'd like to work on getting my clowns to bond with each other and a BTA so I can offer them as a package. I'll be working on techniques to do this in a timely (read damn near instant) manner.

This is the GBTA while in my DT. This colour is accurate.

This is the RBTA in the DT

Here's the RBTA after splitting. I apparently didn't take pictures of the GBTA split

Here they both are after moving them to this system. The white balance is off so the colours aren't correct. The RBTA looks bad because I had a heck of a time getting it off the rock it was attached to. The GBTA was attached to a rock that could be moved. The RBTA looks great this morning. Although it has left the egg crate and settled on the light diffuser grid.

 

[clowns101]

Going all out I see.I really planed on doing the same thing!....but thats okay...lol

 

[john68camaro]

Any updates? How are things going?

 

[rkelman]

Everything seems to be back on track with my Black O's they are laying regularly again. I haven't raised any new ones because I still have quite a few in grow out and I am trying to cut the bioload on the system. I had waaay to many on the go. My Orange pair haven't laid yet so I'm still waiting intently on eggs from them.

I had a Diatom bloom in the new nem system so I had to remove all the BTA's. As it turns out Diatoms are very toxic to Anemone's. I've never heard that but its apparently the case. I lost one of my splits but the others have recovered nicely. It seems the tank has stabilized so I'll probably try again this weekend.

 

[clowns101]

Sorry ya lost one

 

[marclwheeler]

are you gonna be selling these than...

 

[john68camaro]

If only you were closer, we could swap egg's or fry sometime.... Although I may be up near toronto early next year for the SHI tounament.

 

[Shard]

So I have a question maybe someone can answer. My LFS sells Black Ocellaris and Darwin Black Clowns (Ocellaris also I assume). Does anyone know if there is a difference between these two? The regular black are like $25, but the Darwins are $50. Why is this? Is there any genetic difference between the two? They look the same to me.

 

[dazed]

Thanks dazed I'm really happy they are laying again. There is a couple things I would do differently for sure. (if I had room) I would have more room between the tanks and sump so I could get my skimmer in and out properly and have room to setup a filter pad system properly. Also I would return at the back of the tanks instead of the middle. I would think seriously about drilling the back or front of the tanks instead of the bottom. I've broken a couple by bumping my overflows. Its alot of leverage if you bump it near the top (12") and the glass is thin. I'm running a Eheim 1260 I think.. It may be the 1262. I could use a bit more flow I think.

:thumbsup:rkelman good tips i had not given much thought to the idea of bumping the drains and having problems; i think i will drill mine in the back wall then.

 

[rkelman]

"The regular black are like $25, but the Darwins are $50. Why is this? Is there any genetic difference between the two? They look the same to me."

There is only 1 Black Ocellaris. Otherwise known as a "Darwin" the others maybe be Black Saddle backs or Percs maybe? My guess is if they are cheap they could be Saddle Back clowns but if they look the same then they are the same. There is only 1.

"rkelman good tips i had not given much thought to the idea of bumping the drains and having problems; i think i will drill mine in the back wall then."

Ya cracking tanks sucks. I've been lucky lately. I haven't had one crack in a while. It may have had something to do with my tanks being pushed up against each other too. I'm not sure. I'd probably drill the back next time.

 

[thile123]

rkelman: Great work on this thread; i'm sure your thread had inspired many, including me, to get their clown to start breeding.

I saw that you used to have problem with your fish dieing in the fish store 2-5 days after you sold the fishes to them. How did you manage to solve that problem?

 

[rkelman]

Thanks. I don't think that is a problem that can be solved per say. That happens when LFS get orders in from any supplier at times. If you take tank bred fish and dump them in with wild caught fish that could be carrying new bacteria, viruses and parasites you are going to eventually have a big problem. Really tank bred fish should be kept separated from these newly imported fish. Its like us going to another country and getting sick from drinking the water. The locals don't get sick do they? Its because their bodys are used to the bacteria. Ours aren't. What are you breeding? Got any pics?

 

[shookbrad]

Can you post a summary of how you raised them from eggs to flake food. Days of Rotifiers, time fed a day etc.
Thanks,
Brad

 

[thile123]

What are you breeding? Got any pics?

I got a pair of False Percula Clownfish from a local reefer; it looked it's a mated pair because one is bigger than another. I haven't seen them lay any eggs yet, maybe it's because I didn't get them an anemone to live in? I'm not sure, they seems to be swimming around the tank instead of staying in one spot. Or maybe they're not mated pairs, just one big guy and one small guy. There's another thread on RC from Mobert, where he put 27 clowns in his display tank. That thread got me interested about the idea of breeding some clowns but I wasn't sure how to raise them; then now I found your thread, it's like finding the missing link. Sorry I dont have any pictures of the clowns.

 

[vwmike]

Very cool progress. Can't wait for my Osc pair to start laying eggs!

 

[ANC]

Holy cow that was a long read. Started last night at midnight and 1 day and two finals later i finally finished the thread. I do have to say this was honestly the best reading material i have seen on RC, in my brief time here that is. Awesome to see what nature does with everything from number of eggs to the timing. Just a couple quick questions for ya...What would you say has been the most informative place for you through out the process? What books do you recommend for someone wanting to get into trying to breed clowns? Thanks in advance and what an awesome thread

 

[rkelman]

Sorry to be so long getting back. I've been real busy lately.

"Can you post a summary of how you raised them from eggs to flake food. Days of Rotifiers, time fed a day etc."

Read back Brad. I've gone over this maaany times

"I got a pair of False Percula Clownfish from a local reefer; it looked it's a mated pair because one is bigger than another. I haven't seen them lay any eggs yet, maybe it's because I didn't get them an anemone to live in? I'm not sure, they seems to be swimming around the tank instead of staying in one spot. Or maybe they're not mated pairs, just one big guy and one small guy. There's another thread on RC from Mobert, where he put 27 clowns in his display tank. That thread got me interested about the idea of breeding some clowns but I wasn't sure how to raise them; then now I found your thread, it's like finding the missing link. Sorry I dont have any pictures of the clowns."

An anemone is not required to get them to lay. It *may* make them more comfortable making it more likely. You could argue that either way. I'd say your clowns may be a pair but mated would indicate they are spawing or have spawned. I'm glad I could fill in the gap for you


"Very cool progress. Can't wait for my Osc pair to start laying eggs!"

Thanks. Good luck with yours.

" Holy cow that was a long read. Started last night at midnight and 1 day and two finals later i finally finished the thread. I do have to say this was honestly the best reading material i have seen on RC, in my brief time here that is. Awesome to see what nature does with everything from number of eggs to the timing. Just a couple quick questions for ya...What would you say has been the most informative place for you through out the process? What books do you recommend for someone wanting to get into trying to breed clowns? Thanks in advance and what an awesome thread"

Thanks ANC. I really had trouble finding good practical up to date and complete information on breeding clowns anywhere. Which is why I started this thread in the first place. The most informative place... Hmm. Probably here. I also was lucky to make contact with a Clownfish guru that I bought my first Rots / Phyto from. (Vaporize here) He helped me alot. As did many others as you've read through the pages. As far as books go Joyce Wilkerson's is good. Its the only one i've read. Some of the info is out of date but the basis is very good. Thanks for reading. Good luck with yours.

 

[thile123]

I like the colors of your RBTA and GBTA, was it hard for you to find one with color that nice? I've been looking locally, but haven't seen anything that nice. I found one that has a dark greenish base with redish-orange tips, not as pink as the one you have. Would you know if RBTA changes color to a brighter color (i.e. pinkish like your) when they get older?