snagger and tile questions

[NirvanaFan]

I've posted a few times about my clowns spawning. They have done this 2 or 3 times that I have seen. I tried making a larval snagger, but it didn't catch anything last night when the eggs hatched. I turned off all the pumps and lights when the display lights went off at 10pm. I left all the pumps off for half an hour. After that time, I came back downstairs, turned off the flashlight, turned off the pump powering the snagger, and looked in my container. I didn't catch one larvae. I looked at the clutch of eggs, and I don't think that any hatched. I wasn't sure if they were going to hatch last night, so I turned everything back on the tank (pumps, skimmer, etc).

How long does it take for the eggs to hatch after lights out? I figured that I would get at least a few larvae after 30 minutes. I'd like to get her to lay on a tile, so....

Today I decided to put a tile over where they usually spawn. The female keeps pushing the tile out of the way. She has done this 3 or 4 times now. The last time I even wedged it in there pretty well. It took her an hour to knock it onto the sand, but she did it. Any tips on getting it her to stop doing this?

Thanks

 

[jmking33]

I have a pair of clowns that have laid eggs for the past 8 months. Ive tried putting a tile in the tank, but they just move to the opposite side of their BTA. I have also caught the larve(yes..plastic cup and a flashlight). Which takes forever. Ive never had the fry last past 4 days. Pretty frustrating. My fry are hatching around an hour and a half after the lights go off. And they dont all hatch at once. they hatch in waves. So I catch the ones that hatch, then return to the dvr and my tv for about 30 minutes. You must have a big female or a small tile to have her move it. You didnt mention what kind you have. Also, this "spawn snagger", I think you need to patent the name and start making them! Its diy im assuming. Is there a web page?

 

[NirvanaFan]

Thanks for the reply. I've got a couple more questions. How much time is in between your waves? Do you turn off all your pumps and let everything settle down?


I basically copied the diy ones I've seen on here which were probably based on the one in Joyce Wilkersons book. The tile is about 5" x 3". Both clowns are ocellaris, and the female is just over 2" probably. The tile is not quite vertical. Maybe about a 70 degree angle. She turns to the side, bites it, and wags her tail really fast. I'll probably redo a different snagger. I wasn't too happy with it. Next time I'll try leaving turning everything off a half hour after lights off, and then leave everything off for an hour and a half and see what happens.

 

[MYDRAAL]

There should be total darkness on hatch night, which you'll know when that will be after your clowns lay eggs a couple times because they'll hatch the same time after they lay the eggs each time. If you even shine a flashlight on the eggs during hatch night that could delay them from hatching right away, so keep that in mind during those nights. Usually start hatching within first half hour that night(after all lights are out) so you'll know pretty quick. JMO, keep trying the tile thing because it will make things a heck of a lot easier. I had to wedge a rock against mine to keep female from moving it and she still almost got it away from her nem. GL :rollface: