My Ocellaris breeding thread

[ernieq]

I've had two ocellaris clowns in my 125 FO tank for about 4 years now and never expected them to spawn as they share the tank with what was then a 3 inch juvenile emperor, 2 inch blue hippo, a coral beauty, a flame hawk and a six line wrasse. Now the emperor in an 8 inch adult and so is the blue hippo. So it was my surprise that in mid July I noticed eggs on the corner to the tank. Unfortunately I had a vacation planed the following week and would not be able to have a crack at raising the eggs. But from all I've read these guys would spawn periodically from now on. Sure enough when I got back from my vacation, there they were, another clutch of eggs, about 2 days old based on previous observations. The following will be an account of my experiences raising batches of eggs. I am now on batch #4 and batch #5 were laid 3 days ago, but they will be left there to become one with the tank as I have not more space to raise batch #5 for now.

 

[ernieq]

Batch #2. I don't know when the eggs were laid, but they hatched on July 29th. Unfortunately I had gotten back from vacation on a Wednesday evening, so I missed the deadline from reed aquaculture for the rotifers. The rotifers were shipped on Monday, I got them on Wednesday, but by then only 3 larvae had made it. So I decided to give it a go anyway. I wasn't really prepared so the only thing I did was add some rotifers, instant algae (RG Complete) and an airstone, no heater. I figure the house is kept around 78 so that would be good. After 4 days I noticed their growth rate was anemic, though the 3 fry were fat. I took the temperature and the water was at 70 degrees. My wife lowers the AC at night and that was keeping the temperatures too low and slowing growth. So I bought a heater and decided to slowly raise their temperature a couple of degrees per day. Not a good move, the next day all 3 were dead. So moral of the story, start out with 80 degree water and stay there.

 

[ernieq]

Batch #3. It took a while for the pair to get busy, I had almost lost hope, but at least it gave my rotifer culture a chance to grow. Finally the pair spawned on the same spot, and not on the clay tile I had provided for them. They spawned on August 10th. This clutch was larger than the previous one and I estimate around 200 eggs. They eggs hatched about 1 hour after lights out on Aug 17th. I did the flashlight on a corner method and scooped them up with a coffee mug (I know, not exactly scientific). I had prepared a 10 gallon larval tank that I covered with black trash can bags on all four sides. I transferred the fry to it and I fed rotifers, couldn't tell you the rotifers/ml count but I flashed a light on the side of the tank and could see a pretty good concentration, at least enough so that the fry wouldn't have to look around for food. After I transferred the fry and before I got to bed I notice only 3 swimming about and the rest of the floor. I figured I was too rough and I was going to loose them again. But the next morning to my surprise they were all swimming about. I probably lost about 20% of the fry I had transferred. I counted about 58 fry after 4 DPH. The development was pretty much the way it's been documented on most of the breeding threads. My guys entered meta about the 25th of August (7 DPH) and all of them made it through Meta more or less by the 28th of the month. One thing that I had not read about is that at least in my case, during Meta the fish seem to hang around the corners and edges of tank hardly moving. I thought there was something wrong, but I did read somewhere that during this stage they don't swim much, I just didn't know they would just hang in the corners or edges. The fish are now 15 DPH and all of them are bright orange with a head stripe. About 25% of them have their second stripe and they are all eating golden pearls and TDO B1. They were fed rotifers until 8 DPH and then were given NHBS for the next 4 days or so with whatever rotifers were left in the tank as I stopped the instant algae 8 DPH on the larvae tank.

 

[ernieq]

Batch #4 was laid on August 20h again not on the tile, exactly 10 days after the previous spawn, it was quick and it was larger, around 300 eggs. I wasn't going to raise them, but in a moment of weakness I headed over to petsmart and bought a 10 gal tank, a heater and a bubble wand. I setup the tank and then waited for hatch. They hatched on the 7th day 1 hour after lights out. This time there were a lot more larvae probably around 180 or so base on sampling estimates. These were all happy swimmers and I transferred them using a baby brine net. Yes, I did take them out of the water for about 2 seconds and deposited them on a beta tank that was sitting on top of my 125 G tank they hatched on. I have had a very low mortality rate now that I am 6 DPH. I have probably syphoned out around 20 to 25. There are still over 150 fry left. My rotifer culture crashed 2 days ago, there was still some in the larvae tank as I had been feeding it with RG Complete, last night (sept 1) no more rots in the tank. Since they were already 5 DPH I figure, let's try NHBS since it was all I had to give them as I was hatching to give the older guys a treat. As of tonight, I've lost only 2 fry, but time will tell as to how may adjust. A quick look at their bellies, most of them seem to have some orange in it, so some are eating, others I can't really tell. So that is where I am now.

 

[ernieq]

Batch #5 was laid on August 31st. But this time they will not be raised.

 

[ernieq]

Here are the "old guys" taken today 16dph

 

[ernieq]

Here is Batch #4 today. It is amazing they are only 10 days apart and the difference in size is unreal. They grow FAST after meta.

 

[AliciaP]

I love it! I have been waiting for years for my clowns to do something, but I must continue to wait.

 

[ernieq]

Some notes on my fry care:

24 hours of light after hatch, thereafter about 9 hours lights out 15 hours with light.
I use a flourescent 15 watt T8. I use three sheets of paper to diffuse the light for the first 2 days. Then I remove 1 layer for the next 4 days, and I leave 1 layer until they are post meta.

Water changes:
1 - 7 dph, the 10 gallon tank is about 1/4 filled. I remove about .5 gallons to syphon out gunk on the bottom and I slow drip the replacement about 2 drops per second using broodstock water that I collected the night of the hatch. About every 2 days or so I slow drip about 1/4 gallon RO/DI water (1 drop per second) to replace evaporated water.

during meta, I syphon out gunk and replace with broodstock water from the main tank and slow drip about 2 drops per second. I usually only do like 1/3 of a gallon.

Post meta, I increase water volume to 5 gallons using broodstock water, then I do daily 1 gallon water changes as I remove the gunk from the bottom. Again I only use broodstock water. Past meta I no longer drip the water, I just dump it in slowly since both tanks are at the same temperature. I've been doing this for the last 3 days and the clowns seem happy and not stressed, they in fact attack my hands when I try to clean the tank with the turkey baster.

Feeding:

1 - 10 dph rots, although my last batch was at 5 dph when my rot culture crashed, survival rate on this batch is TBD real soon!
7 - 12 dph or after meta, I do sume NHBS and oto B1.
past 12dph I'm now feeding Oto b1 and golden pearls sized 350-500 microns (what they call NHBS replacement). I occassionaly throw in some NHBS for a treat, maybe a pinch in the evenings.

Water control
I used Amquel + to maintain ammonia uneder check. I have a seachem ammonia badge as an indicator. I also have cloramx, but Amquel + is supposed to neutralize nitrites as well, so I'm using that for now. I'm not even bothering with PH since I'm only using broodstock water which is pretty stable at around 8.2. I figure some PH fluctuation is going on as the Amquel + tends to lower PH a bit, but it hasn't made a difference as far as high mortality.

Whenever I remove water from the broodstock tank for use I replenish it with fresh seawater, I use RO/DI + instant ocean brand.

A couple of thing I highly recommend.

1. Get a refractometer and check salinity daily to keep the larval tanks within .01 specific gravity from the broodstock tank in case of "emergencies."
2. Get some the seachem ammonia badge.
3. Get some cloramx or amquel + to keep ammonia under check. I never let it get past the .05 ppm reading.
4. Have dual roti cultures going at the same time (I learned that the hard way). Or at least keep about 1 liter of dense culture in green water in your fridge if you need to restart culture. (replace weekly as necessary).
5. Use Decap brine shrimp eggs.

 

[ernieq]

I love it! I have been waiting for years for my clowns to do something, but I must continue to wait.

I didn't really do anything special for them to spawn, it just happened. I had been feeding Dr. G's gut loaded mysis and New life spectrum pellets and the occasional frozen brine (maybe 1 every 2 days or so). I've been told that clown will spawn when they feel "safe." I guess stability goes a long way. I haven't added or removed any tankmates in over 2 years now. The water changes are spot on every 2 weeks with 20% of the water changed and the gunk siphoned out of the live sand.

 

[ernieq]

17 dph

17 dph

They are behaving more like clowns now. The bigger ones are fighting for the sponge filter. I took out one of them today to do some macro shots. He is 3/8 inch long. In one of the shots you can see the frayed fins from the fighting.

