Raising Ocellaris Clowns

[Jay F]

I posted a while back about this, and just wanted to give an update.

I have about 40, 3 ot 5 weeks old in a rearing tank. I also have another 25 or so 10 days old about ready to come out of the larvae tank. My last spawning cycle was 11 days, but they average every 14 days.

Somebody (wish I could remember off hand) recomended Ohime larvae feed. Thanks for that. My baby clowns kill it and they are growing fast.

I have a few videos on you tube.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Jay12629

 

[billsreef]

Great videos :thumbsup:

 

[FB]

My first attempt was poor as I did not have enough rotifers. I am hoping this one will go much better. Just wondering if you have found any tricks that have helped you be successful.

Thanks

FB

EDIT: Great vids by the way

 

[Jay F]

A strong rotifer culture is a must. Pack the larvae tank, and co-culture (feed the larvae tank microalgae so your rotifers eat and reproduce in there the first few days). I got my rotifer starter culture from Reed Mariculture and have good luck with them. I also feed them Reed's rotifer diet.

I think thorough bottom cleaning is key also. I siphon the bottom with a turkey baster daily.

I've made mistakes along the way, but I keep a log of everything and take lots of notes and refer to them constantly. It really helps me refine the process. So I would say keep a log and take good notes.

I also have a thread at salt-city.org with more info.

God luck! I'll keep an eye on your thread.

 

[Jay F]

I now have about 75 or 80 juveniles in my rearing tank from three hatches. I got 34 from my last hatch (more than I thought I had) transfered to the grow out tank yesterday at two weeks old. I didn't lose any in the transfer.

 

[billsreef]

:thumbsup:

 

[Jay F]

I have some new video of my juveniles on my you tube. These are mostly 5 and 3 weeks old. About 75 total.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Jay12629

 

[FB]

Thanks for the video.

At what age do you add them to the grow-out tank.

I currently have 6 alive at day 7, 2 have started metamorphasis. This is my 2nd attempt to raise them.

 

[Jay F]

Beetween 11 and 13 days. I start baby brine on day 4 or 5 and dry food (highly recommend Otohime) the day after that. I have them off brine completely the day before and the day of transfer (very important. I'm sure you're reading Joyce Wilkersons book).

11 days is pretty early but it's more about how they are developing than how old they are. By day 7 your clowns should be well into metamorphosis. I keep my larvae tank at 82F, 1.020 sg. If your tank runs cooler than that it can take as much as 1 day per degree longer.

Also, when you move them, I would acclimate them in the larvae tank, per Joyce Wilkersons advice. when I do this, I have had 0% losses in transfer. I usually end up with about 8 gallons in my 10 gallon larvae tank. I drain it down to 3 gallons, then drip it back up to 8 gal. (@ 1 gal. per hour) with water from the grow out tank, which I remove and replenish 1 quart at a time. Then I drain it back down ( just to make them easier to catch) and scoop them out with a plastic container and into the grow out tank.

 

[Zaita]

From hatching/birth. What is the time before they can be passed off to a LFS or hobbyist?

I have seen some as small as 1/3 Inch in the local LFS, where only 2 stripes have formed thus far.

 

[Jay F]

1" is really small. Most of my lps's like them 1". For Ocellaris, that's usually 3 to 5 months.