anyone know where to get a cheap pair of breeding clownfish for a school?

[James]

I am a teacher at IS 285 in Brooklyn, NY and I have finally setup another tank in my classroom (in addition to a huge 265 gallon freshwater project that is being stalled by the administration after they were all gung-ho about it to get the donation... that is another story).

I had a reeftank in the classroom two years ago but donated it to a student who had a loss in his family and took a liking to the tank. For the new tank, I am using my old JBJ 29 nanocube (I also have a great tank donated from Tomtoothdoc but I could not get sufficient lighting for it and the JBJ is easier, not sure what I will do with it but I hope to get it running sometime this year). At this point, the tank is cycling and I am trying to score a cheap or donated pair of breeding clowns for the classroom. I am not particular about the species so long as they are healthy and not too large for a 29 cube. I have a copy Wilkerson's clownfish book and have my students excited about the project, I am planning on using the weekly water change water from my home reef to change about 5 gallons a week in the clownfish tank. I figure MR is a good place to start, if any vendor can get me a breeding pair of clownfish (other than large species like maroons) for cost (or donation) or if any breeder has a pair they don't really want anymore that would be ideal. Let me know,

James

 

[RARECLOWNSNJ]

Breeding pairs of clowns are usually a little more expensive. They also dont respond well to being moved or having their surroundings changed.

A good idea might be to get two juvenile fish and show the students the dynamic between two clownfish. Courtship Dominance and the famous sex change.

 

[James]

Ok, I was wondering about the move disturbing their breeding. What about a mated pair? One that if comfortable could start breeding? I do not want to wait for them to grow to maturity and pair up and breed, by that time these students would be gone.

 

[armani4o3]

I would try a large pair and go from there.

 

[RARECLOWNSNJ]

James even a mated pair can take years or months to start laying eggs. Its not so cut and dry.

Ive had perculas together for three months and they lay eggs, most times unfertilized because the male is not mature, some have taken years.

Mated pairs most times and this is a sercret dont share means nothing. They are just two clowns chosen and put together and get along.

It sounds like are about to breed but its a very misleading selling point.

 

[James]

Thanks for the advice Rareclowns, It is helpful. I will try one larger and one smaller and hope for the best.

 

[RARECLOWNSNJ]

Anytime.

Yea its not worth spending the extra money and i know if its for a school the great vendors on here will be more apt to donating.

If they are tank bred you could also talk to the kids about aquaculture.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

If your project is FW, I have so many tank bred to donate for a good course: dwarf pleco, cory, danios, platty, mollies, endlers, shrimps and plants. ALL TANK BRED or home aquacultured.

 

[James]

Wingo, the tank in my room is saltwater , some gsp and xenia and 2 clowns. The 265 that is going in the main office (donated from Manhattan Aquariums) is going to be freshwater so I would love to take you up on that offer once that tank is set up. The problem is that I do not know when the powers that be will get space for it in the office, they have to move stuff around and have not done it yet and it has been almost a year. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later but I doubt it.

 

[thirty5]

James
Who tends to your tank when school is out? How do you manage the cooling issue especialy with nano?

Just curious.

Sent from my Piece of crap Sprint Epic

 

[James]

35, There are always people in the building, most of the time there are teachers (even over long holidays, people don't think so by teachers work really hard) and custodial staff who help me out if I am away. In the hotter months I move the tank to a classroom near mine with A/C.

 

[thirty5]

35, There are always people in the building, most of the time there are teachers (even over long holidays, people don't think so by teachers work really hard) and custodial staff who help me out if I am away. In the hotter months I move the tank to a classroom near mine with A/C.

Wife is teacher! So don't put me in that classification!

Do you keep the tank on a dolly for easy move? May be a thought get some nice heavy duty casters and put them on stand!

 

[James]

The 29 gallon tank with no sump should be pretty simple to move, some 5 gallon buckets and a lot of student helpers should get the job done in a period.

The old tank was an Eclipse 12 gallon nano so that was really easy to move.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

... The 265 that is going in the main office (donated from Manhattan Aquariums) is going to be freshwater so I would love to take you up on that offer once that tank is set up.

NP.

Hope you can persuade your peers to stay community fish and planted tank because tank that size always lure people to keep cichlids. Even though I also have a couple to donate in that arena but I think a school/classroom setting deserves community fish/planted tank more.

The problem is that I do not know when the powers that be will get space for it in the office, they have to move stuff around and have not done it yet and it has been almost a year.

so much like my fish room LOL

 

[rkaragozler]

pm me James, I have a mated pair for you.

 

[tomtoothdoc]

james, i have a 4 bulbs t5 fixture that will fit that finnex tank if you wanna add an anemone with the clowns :wink1:....and if you think heat might be a problem, i got you covered with a 1/15 hp chiller also :lol_large
they'll be chilling out in the nem in style :smokin:...lol

lmk i can bring them to the swap.

pm me James, I have a mated pair for you.

richie, are you giving away my babies?.....lol. they are too young to mate so i know it's not them....hehehe.

 

[James]

Tom, you are insanely generous. I don't think a chiller is necessary but I will take you up on the lights, I could get that other tank running with them; that would be cool. I have a anenome but I am not sure about the PC's with the JBJ sustaining an anenome. Of course, once I get some T5s and the other tank set up, my options for a real reef increase. Gonna be fun. Ill see you at the swap

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I researched a little about your school. I found his comment posted on year 2009:

"This school is one of the best in Brooklyn . It has talent classes, tutoring classes and much more ! There are many after schoool activies where students can be able to show their talents off, as well as in school classes. Classes such as drama, dance, art, costume design,band, steel pan and chorus. I love this school with all my heart . I think I found myself here. Of course like any other schools, there is drama to be dealt with, but with the easy to talk to teachers, deans and principals, you can easily find your way out. The teachers are amazing . They help you, joke around with you and when they see you find something hard to understand, they take their free periods to allow you to come to their class to recieve extra tutoring. I love Meyer Levin !
--Submitted by a student"

...


What grade to what grade is middle school?
Is your project an extra curriculum thing or decorative mood thing?

If your school have some electronic clubs or activities, I can send in some junk electronics for them to "hack"
My friend is participating in robotics team with their kids MAKING robots that soon will rival MIT Robots. LOL

 

[James]

Wingo, it is 6th -8th. It is just a learning tool I will be using and something to inspire, nothing official. We have no electronic clubs sadly. We are a performing arts school.

 

[tomtoothdoc]

I'll bring the lights to the swap.
i've been in your classroom and I think you may need the chiller. But you would know better since you're there on a daily basis.
However, if you end up needing one, I will have it around since it's for my qt tank.......Yes I have a chiller for my qt tank.....lol:lol_large