Tang interfering with egg laying?

[MidMichiganReef]

My clowns are due to lay eggs any time now (two weeks since their last clutch). I've never actually seen them lay, I just have found the eggs on the spot they cleared. Anyway tonight they appeared to be ready to lay right after my day lights shut off and the actinics kicked in. It even got to the point where it looked like there was a hole opening on her stomach. Then along came my Scopas tang and interrupted them by pecking away at the rock around the spots they've cleared. Every time they would try to get back into in the tang would come over and they'd stop. A few times to Scopas seemed to try to smack the clowns with her barb.

Anyone have experience with this? Is it possible that the tang will prevent them from laying?

 

[snorvich]

Take out the tang

 

[MidMichiganReef]

Take out the tang

If I could catch him I would have taken him out tonight. He's terrified of the net, I can just have it in my hand and he goes into hiding.


I take it the answer is "yes" he will interfere with spawning?

 

[billsreef]

Yes, the tang could interfere with spawning. This is why commercial breeders keep their pairs in tanks by themselves.

 

[MidMichiganReef]

Yes, the tang could interfere with spawning. This is why commercial breeders keep their pairs in tanks by themselves.

Thank you both for the responses. The probably explains why the first two clutches were very very small and not very clustered together. If I can catch the tang he will go into my other tank. If not, I am moving in a few weeks and will set them up in their own tank.

 

[reefstew]

I have 17 tanks set up for breeding fish. The tanks have a pair of fish & either a clay pot or pvc to lay eggs in. No other fish, rock, or anything else.

 

[MidMichiganReef]

I have read a lot about different breeding setups and been to a few breeder's places here in Michigan. If I ever decide to breed them I will move them into their own setup. This is the first time any of the clowns I've owned have spawned. Just thought it would be cool to have a nice clutch of eggs hanging out under my RBTA.

 

[jake levi]

tang

tang

If you want to save a spawn give them their own tank, otherwise the tang will just help itself to a handy meal, besides scaring the pair.

where in MI are you?

 

[snorvich]

If you want to remove any fish, best chance is at night.

 

[duncaholic]

Not only will the tang interfere, it could slash your clowns. I have had this happen with devestating affect. I have a female Occ right now that's healing up from her second brutal wound.

<a href="http://s796.photobucket.com/albums/yy243/duncanaholic/?action=view&current=20110108tangpain.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy243/duncanaholic/20110108tangpain.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

That's the first wound. The one she has now is much more serious. I am going to break down the tnk Sunday just to get the tang out, which is a heartbreaker cause it's a reef tank that's been established for about three years.

 

[MidMichiganReef]

If you want to save a spawn give them their own tank, otherwise the tang will just help itself to a handy meal, besides scaring the pair.

where in MI are you?

Right now I'm in Metro-Detroit. In two weeks I move to Midland which may be somewhere up by you.



She looks like she's skinnier today, I assume she dumped the eggs somewhere because they aren't on the rock. Would she just absorb them or possibly deposit them into the RBTA?