My Ocellaris breeding thread
- Thread starter ernieq
- Start date
ernieq
New member
I find that raising clowns, while a lot of work, is very rewarding and it is currently my stress relief outlet. The key is to be prepared and have everything ready. The only thing I would do different if I had to start over on batch 7 is to have dual cultures of rotifers ready. I just can't get authorization from the boss. The next time I buy a house, I will make sure to have the space for a fishroom like Sandy's :lol2:, so aesthetics are no longer an issue.
ernieq
New member
Well, I definitely don't have enough rotifers. This large batch just goes through them like a hot knife through butter. I'm going to make a guideline for myself to use one 5 gallon culture for every 100 fry. Most ocellaris batches will fall in the 2 bucket category. I lost a lot of them and noticed they have empty stomachs. I think part of the problem is the dual night hatch. The older guys are still around and have fat bellies, while the little guys just can't compete. So next time, splitting the batch would be a good idea if they hatch in different nights. You can see the bigger ones with round bellies and the smaller ones not quite as full.
And here is a shot of a group in the grow out tank. Now 38 and 48 Days old.
And here is a shot of a group in the grow out tank. Now 38 and 48 Days old.
ernieq
New member
Put some more rotifers this morning, a lot of fatalities, I think I'm down to around 70 or so from well over 200. Not enough food. I probably needed 3 buckets of rotifer culture. I'm going to see if I can setup my multiple rotifer culture under the growout tank so the boss doesn't object to more buckets around. Today I will also introduce NHBS to supplement the rotifer diet. That should pull me through meta, now that I'm down to a more manageable number of fry. Still beating mama nature in survival percentages though... My female looks pretty big and the male has started to clean up the site again (and again, the tile goes ignored).
ernieq
New member
Batch 7, 5 DPH Some are beginning to turn orange already. Removed more fatalities today. I'm around 60 left. I now have enough food to support this population so I don't expect many more losses.
This morning the looked busy, this afternoon they were busy. Batch 8, biggest ever.
Grow out tank gets some chaeto to help reduce nutrients.
This morning the looked busy, this afternoon they were busy. Batch 8, biggest ever.
Grow out tank gets some chaeto to help reduce nutrients.
Fish doctor
New member
It looks like you have this project down to a science.
ernieq
New member
I wish I did, with every batch I try to raise, my notes keep getting larger. In this batch so far.
1. A split hatch requires split larval tanks. 1 Day's growth is too much, and the younger ones just can't compete for food as they try to learn to hunt.
2. A 5 gallon bucket culture for every 100 or so fry. It's difficult to count, but with enough batches, you can more or less tell.
3. Definitely need to maintain 10/15 rots per ml, otherwise some fry will starve. I found that replenishing about twice a day should do the trick. Early afternoon and one at night, so the rots in the larval tank reproduce and last longer for the next morning.
4. Supplement Baby Brine at day 5 so you don't over harvest your rotifer cultures.
ernieq
New member
Darn heater, I really need to get a controller. The heater had a leak on it and it malfunctioned. Moved the water all the way up to 86 degrees before I noticed on the grow out tank. No clowns appear to be in dire straights, lets hope I averted a disaster. Anybod recommend something in the affordable range.
ernieq
New member
Batch 8 2 DPS Nothing out of the ordinary. Eggs have a nice color
Batch 7 now at 7 DPH. This guy is now in meta. This is a pretty good shot at his developing fins.
Growout now 41 and 51 DPH. I still can't find iFish. I'm wondering if his bar closed up? I haven't seen any fatalities, but I've been looking really carefully and can't find him.
Batch 7 now at 7 DPH. This guy is now in meta. This is a pretty good shot at his developing fins.
Growout now 41 and 51 DPH. I still can't find iFish. I'm wondering if his bar closed up? I haven't seen any fatalities, but I've been looking really carefully and can't find him.
saltyjo
New member
ernie, you must have got lucky. I had 2 disasters with heaters. The first time the AC kicked on and the tank got way too cold, lost all 5 little fish.The second time a tank got way too hot. Cooked my little 4 month old perc. A controller was recomended to me after the first mishap and I should have gotten one!
I think this is the one someone recommended to me, and is reasonable in price.
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/finnex-max-300-heater-controller
ernieq
New member
I'd like to automate the feedings to my grow out tank. Anybody have experience with automatic feeders for grow out purposes. I'd like to feed 4 times daily. The ones I use for my DT would dispense way too much food. Any mondifications or maybe one that just works with OTO B2 sized food?
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ernieq
New member
Batch 8, 8 DPH right in the middle of Meta. Headstripes are visible now.
Here's another guy viewed from the side. Headstripe fully visible. The second stripe is coming! These are the guys that hatched the first night. The guys from the second night are smaller and do not have a stripe yet, one can be seen to the left top corner.
Here's another guy viewed from the side. Headstripe fully visible. The second stripe is coming! These are the guys that hatched the first night. The guys from the second night are smaller and do not have a stripe yet, one can be seen to the left top corner.
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edandsandy
Active member
Aww. They are so cute! congrats again on your progress!
MarlinDreams
Member
Following this with great enthusiasm, what a great thread.
ernieq
New member
Larry, Moe, & Curly in Growout now 43 & 53 DPH
Batch 8, 9 DPH for size perspective. Second bar now clearly visible. Dorsal fin now partially orange colored. I would say about 33% of them look like this, another 40% only have a headstripe, about 20% beginning to show headstripe and the rest are really small.
Batch 8, 9 DPH for size perspective. Second bar now clearly visible. Dorsal fin now partially orange colored. I would say about 33% of them look like this, another 40% only have a headstripe, about 20% beginning to show headstripe and the rest are really small.
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