My first attempt to raise clownfish!

[npaden]

Well, I'm at the beginning of my first attempt to raise a batch of clownfish. I moved the tile to the hatch out tank last night and this morning they had all hatched and seemed to be doing well.

I think I have plenty of rotifers in there for them and have 2 - 5 gallon buckets culturing to hopefully get them through the next few days before going to baby brine shrimp.

I actually have a trio of ocellaris that spawned in my display. They host in my m. dorensis and laid on the back glass of the tank behind the anemone a couple weeks ago and then after that batch hatched I placed a tile back there and they laid on the tile 2 days later!

Here are a few pics:

Old pic of the clowns in thier anemone - this was a little over a year ago.
http://www.padens.homestead.com/files/clowns_in_anenome_1-4-03.jpg

Here are the pics of the eggs I took last night before the hatch:
http://padens.homestead.com/files/clown_eggs_before_hatch_2-18-04.jpg

Closeup - you can see their eyes in this pic:
http://padens.homestead.com/files/clown_eggs_closeup_2-18-04.jpg

Oh well, I'm very excited and hope to be able to raise them fairly sucessfully. I've raised baby banggais for a couple years now so hopefully I'll avoid some mistakes but banggais are a lot easier with being in smaller batches and eating baby brine right away.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[reefland]

Very cool... good luck.

Picture I took of my baby clowns, never tried to raise them.

Notice the white and orange stripes of the clownfish in the background for an idea of scale.

 

[K9coral]

Damn thats cool :!: :!: :!:

Good job to both of you.
How long does it take to raise them to be big enough where they can survive w/o being eaten by other fish?

 

[Money Pit]

I look forward to hearing about your progress and hopefully seeing more pictures.
BTW I really enjoyed your underwater Fiji pictures on your web site.

 

[npaden]

Here are a few pics from tonight:

http://padens.homestead.com/files/clownfish_larvae_-_day_1_far_off.jpg

http://padens.homestead.com/files/clownfish_larvae_-_day_1.jpg

Seem to be doing really well so far!

 

[Modo]

Awesome! Keep us posted of the successes.

This is off topic but I noticed you're in Lubbock. I started this hobby out there when I was in school. Is that shop still there on University and 34th (I think). The guy and his wife had a nice shop with an above ground pool with Nurse sharks in it. Great folks!

 

[CeeJay]

npaden is a daddy, how cute
Keep posting pics

 

[Anonymous]

Here are a few pics from tonight:

http://padens.homestead.com/files/clownfish_larvae_-_day_1_far_off.jpg

http://padens.homestead.com/files/clownfish_larvae_-_day_1.jpg

Seem to be doing really well so far!

from the 2nd pic, it seems as if they're eating quite well- nice round bellies.


very nice, nathan 8)

 

[jamesw]

Yes, looking good so far Nathan! Good job.

You just need to get through the first week or so and then you can start mixing in Artemia. Then it gets MUCH easier.

Looks like you got a really good hatch - lotsa fish!

Cheers
James

 

[1937 Waco]

Hello Nat:

Could you go into a little detail on any procedure that you did to get them to mate in the first place? In other words, what would it take me to have a pair of clowns lay eggs? There have been some very good articles on growing food and such so I feel that I have that part down. I am more interested in providing an enviroment that will induce egg laying.

Thanks, Bob

 

[npaden]

I just have them in my reeftank. Feed them well and I guess they are happy. I actually don't have the ideal setup for them to spawn because I have a trio. The littlest is the 3rd wheel but he enjoys watching.

The rotifers have been fairly easy. So far so good! Joyce's book says I can start mixing in some brine shrimp after day 4 so I just set up a hatch tonight.

Nathan