Yes! Our inter-racial clowns layed eggs!!! Oh my - what to do to keep them alive....
- Thread starter ocfishaddicts
- Start date
ocfishaddicts
New member
thanks for the well wishes... i am going to give it my best shot for this batch and take it from there...
i do wonder the following and would welcome feedback of those that have a breeding pair of clowns:
Inquiring minds want to know
:thumbsup:
i do wonder the following and would welcome feedback of those that have a breeding pair of clowns:
- How many folks have tried to hatch/raise the eggs?
- How many were successful to the point of giving them away or selling them?
- How many actually did it again? If so, how many batches did you do before you stopped?
Inquiring minds want to know
:thumbsup:
bues0022
New member
Not to discourage you at all, but I think the answers of your questions are going to pretty much be all across the board. There are everyone from basic hobbiests to professional businessmen who make a living from selling clownfish on the board here. I think the majority, however, if you took an average would fall into the category of "raised a few batches, took too much work, so not I just marvel at my laying pair". That's probably where I'd lie if my fishes ever decided to pop out a few eggs. 
ocfishaddicts
New member
i am thinking that will probably be the case... still curious if 30% even tried and thought it was worth it and would assume the 98% would have given up after 1 to 4 batches..... just a hunch, but thought i would ask for fun since everyone is so willing to share... =)
ocfishaddicts
New member
Day 4 and hatch/grow tank nursey being setup...
Day 4 and hatch/grow tank nursey being setup...
ok... here is day 4 along with the other days for comparison.... good news is that our tank maintenance guy is coming tomorrow so we will have a clean big tank and also have water for our new 10 gallon nursery (yes, i know it woud be better if we learned to do it, but it's better for the marriage - trust me - lol!)
:love1:
Day 4 and hatch/grow tank nursey being setup...
ok... here is day 4 along with the other days for comparison.... good news is that our tank maintenance guy is coming tomorrow so we will have a clean big tank and also have water for our new 10 gallon nursery (yes, i know it woud be better if we learned to do it, but it's better for the marriage - trust me - lol!)
:love1:
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ocfishaddicts
New member
anyone want to give advise/thoughts on when to pull the eggs out for hatching
anyone want to give advise/thoughts on when to pull the eggs out for hatching
btw, anyone want to give advise/thoughts on when to pull the eggs out for hatching with the air bubble wand? day 7, 8, 9 or when the eggs look like xyz??? this friday will be day 7.... thanks!
anyone want to give advise/thoughts on when to pull the eggs out for hatching
btw, anyone want to give advise/thoughts on when to pull the eggs out for hatching with the air bubble wand? day 7, 8, 9 or when the eggs look like xyz??? this friday will be day 7.... thanks!
jbax
New member
do you know what day the previous hatch nights were? normally they hatch on the same day count.
also the 10 gallon nursery water should be the parent tank water from the day or night of the hatch. which you only want a few galllons in the 10g at first for a more dense rotifer population.
also the 10 gallon nursery water should be the parent tank water from the day or night of the hatch. which you only want a few galllons in the 10g at first for a more dense rotifer population.
Tahoe Reefer
New member
Wait as long as possible to pull the eggs, maybe an hour before lights out. The male clown is the best thing to have tend the eggs... ususaly so, if he is doing his job leave them in his care. Keep the eggs submerged the entire move. Make sure your transport container fits inside both tanks so you dont have to take the eggs out of the water. Use 100% tank water to fill up the fry tank right before the move and dont top off the reef until the eggs have been moved to avoid a change in water chemistry, which may delay the hatch. I've had batches hatch a day or even two late probably due to moving stress, an air stone will do in a pinch until they hatch. Keep the flow over the eggs heavy enough to get them to sway like they do when the male fans them. The eggs that turn white are dead, the male usually removes these so dont be alarmed when you see some fail to hatch.
Edit: I've seen a higher success rate with clownfish larva in a lower salinity, I start a slow Ro/Di water drip to lower the salinty to 1.020 over two days. The rotifers reproduce faster at around 1.017 salinity and can only tolerate a small difference between salinity so when you feed them to your clowns they dont go into shock. I often raise the salinity for one rotifer culture to 1.020 and leave one at 1.017. The higher salinity rotifers are for days 1 2 and sometimes 3 and then as the fry tank salinity lowers I switch to the other roti cutlure.
Good Luck!
