Wild Onyx Clownfish. Take 3
- Thread starter CoralsAddiction
- Start date
EthanHawaii
New member
ThRoewer
New member
When I was breeding ocellaris, percula and clarkii large scale I was primarily feeding frozen Mysis (locally caught by myself), squid and feeder shrimp (all my pairs were fully grown except maybe for the clarkii).
I noticed that the eggs where usually rather clear, but I had hatch rates of 99% and usually only minimal losses during the first 2 months. Misbars were not overly frequent and deformations were usually minimal (still too much for my taste).
So I can't confirm that Mysis is generally bad.
The best available foods are of course pods: Calanus, Cyclops, reef plankton,... and of course live tigger pods. It's about as close as you can get to what clownfish eat in the wild.
Unfortunately these are usually expensive and it is quite difficult to get them sufficiently filled up with those. You would ideally have to feed them all day long in small portions. I try to feed it as often as possible, but Mysis is usually more convenient.
In general I found Mysis to be a good base food and you should be fine if you supplement it with some of the above and maybe some high quality dry food (flakes or pellets).
The issue with the Mysis we can buy is that they are all freshwater species. Alive they are pretty much clear and likely lack some of the nutrients saltwater Mysis have.
Back in Germany I also caught saltwater Mysis which are a whole different animal: larger and usually greenish or brownish from all the algae they consume. Unfortunately they don't form the massive swarms that make catching freshwater Mysis so easy and efficient. I was able to catch a years worth of fresh-/brackish water Mysis in 2 to 3 hours - and I was feeding about a pound (= 500 g) a week.
Of saltwater Mysis I was lucky to catch 100 grams worth during a whole day. These guys live in small groups among algae. I don't know if they form large swarms as well at some point in time - if they do I never found those.
CoralsAddiction
Active member
Very nice pair of true percs
Last edited:
CoralsAddiction
Active member
My clowns are alive and well. After they were properly QT'd for ich, I upgraded their 16 gallon IM Nuvo to 40 gallon Fusion Nuvo.
Also, the female is developing more black (mostly dots) on the rear half of her body.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bc8J6Mw692I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Also, the female is developing more black (mostly dots) on the rear half of her body.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bc8J6Mw692I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
CoralsAddiction
Active member
Tank is still work in progress
CoralsAddiction
Active member
The clowns have laid eggs in their new home. They really like to procreate. Ha
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oJqYDgFK-pQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oJqYDgFK-pQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
CoralsAddiction
Active member
Hopefully soon. It seems like once they start spawning there's no stopping them under the right conditions.
This tank was setup three weeks ago and the pot was placed 2 weeks ago. The lighting schedule changed a little bit but not enough to throw the clowns off completely.
CoralsAddiction
Active member
I ordered rotifers culture kit and otohimes. With a lot of (good) stuff going on in life and being busy, I'll try to raise some babies nonetheless. Thanks @ D-Nak for some advice on feeding clownfish babies.
D-Nak
Active member
Oh you're hooked now. Need to change your name to ClownsAddiction. LOL :dance:
CoralsAddiction
Active member
Ha, that's true...I'm still keeping my eyes open for a very nice Picasso pair with good lineage
ThRoewer
New member
A clownfish addiction can lead to serious trouble - back in Germany, when I was trying to get at least one pair of each species, I ended up with well over 20 tanks with a pair each. And that's not counting the 10 larva and 30 grow-out tanks.
That's why I currently "constrain" myself to only percula - 4 pairs and a single at this point :headwally:
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
That's why I currently "constrain" myself to only percula - 4 pairs and a single at this point :headwally:
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
CoralsAddiction
Active member
Rotifers culturing started. I am somewhat underprepared for this and it's a learn on the go situation. I don't anticipate much success initially but hoping for improvement as time goes on.
CoralsAddiction
Active member
That's a great idea. Thanks and will do.
CoralsAddiction
Active member
You have a spawning pair of pipefish? That's cool. Post some pics or a video if you have some.
