My Ocellaris breeding thread

[ernieq]

Batch 3, 21DPH not much else to report, just eating a lot.

Batch 4, 11DPH faint headbars are beginning to show on some of them. As far as I can tell they are all eating both OTO B1 and NHBS as I interleave their feeding.

Batch 5 due to hatch tonight, still not planning on raising this batch, though it looks like a the biggest batch yet.

 

[Sport507]

Ernieq"¦"¦"¦you have done an outstanding job posting details about your method and IMO are right on the mark with your information. Thanks you for giving back to RC, that's what makes us the best Reef Site on the planet.

Thanks again Ernie for your dedication to posting and sharing your knowledge.

GREAT JOB!!!!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[ernieq]

Batch 3 had some maintenance done to their living quarters. I removed all the juvis and put them in a bucket with their original water and sponge. They did not like being moved! They all just huddled together into a little ball in their 5 minute stay in the bucket. I scrubbed out the tank and put about 1 gallon of broodstock water in it as a partial water change. Then I moved everything back into their home. They huddled up around the sponge filter for about 20 minutes and I put it some OTO and they started to eat (little pigs!). Since the tank sides are now clean and have no leftover greenwater stuff, I am able to take pictures inside the tank without focus issues.

Batch 4 most are orange now, but most are still going through meta. I expect by Monday they will all be done. This batch entered meta a couple of days after batch 3, I suspect my roti culture crash and food transition from that stage might have had something to do with it as they were not as well fed for a couple of days as they got used to the new food regimen. Headbars are visible in about 15% of the batch. Some are just laying on the bottom of the tank.

Batch 5 hatched as expected last night, but alas, they became part of the food chain this morning. I was still able to see some larvae swimming around before lights on, but they didn't last long after lights on. :sad2:

 

[ernieq]

For some reason the pictures didn't work on the previous post. Here they are.

 

[ernieq]

Sport507, I've learned quite a bit from reading the various threads. I think sharing our experiences can only improve the aquaculturing of sea species. Maybe it will encourage others as they see more success stories.

 

[ernieq]

Batch 3 more tail bars apparent, some are beginning to get faint orange color on their tails. Now the majority are surface feeding. I've noticed that the clowns now seem to hang as a large group near the bottom, coming up when they see food. Some start biting at bubbles when hungry.

Batch 4 still in meta. This group took longer to go into meta, I am blaming the lack of a constant Rotifers until meta started. I am figuring that my previous batch was fed better. I was afraid of over populating Artemia because of reports that the fry might eat too much and cause problems with bursting bellies. So they only eat mornings and evenings during the weekdays.

Batch 5 RIP

 

[ernieq]

I added the Marina S10 filter today to Batch 3. I'm using De-nitrate media from Seachem (I'm told it is the same stuff as Matrix, but smaller chunks, as Matrix wouldn't fit right in such a small filter). I added some Seachem Stability to seed it faster as I'm going to move the sponge filter to Batch 4 by Friday of this week.

 

[Sport507]

Batch 3 more tail bars apparent, some are beginning to get faint orange color on their tails. Now the majority are surface feeding. I've noticed that the clowns now seem to hang as a large group near the bottom, coming up when they see food. Some start biting at bubbles when hungry.

Batch 4 still in meta. This group took longer to go into meta, I am blaming the lack of a constant Rotifers until meta started. I am figuring that my previous batch was fed better. I was afraid of over populating Artemia because of reports that the fry might eat too much and cause problems with bursting bellies. So they only eat mornings and evenings during the weekdays.

Batch 5 RIP

Please show me the thread where you read this because it's simply not true. On hatch night I load my tank so full of rotifers that I don't have to feed again for at least 2-3 days. When I feed BBS I do the same thing don't every let them run out of live food because it will not die and rot in the tank.

 

[ernieq]

This is where I read it.
www.marshreef.com/files/raising_clownfish.doc

As I understand, it is a document supposedly written based on Joyce Wilkerson's book. Read page 8 toward the bottom of the page. I also found it odd that this might happen, but being my first time at this, better safe than sorry. I did put quite a bit of NHBS on Batch 4 after my roti culture crashed. There was still a small co-culture in the larvae tank which continued to be consumed as I added the NHBS. I noticed at first that the NHBS population was not getting eaten as fast as provided, so I had some artemia grow a bit too big and had to scoop a lot of it out to reduce bio load. But I didn't see any babies with ruptured bellies, some with VERY BIG bellies, but no one "exploded".

Have you ever experienced Artemia shock? Or do you weaned them off quickly or enrich the Artemia?

 

[ernieq]

Batch 3, 24 DPH. Tail bar readly visible or most juvis. Most all have the black well developed on their pelvic fins. Color has somewhat intensified. I have not found any misbars.

Batch 4, 14DPH. Nearly all have gone through meta. A good percentage have well defined head bar, some are even getting their second bar.

 

[edandsandy]

Congrats on your success! I enjoy reading your daily post....It gives me such hope and encouragement !

 

[ernieq]

Batch 3. Not much to report, just eating a lot. More tail bars, and I see some have more than 1/2 their tail orange colored now.

Batch 4. All made it through meta. Some have clearly distinct second bar.

Batch 6. Being laid as I type this!!! They are like clockwork, everytime they start at around 3:45 p.m. 11 Days since the last batch was laid.

 

[edandsandy]

I still can not believe how fast they grow! Keep up the great work!

 

[ernieq]

Well here's batch 6. It's pretty large. 4 inches high by about 1 inch wide. The pair spawned for about 3 hours. I have a six line wrasse that always hangs around when they spawn. Some of the eggs that don't stick and go flying off, he chases them down ang eats them. Opportunistic little guy.

 

[edandsandy]

Oh boy, thats a big clutch, and such an odd place to lay them....

 

[ernieq]

All six batches have been laid on the same spot. I've put in a long piece of tile, a flowerpot, pvc pipes, and a partridge on a pear tree, and they still pick the top corner of the tank.

 

[edandsandy]

All six batches have been laid on the same spot. I've put in a long piece of tile, a flowerpot, pvc pipes, and a partridge on a pear tree, and they still pick the top corner of the tank.

:lol:

I guess they like that spot the best.....

 

[javimarino]

wow! like your thread.... keep the great work!

 

[ernieq]

Batch 3 now 26 DPH. They seem to now want to gather in a close group. Up until like 4 days ago, they would swim all over the place and not "hang out" together. Now for the most part, they just gather in one big group unless they are eating. They are fed golden pearls (300 to 500 Microns) and OTO B1. Every other day I throw in some NHBS.

Batch 4 now 16 DPH. Hard to be objective as far as their size when the "big" guys are sitting next to them, but they are growing. 95% have made it through meta and most are now showing their second bar. There's like 5 or 6 little guys that don't look like they are out of meta, but they are already orange colored. In the attached picture, they are being hosted by the thermometer :spin1: They are fed golden pearls (300 to 500 Microns) and OTO B1. One of their daily feedings is NHBS. Usually just before lights out.

Batch 6 now 1 DPS. Depending on whether or not I am able to move the big guys to growout within the next 6 days will decide if they are to be raised. My rotifer culture is now up to speed, but I'm going to split it up in two cultures in case it crashes again. So I would be all set for Batch 6 if I move Batch 3 out of the larval tank.

 

[ernieq]

Batch 3. Just bigger. I am moving them to oto B2 today. I can see that I will have to siphon out some of the bigger particles as they don't seem to try to eat those yet.

Batch 4. More central bars showing up. Several groups hang together hosting various things like the heater, thermometer and parts of the bubble wand.

Batch 6. Eggs have darkened and the black spots for their eyes are showing up.