Edit: I've seen a higher success rate with clownfish larva in a lower salinity, I start a slow Ro/Di water drip to lower the salinty to 1.020 over two days. The rotifers reproduce faster at around 1.017 salinity and can only tolerate a small difference between salinity so when you feed them to your clowns they dont go into shock. I often raise the salinity for one rotifer culture to 1.020 and leave one at 1.017. The higher salinity rotifers are for days 1 2 and sometimes 3 and then as the fry tank salinity lowers I switch to the other roti cutlure.
Good Luck!
Last edited:
ocfishaddicts
New member
thanks so much for the posts! lots of great info... will follow the advise - again, thank you! not sure when they hatched last couple of times (didn't count the days). not exactly sure if i should wait for night 8 or 9 looking for particular egg maturity or take our night seven or???
i setup the nursey today with everything running, bubble wand, black sides --- have a question about having a heater. hubby loves a freezing house. the location they are in can go down to 67/69 degrees. bought the marineland shatter proof and it seems baby proof.
btw, we will swap out the water with the big tank water right before i move. the rotifers i think will be the challenge. my partner in crime (raising his batch layed the same night) is in charge of the food for both. i would like a backup plan and learn to do my own. went to my lsf and they didn't have supplies or knowlege on how to raise them - ugh! they had frozen / refrigerated, and maybe that would be good for a backup. --- well, more research - will want to do my own... any suggestions for live purchase if needed in a pinch as a backup plan?
fish maint guy came today and the big tank looks great. however, the anemone has expanded to be sooo huge and is on top of the nest. dad keeps fussing with the eggs, but doesn't seem to be biting/chasing the anemone off. will the anemone eat the eggs or wait for them to hatch?
here are some pics - included the full view so you can see the nest up in the right corner and the maroon hang out is in the bottom left corner in the cave by the elegence and brain. can't quite see the eggs, but they are still there.
thanks again for the support and interest. getting excited, but trying to be realistic as well.
cheers!
i setup the nursey today with everything running, bubble wand, black sides --- have a question about having a heater. hubby loves a freezing house. the location they are in can go down to 67/69 degrees. bought the marineland shatter proof and it seems baby proof.
btw, we will swap out the water with the big tank water right before i move. the rotifers i think will be the challenge. my partner in crime (raising his batch layed the same night) is in charge of the food for both. i would like a backup plan and learn to do my own. went to my lsf and they didn't have supplies or knowlege on how to raise them - ugh! they had frozen / refrigerated, and maybe that would be good for a backup. --- well, more research - will want to do my own... any suggestions for live purchase if needed in a pinch as a backup plan?
fish maint guy came today and the big tank looks great. however, the anemone has expanded to be sooo huge and is on top of the nest. dad keeps fussing with the eggs, but doesn't seem to be biting/chasing the anemone off. will the anemone eat the eggs or wait for them to hatch?
here are some pics - included the full view so you can see the nest up in the right corner and the maroon hang out is in the bottom left corner in the cave by the elegence and brain. can't quite see the eggs, but they are still there.
thanks again for the support and interest. getting excited, but trying to be realistic as well.
cheers!
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ocfishaddicts
New member
jbax
New member
i keep my house freezing too.
but here is what i do. on the right side back corner i put a micro bubble air stone. on the left back corner i put a bio-orb heater horizontally about an inch or so off the bottom and a 4" micro bubble air stone under the heater. and cover the orange light on the heater with electrical tape. ya don't want the larvae to think the heater is home. also have both air lines on a gang valve or something to control the air flow. you don't want to boil the water real crazy. also you need to buy a lustar Hydro Sponge Filter III, so after they morph you can put a filter in the nursery tank. but it needs to seed for a 2 to 3 weeks in your parent tank.
rotifers are real easy to maintain. but the problem your gonna run into is phytoplankton to feed the rotifers. my setup is four 5g buckets an air pump feeding a gang valve for an air line with a 1ft 1/8" ridgid tube to each bucket. with about 2 gallons of water in each bucket.
