Something in my tank laid eggs, but it doesn't make sense...

[Mastermind]

Alright, quick background. I've got a (i think) 35 gallon hex. The tank itself has been up for about 3 months, LR and LS were cured in a seperate tank for about a month before hand. I had a pair of True Percs in the tank for all of a week, until a folley in my overflow design found them in the carbon bag in my sump (dead). On Monday, I replaced them with a pair (non-mated, I think) of Cinnamon Clowns. Other tank inhabitants are a GBTA, Blue Damsel, a Lawnmower Blenny, Sally Lightfoot, and the CUC.

Well, this morning I pulled out the filter sock in the sump to take out the Chemi-Pure I've been running. To my surprise, there are tiny (~1mm) eggs lining the inside of the sock. I THINK they're eggs at least. Orange, small, perfectly round, etc. So, now I have to figure out if they are indeed eggs, and if they are, where did they come from? IMO, neither pair of clowns were/are in the tank long enough breeding, the damsal and blenny are alone, so I don't think either would lay eggs without a mate. Anemone is fairly fresh too, and I'm not sure if they put out eggs or not regardless.

So, when I get home from work I'll try to take pictures. But, in the mean time, any insight would be great...

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[Atticus]

Got snails?

 

["Umm fish?"]

Hmm, orange doesn't sound like snail eggs I've seen. Most that I've seen are white.

It's certainly possible that your anemone came to you ripe with eggs or larvae (looks like some are broadcast spawners, some are brooders). Looks more and more like BTAs are brooders. If so, there's an outside possibility that some of them will settle and grow in your tank. So, keep an eye out! As for what's in the filter sock, as long as they are orange or dark there's a possibility that they are still viable. Put some of them in a glass jar that's NEVER been through the dishwasher (soap residue = death) and some rock chips. If you can, put a sloooow bubble of air in there.

Please post some pictures!

And, good luck!

 

[TitoTee]

I thought some Clown fish eggs were orange?

Check out this article:

http://www.petstation.com/clownfish.html


see what it says about the eggs:rollface:

 

["Umm fish?"]

Clown eggs are orange, but they are laid attached to the substrate. Not too likely they'd end up in the sump, IMO.

 

[billsreef]

All the fish you mention are attach their eggs to the substrate, so that rules out fish eggs. Likely the cuke or anemone released eggs.