New Hatch Clowns dive to bottom

[tipinover]

The Clown Fry that hatched several days ago had some major problems we are still trying to work out. We lost all of them and are trying to figure out what happened.

One of the problems that we noticed was that they would swim to the bottom very fast and kind of crash into the bottom of the tank and then bounce.

Had the sides painted black but not the bottom. Had put a light colored towel under the tank.

We appreciate any feedback. thanks!

 

[traveller7]

Can you describe the rest of the hatching environment and procedure used?

 

[tipinover]

We are using a 10 gal tank and following the steps that are in Joyce Wilkersons book. My son in Florida is doing this and I am in Michigan on the computer trying to find out what could have gone wrong. We have figured out that the tank probably wasn't sterile, as he thought it was and also he had a piece of live rock in it that shoudn't have been there. So we have some of the problems figured out so he can get those taken care of before the next hatch.

But we are still wondering what would cause them to dive at and kind of bounce off the bottom of the tank?? We read that the side should be darkened so they don't jet themselves into the sides of the tank. Should he have painted that black also??

Thanks for your help.

 

[shiggs]

Well the babies are light sensative so maybe they thought that was the way up so they went to it.

I would suggest no light on the bottom.

 

[traveller7]

Darksides, light colored bottom tends to be the norm.

Bright light over the tank?
Hatch at night?
Hatch in the tank or taken from parents tank?

Lots o'Questions

 

[tipinover]

No, there was not a bright light over the tank. He did use a flash light to check on them every so often but only had it on for a few seconds and they were diving to the bottom when he turned it on.

He did the flashlight over the tank 2 hours after dark. the rest of the room was dark.

The fry were taken from the parents as soon as they hatched and carefully scooped out of the tank and put into the waiting tank.

He did have the dark sides and light bottom on the tank.

Wondering if the tank was not as "pristine" as he thought, could it have caused some kind of reaction in the fry that might have send them dive bombing into the bottom????
Really appreciate your comments.