http://www.eco-aquatics.com/liverotifers.html
https://3kserver7.com/~frank/secure/agora.cgi?cart_id=2245121.6829*p01Au0&product=COLLECTORS
(53 micron)
https://3kserver7.com/~frank/secure/agora.cgi?cart_id=2245121.6829*FA3WG3&product=CULTURE_KITS
http://www.sfbb.com/eggs.asp#
http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/Shop-Now-c1.html
this book will help out alot, some call it the clownfish bible
http://www.amazon.com/Clownfishes-Joyce-D-Wilkerson/dp/1890087041
but here is what i do. on the right side back corner i put a micro bubble air stone. on the left back corner i put a bio-orb heater horizontally about an inch or so off the bottom and a 4" micro bubble air stone under the heater. and cover the orange light on the heater with electrical tape. ya don't want the larvae to think the heater is home. also have both air lines on a gang valve or something to control the air flow. you don't want to boil the water real crazy. also you need to buy a lustar Hydro Sponge Filter III, so after they morph you can put a filter in the nursery tank. but it needs to seed for a 2 to 3 weeks in your parent tank.
rotifers are real easy to maintain. but the problem your gonna run into is phytoplankton to feed the rotifers. my setup is four 5g buckets an air pump feeding a gang valve for an air line with a 1ft 1/8" ridgid tube to each bucket. with about 2 gallons of water in each bucket.
http://www.eco-aquatics.com/liverotifers.html
https://3kserver7.com/~frank/secure/agora.cgi?cart_id=2245121.6829*p01Au0&product=COLLECTORS
(53 micron)
https://3kserver7.com/~frank/secure/agora.cgi?cart_id=2245121.6829*FA3WG3&product=CULTURE_KITS
http://www.sfbb.com/eggs.asp#
http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/Shop-Now-c1.html
this book will help out alot, some call it the clownfish bible
http://www.amazon.com/Clownfishes-Joyce-D-Wilkerson/dp/1890087041
Reed Mariculture sells live rots, and is fairly close to you. I've always had great service from them, both as a hobbyist and professionally for work. Seahorse Source also has a good reputation for live cultures, though I have no personal experience with them.
Of course dad isn't chasing the anemone off, it helps him protect the eggs from predators
In fact, the male will usually stimulate the anemone to get the tentacles to cover the eggs.
victorcan
Member
oc fish great work so far.. my lfs has been raising these things for weeks(that ive been going) and theyre doing wonderful.. everytime i go there (which is about every other day they're bigger than the previous visit.. sad your lfs is not as tech adept 
anyways good luck and keep going
they're bigger than the previous visit.. sad your lfs is not as tech adept anyways good luck and keep going
jbax
New member
and if you don't want to grow your own phyto
http://www.reed-store.com/shop.cfm/Rotifer-Products/Rotifers-Live-and-Concentrate/RD-SM:1/
http://www.reed-store.com/shop.cfm/Rotifer-Products/Rotifers-Live-and-Concentrate/RD-SM:1/
ocfishaddicts
New member
Day 6 - ? When to pull out....
Day 6 - ? When to pull out....
wow... what great info!!! thank you all... just got home from work (really long day - good news is that i am off for a 4 day weekend to figure all this out!) will look into seeding the suggested filteration system (hopefully, enough time) and the phydo info...
the eggs are looking great with cute little silver eyes --- tomorrow night will be 7 days - when do you suggest to move them or what are they suppose to look like? if they hatch in the big tank they will be eaten and i am not sure when they hatched before.
thank you all for your interest and advise - it is appreciated!
getting close - the parents are sooo adorable tending to the nest with diligence. there doesn't appear to be that many missing eggs. here are a couple of pics (unfortunately i didn't get home before the moon lights came on)
touch base with you tomorrow
Day 6 - ? When to pull out....
wow... what great info!!! thank you all... just got home from work (really long day - good news is that i am off for a 4 day weekend to figure all this out!) will look into seeding the suggested filteration system (hopefully, enough time) and the phydo info...
the eggs are looking great with cute little silver eyes --- tomorrow night will be 7 days - when do you suggest to move them or what are they suppose to look like? if they hatch in the big tank they will be eaten and i am not sure when they hatched before.
thank you all for your interest and advise - it is appreciated!
getting close - the parents are sooo adorable tending to the nest with diligence. there doesn't appear to be that many missing eggs. here are a couple of pics (unfortunately i didn't get home before the moon lights came on)
touch base with you tomorrow
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jbax
New member
i say check them on day 8. my eggs have the silver eyes on day 5 or 6. but when i see the silver on their sides, i know thats the night they are gonna hatch. but i could be just crazy.
this may help
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=477
this may help
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=477
ocfishaddicts
New member
Took conservative route... Moved babies tonight to new nursery - crossing fingers
Took conservative route... Moved babies tonight to new nursery - crossing fingers
thanks jbax for recommendation and the link... unfortunately, have some family issues today - father-in-law had major surgery and complications - not sure on my schedule so i pulled them out tonight when i had a chance. also, i did some research and the picture looked like some began hatching at 7 days so i took the conservative route --- hopefully it will be ok... kind of sad seeing the dad swimming around looking for them =(
so... for a little peace / distraction, here is my latest update and pictures.
well... that is it for tonight... looking forward to seeing what happens the next few days!
:fish1::fish1::fish1:
Took conservative route... Moved babies tonight to new nursery - crossing fingers
thanks jbax for recommendation and the link... unfortunately, have some family issues today - father-in-law had major surgery and complications - not sure on my schedule so i pulled them out tonight when i had a chance. also, i did some research and the picture looked like some began hatching at 7 days so i took the conservative route --- hopefully it will be ok... kind of sad seeing the dad swimming around looking for them =(
so... for a little peace / distraction, here is my latest update and pictures.
- picked up my rotifers today from my partner in crime and also some algae paste (much easier to feed rotifers)... btw, his eggs look sooo different from ours even though they were layed the same day. interesting to see it play out....
- 10 gallon tank partially filled from big tank today
- smaller container for initial hatch and rotifer feeding
- heater setup in the 10 gallon to keep the water warm for both tank and small container (no light so no worries)
- bubble wand setup with gentle flow over eggs and shell --- hopefully we have it setup right
- amonia strips bought and anti-chlorine drops bought
- covered walls and counter for protection
- sponge filter being seeded in big tank
well... that is it for tonight... looking forward to seeing what happens the next few days!
:fish1::fish1::fish1:
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ocfishaddicts
New member
thanks jpax for the good thoughts and PM - really appreciated. father-in-law not expected to make it - we are very close and he lives with us... it has been a very difficult weekend...
life is not able to be put on pause - today/tonight the babies are hatching.... they are absolutely adorable! so far there are A LOT - haven't been able to count and only using a flash light briefly to see them in the dark hall / cabinet. i put rotifers in before i left to the hospital as i saw 1 or 2 swimming around. hopefully, this is the right thing to do so soon - wasn't sure when they start eating and didn't want them to starve.
other side note, is that my partner in crime's eggs were eaten friday by the parents as he was moving the nest around trying to prepare his hatch container to be in the same tank. i guess they are like birds where the mother will kill them if some messes with the nest.
soooo... here is the feeding info i have so far compliments of bluewateraquaticulture:
Feeding The Larval Tank
of course, i am not sure of the portions and also don't really even see the rotifers in the bottle he gave me... more rotifer research and scrutny of rotifers during the daylight.
deep sigh..... you know, life is amazing with the cycle of life and death, highs and lows... i am appreciating this little project of new life and wonder during a dark time.
thanks RC friends. hug your loved ones closely.
:sad2:
life is not able to be put on pause - today/tonight the babies are hatching.... they are absolutely adorable! so far there are A LOT - haven't been able to count and only using a flash light briefly to see them in the dark hall / cabinet. i put rotifers in before i left to the hospital as i saw 1 or 2 swimming around. hopefully, this is the right thing to do so soon - wasn't sure when they start eating and didn't want them to starve.
other side note, is that my partner in crime's eggs were eaten friday by the parents as he was moving the nest around trying to prepare his hatch container to be in the same tank. i guess they are like birds where the mother will kill them if some messes with the nest.
soooo... here is the feeding info i have so far compliments of bluewateraquaticulture:
Feeding The Larval Tank
- Rotifers from day 1 to days 5-10+/-
- Baby brine shrimp or Coral Frenzy or similar starting at days 5-14+/- (add biofilter now)
- NHBS/Coral Frenzy/Otohime A - Days 7 to 14-30+/-
- Crushed Flake Food - Days 14 t
- Gradually increase food particle sizes to fit larvae's mouth
of course, i am not sure of the portions and also don't really even see the rotifers in the bottle he gave me... more rotifer research and scrutny of rotifers during the daylight.
deep sigh..... you know, life is amazing with the cycle of life and death, highs and lows... i am appreciating this little project of new life and wonder during a dark time.
thanks RC friends. hug your loved ones closely.
:sad2:
