My Ocellaris breeding thread

[ClownfishSushi]

Ernie, you should try supplmenting her diet with New Life Spectrum Thera+A pellets.

 

[ernieq]

I use the regular NLS pellets. I will go get some Thera+A pellets. I thought that was to improve immune system?

 

[ClownfishSushi]

I use the regular NLS pellets. I will go get some Thera+A pellets. I thought that was to improve immune system?

It actually says on the label that they are great for Broodstock. My Onyx were producing larger clutches but they eggs were coming out lighter and another breeder suggested I give those pellets a shot. After a week of these pellets I saw an incredible difference in the color of the eggs. I think you'll be pleased!

 

[ernieq]

These are my 38 day olds playing in their playground of PVC elbows. I am surprised there isn't more fighting over territory. Maybe they are still too young, but they used to bicker a lot when they were younger.

Finally got a good shot of iFish. He is my 28 Day old misbar among his 110 brothers and sisters from batch 4.

Batch 7 , 1 DPS (Day Post Spawn). No major culling of eggs by the male yet.

 

[edandsandy]

It always amazes me to see the differences in their sizes with just 10 days apart!

You are doing an awesome job! Congrats again!

 

[ernieq]

Sometimes I get the feeling that batch 4 is not growing as fast. But then I realize that Batch 3 is sitting next door and my observation is biased because I am comparing them real-time to the older guys. But based on pictures, they appear to be on track as far as color development, maybe a bit behind in size since I've been feeding them less to keep the water from fouling. Now that the sponge filter is in batch 4's tank, I will start to feed a little more liberally and their growth should increase. I think that part of my problem was also that I was feeding more or less the same on both tanks, but batch 4 has 40% more fish. This morning Batch 4 had full bellies when I left.

 

[ernieq]

Batch 3, 39DPH. They continue to grow. I notice everytime if feed Oto B2 the water clouds easily than when I just feed golden pearls. I had to move the sponge filter back into this batch today to clear up the water. Note the big guy inside the tube has almost complete coloration, except for the pectoral fins which are getting orange, just not that solid color we see in adults.

Batch 4, 29DPH. The water is crystal clear after I put in the sponge filter. Cleared it up in 2 days. Here they are getting bigger.

Batch 7. The eggs are developing. There is a really big change in egg color from day 1 to day 2.

 

[DarthNater]

thats awesome!!

 

[10galclowns]

Now that you have all those babies what are you going to do with them?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ernieq]

My wife keeps asking the same question too, I think she is afraid I am going to convince her into getting some mammoth tank for all the clowns. 300 clowns in a 400 Gallon tank has got to look cool no? Realistically I don't have the room for 200 adult clowns, some LFS's have shown interest, but I don't really want to get rid of any until they are at least 1.5 inches to give them a better chance at survival. I used to breed freshwater discus and would sell them after they got do be about silver dollar+ size, usually about 9 months growth. From most of the information I have gathered 1.5 inches is about 9 to 12 months depending on feed routine.

 

[ernieq]

Side by side Batch 3 and 4 10 days apart. The little ones are catching up. I've noticed some flared gills. About 3 out the 69 in Batch 3 and around 10 out of 110 in batch 4. I have no misbars on batch 3, and I've found 2 misbars on batch 4 (iFish and another one whose middle bar is somewhat crooked, but not broken). I'm wondering if the flared gill issue is due to overcrowding as I had not noticed that before, though I've read it has to do with the ammonia level, but doesn't the ammonia level also produce lots of misbars? My filters are now totally seeded and fully cycled. I'm wondering if having the tank go through the cycle with the fish in it, even though I was controlling ammonia, has a factor in the flared gills?

This is Batch 7 3 days after spawn. Little black dots are showing up.

 

[ernieq]

Just read somewhere that flared gills might be a result of low oxygen levels, which would explain why my batch 4 has a higher ocurrence of flared gills. I'm increasing airflow by bunches to see if this curtails the issue.

 

[ernieq]

My batch 3 guys were beginning to look a little lethargic so I did a 50% water change using broodstock water and put in about 10% of new water. Tomorrow I will do the same again so as to have nearly identical water to the broodstock tank, whose water I will use to fill about 80% of the growout tank which NEEDS to be done by this weekend, so I can be ready for batch 7 on Sunday! All these pictures were taken right after lights out so they were beginning to gather into clumps to sleep.

Batch 4 doesn't seem adversely affected by the massive air flow increase through their tank. They show good appetite and today they were able to eat OTO B2.

Bath 7 is now 4 days old, little black dots are visible now.

 

[edandsandy]

Incredible job! I so enjoy reading your updates and seeing your babies side by side! What a difference a few days makes...

 

[ernieq]

42 DPH some tail patterns are almost done, now developing deeper orange in pectoral fins. I'm going to get some cyclop eeze, I'm told it brings out their orange deeper.

32 DPH Still growing, more color development.

Day 5 Post Spawn Silver in the eyes!!!

 

[ernieq]

Not much to report. They are just growing. I did a 50% water change on the 33 Day olds. Tomorrow both batches are getting moved to grow out and Batch 7 is due to hatch, so I'll be ready.

Here are the eggs at 6 days post spawn. More silver eyes, the male has not culled this batch as much as he did the previous one.

 

[AliciaP]

Awesome photos of the eggs! When will they hatch? I love that you can see the reflective eyes already.

 

[edandsandy]

Incredible journey isn't it?
Were you able to set up the 55g?

 

[ernieq]

The eggs are due to hatch tonight!

The 55 is going up today. I'm about to start making the preparations. At first I will only put 40 gallons of water, 20 from broodstock, 20 from their current system. The other 15 will go in within the next 48 hours so I can have the sump running. Need to head out to michales to buy the supplies for the screen that I will put around the overflow. The bigger guys don't seem to eat as well as they did a week ago. I'm not sure if that food is now too small and they don't see it. So I'm going to try OTO C1 and Golden Pearls 500-800 microns to see what the results are. They still gorge on Brine Shrimp when I provide it, but I'm trying to wean them completely out, I just don't see them eating as well, so I'm aftraid to stop. I also tried to crushed flake food this morning. It's quite the conoundrum.

 

[ernieq]

Grow out!!! Finally, it was a lot more work than I thought. I will finish filling up after I get some more water for the display tank and can harvest the last 15 to 20 gallons left.

I was going to put a tank divider to separate the batches, but they are close enough in size where I just put them together.

Day 7, they are hatching tonight!