 

[Wifi]

Congrats. Little guys look good

 

[ernieq]

Thanks, it is really rewarding watching these little guys go from eggs to mini clownfish. An update on Batch 4. I've had some fatalities, but not a whole lot, maybe 10 to 15. Still have 140+ swimmers. Today they are 7 dph, and should be entering meta within the next couple of days. I've been adding some OTO B1 and golden pearls in the morning and then I siphon out whatever wasn't eaten in the evening. Hopefully this will keep the fry from the famous shock syndrome due to baby brine only diet. I've ordered some rotis just to have handy. If there's a massive die off due to starvation. Batch #5 will hatch Friday evening, so if Batch #4 dies out, I will have room for Batch #5. Here's a shot of Batch #4 today. Not much to look at, just a bunch of larvae. They have all turned dark already pre-meta.

 

[ernieq]

Batch 4 now going through meta. I can report that most of them adapted to my NHBS/OTO mix as they have big bellies and have had less than 15 dead since my roti culture crashed.
Batch 3 is even bigger. Stripes are getting thicker and dorsal and anal fins turning orange.

Batch 5 hatches in two days, will not be raised as I haven't the room for more fry at this time.

 

[edandsandy]

Great write up on your babies! Congrats! :celeb1:

Our babies were born last night!!!!

please keep us posted on your progress.... I'm learning so much :wavehand:

 

[ernieq]

Todays Updates:

Batch 3. More fighting, seems like they are all getting into the act, not too rough it's more like bickering. Some of the bigger ones are beginning to get the black color on their pelvic fins. More than 80% have their second bar already, and the bigger ones have a very thick head bar and the middle bar is getting thicker as well. Anal and dorsal fins are more than 1/2 orange now. Tail and pectoral fins still clear. There's something to be said about genetic diversity. My pair is from two different parts of the world (philipines and idonesia). So far no juvis appear to be misbars.

Batch 4 still going through meta. About 1/3 have already turned orange in color, but no head bars yet that I can see. They look so little still next to their older batch of siblings.

Batch 5 hatches tomorrow night, still no plans to raise them.

It would be interesting to mate one of my young ones with a "designer" clown to inject some genetic diversity. Maybe something else would come out?

 

[ernieq]

Well I decided to put one of the bigger guys into the photographic chamber (a plastic transparent baseball card stack holder). He doesn't like it at all, but I was able to take some shots. The pelvic fins show some black. The dorsal and anal fins are 1/2 orange now. The two previous white bars are now thicker and more defined. The tail bar is beginning to appear! Also the orange coloring is beginning to intensify. Amazing how much they change in 3 days! He is 20 DPH.

 

[Ghosty]

They are behaving more like clowns now. The bigger ones are fighting for the sponge filter.

Cute babies! Can't wait to see how the lot of 'em progress and grow.

 

[ernieq]

I've been asked for pictures of my setup. I'm not a commercial breeder, nor do I plan on ever becoming one. I'm doing this for the fun of it and the challenge. So my setup is pretty simple.

I use 10 gallon tanks with a heater, a thermomenter, a Seachem ammonia badge and a bubble wand. I cover the tanks with black plastic bags all around and remove them after all fish have gone through meta. I put a sponge filter after meta.

I drip replace all water removed using broodstock water. For fry about 4 days after meta, I just dump the water in from the broodstock tank. I check for salinity and temperature before I do that though.

For economies of scale (remember that in economics class?), I split my 15 watt flourescent bulb accross both tanks. With paper covering half to diffuse the light for the younger batch. You can see all this in the pictures posted.

So my "system" as it currently stands can only handle two batches. I suppose if I had a 3rd 10gal tank I could do 3, and then systematically move the older guys to a 55 gallon grow out tank that is about to be installed this weekend. I've been seeding bio balls in my broodstock tank sump now for well over 6 months, so I should be good to go.

The pink seen on the images is not cyano, it's the pink hue from the lamp, it was originally a freshwater bulb that I had around.

 

[ernieq]

I thought this would be interesting to post. It's a side by side shot of two batches 10 days apart. The difference in the speed of growth can be easily seen in the split photo. After meta, they grow really fast. It could also be because they are getting more protein rich foods, but they do grow fast.