Trying an non-rotifer attempt to raise clowns!!

[Reef Reaper]

I going to try to raise my clown larvae without rotifers. The eggs are about eight days old and very close to being coming free swimming larvae. I have taken the rock with the eggs and placed them into an old hob filter box. The filter box is in the same tank as the parents. I will try to feed the babies with very fine dry flakes on the second day of hatching. I haven't had any luck in getting any live rotifers, so if anyone has any suggestions. It would be much appreciated. thanks and wish me luck. Thanks for looking. I will have a picture later.

 

[Alex]

please post a photo diary, this is a difficult task but not impossible. good luck.

 

[Reef Reaper]

I will have a photo of the live rock with the babies on it.

 

[Reef Reaper]

Here are a couple of shots!

http://tinypic.com/r/zjdvth/7
http://tinypic.com/r/2vtd2sk/7

 

[Reef Reaper]

Here is a better shot.

http://tinypic.com/r/1jq7ti/7

 

[Josh]

What do you plan on feeding them?

 

[Reef Reaper]

I was thinking of using pulverized flakes after the first 24-48 hours and then at day 5, if there are still alive, baby brine shrimp. I also have frozen rotifers, but I'm worried they may contaminant the water too quickly.

 

[ming]

I'm pretty skeptic that they'll accept things that doesn't twitch. The movement of things usually triggers a feeding response. But I hope you can prove me wrong.

 

[skene]

maybe what you might want to try flakes ground and mixed with water and put them through a baster

 

[Reef Reaper]

I put a airstone into the container to provide oxygen plus add movement to the flakes when I put it in. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Josh]

You'll need to turn the flake into complete dust in order for it to be small enough for them to eat it. Also, the airstone will just cause the fry to fly around the tank. I've heard of people raising one to five fish from a hatch. If you do it with rotifers and the proper diet you'll get hundreds.

 

[Reef Reaper]

Josh, the airstone output is extremely low. I know if the water is too high, the fry will be to exhausted from swimming. The water is will be just enough to keep the food suspend in the water. I'm going to try to get phyto and rotifers going for the next batch. Any ideas on the best way to set this up. I'm doing a lot of reading, but I would like to know your system, since it is a proved method. thanks.

 

[cthoughts1]

Any word? Very curious on how its going. My black misbar clowns have been spawning for like 6 or 7 months and I feel bad letting the little guys get eaten up, I just don't. Know enough about the rotifier breeding to keep them going.

 

[Reef Reaper]

The larvae are just starting to swim. Tomorrow will be the day that I will add the pulverized flakes and I guess, we will see if they will survive. I going to start my own rotifer culture soon.

 

[Cibo]

good luck!

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

The larvae are just starting to swim. Tomorrow will be the day that I will add the pulverized flakes and I guess, we will see if they will survive. I going to start my own rotifer culture soon.

Pics Pics Pics:fish:

 

[Josh]

I make my rotifers in a 5g bucket.

All you need is an airline with a slow trickle of bubbles through the middle of the water. The water is never more than 6" deep. The salinity should be 1.017-1.020. Make sure the water always has a tint of green from your phyto or the rotis will starve. Stir several times a day. Use a turkey baster to suck out the waste on the bottom of the bucket. When the water is a dark yellow or brown, take a cup of it and hold it up to the light and you will see the rotis. You need a LOT of them to feed the clowns, the first day you need around 100k, each day a bit more until you switch to fresh brine.

 

[UnknownWaters]

MY .02 Why not just get some small pellets and put them in a zip lock bad smash them into a powder?

 

[ryangrieder]

My question is...why? Just post you want some live ones on here or hatch your own. I had babies 4 times. First and second did not make it. LAst two did with live rotifers. THen live brine. then frozen. THen mysis. Then PY mysis. I would at least have some for back up ya know. Jmo

 

[Reef Reaper]

Ryangrieder, I tried getting rotifers, but for the next batch, I will be ready.