Babies Again!

[Chelle's Ocean]

My mated clowns have finally began to breed again, after having been moved from the main tank to the biocube.

I have noticed them in a cave the past week, and after looking all around- I can definitely see the clutch. The male is carefully and diligently working at the eggs.

What is the best filter to put in front of the filter wall in a 14 gal Oceanic biocube- so that the water still can pass through...but the frye will not?

I do not want to risk moving the clowns again- as they took awhile to breed since last move, and I would prefer to keep the frye in the biocube.

Is this possible? Has anyone ever done something similar to their cube?

Any ideas?

Thanks!
-chelle

[adalius]

I can't really suggest a size, but the theory is sound. You should be able to even zip tie some filter matting over the grates if you wanted to. Then you just cut the ties and replace the matting if it fills with crap.

[jolson10450]

once they hatch i would sat turn your filter off. do a water change every day to compensate for it.

[adalius]

once they hatch i would sat turn your filter off. do a water change every day to compensate for it.

Given the Biocube design that would kill all water movement in the tank as it only uses one pump for everything. You could probably get by this with a small koralia or similar on low speed so they don't get diced. I'm usually pretty hesitant against raising fry in a display tank just because of how much stuff eats them that you don't think about, but they're so small they become bitesize for lots of things.

[fishtal]

Congrats! I do foresee a couple of problems with rearing fry in the cube... You won't be able to keep food density high enough without overloading the tank. I raise all of my clowns using the greenwater method and this isn't going to make the tank happy either, at a high density.

If you have to leave the eggs in the cube to hatch, I'd suggest siphoning out the larvae out after they hatch and rearing them in a simple 10 gallon tank. :)

[vittleking]

I have used an aquaclear sponge to put on the intake when breeding freshwater fish. I use a fillet knife and cut a slot inside in an X pattern and slip it over the intake. It works well to keep the fry out of the filter. As for the feeding issue, I used tetra tropical tablets http://www.tetra-fish.com/sites/tetrafish/catalog/productdetail.aspx?id=1276&cid=28 They are almost powdery in texture once they dissolve in water, and they sink so you can drop them right into the group of fry. Not sure weather or not this is proper nutrition for clowns, but it worked well for my flowerhorn wigglers untill they where free swimming and able to chase down flake food floating around the tank.

[jolson10450]

Given the Biocube design that would kill all water movement in the tank as it only uses one pump for everything. You could probably get by this with a small koralia or similar on low speed so they don't get diced. I'm usually pretty hesitant against raising fry in a display tank just because of how much stuff eats them that you don't think about, but they're so small they become bitesize for lots of things.

i didn't think you needed flow for raising fry. ive seen people with a 10g tank with a heater and sponge pump and that is it. just do water changes daily.

like fishtal said though greenwater will most likely not work in your cube so a seperate 10g tank for them would be good.

$9.99 at meijers for a 10g tank.

[adalius]

i didn't think you needed flow for raising fry. ive seen people with a 10g tank with a heater and sponge pump and that is it. just do water changes daily.

like fishtal said though greenwater will most likely not work in your cube so a seperate 10g tank for them would be good.

$9.99 at meijers for a 10g tank.

You don't need flow for raising fry. You do need flow for everything else she has in that tank as it's her display tank.

[jolson10450]

You don't need flow for raising fry. You do need flow for everything else she has in that tank as it's her display tank.

good point. i guess the lack of details made me think that though. sounded to me like a pair of clowns was all that is in the tank.

[adalius]

good point. i guess the lack of details made me think that though. sounded to me like a pair of clowns was all that is in the tank.

Re-reading I might be wrong as well, she said after being moved from the main tank to the Biocube, but I thought I saw pics of her Biocube and it had coral and what not in it... If not I rescind my comment.

[Chelle's Ocean]

Thank you for all the input! Just got in as was in Orlando all day (school shopping/clothes for kiddo, :) ) So just read all posts.....
#1, my bad... I should have given abit more info to the cube:
In it I now currently have 1 pair of mated nemos (aww they are so cute!), 1 baby lawnmower blenney, 1 tonga nassarius snail, about 3 itty bitty blue legs, 1 turbo, about 5 xenia clusters I had fragged and a handful of red gracilaria I grow in there, then feed to the main tank. (the blenney likes to hide in it)
I actually picked something up today at AquariumFanatics in Orlando...nice store
www.aquarium-fanatics.com
I bought a filter bag, 4x12 which I thought on putting that flush against the filter panel, clipping the top and pushing a rock against the bottom, so the filter would remain in place, water may still pass through-but nothing else.
I am considering moving them once they are a bit bigger..... I am still reading up on breeding the clowns- so far none of the several clutches have succeeded - mostly because htey were in the main tank, and I could not catch the fry, although I tried many ways.
So.....I do and have liked the 10gallon tank, with the green water/food...I am just cautious now, should I leave them in the biocube, as they hatch.....and grow....would they have a possibility of survival? Or do you think the clowns/blenney would eat thinking the babies were food?

[Chelle's Ocean]

*****************ALSO!!!!
heehee I am so happy about this....I picked up the tiniest little baby magician zoo today.
(who knows if it is truly a zoo or a paly? The guy wasn't specific....I think zoanthid)
Was a steal at $10:love3:

[Chelle's Ocean]

WHAT IF....... I move the rock now?
I moved the top part of the cave, to get an idea of how many eggs are there. The eyes are silver, which if I remember my stuff correctly, that means they should be hatching tonight?
So...if I move the rock now (I know not to take it out and expose air to it), and put it in its own tank... then that would be ok- right? Then I wouldn't have to worry about catching the fry, they would be in their own tank, and I can just add a bubbler to it, until I go to the store tomorrow and get a corner filter......? Good idea or void?

[adalius]

The eyes are silver, which if I remember my stuff correctly, that means they should be hatching tonight?
Assuming you didn't miss a day, yes. (I did read the day after eyes are visible, and the day eyes are visible, so 50/50 on that one I think).


So...if I move the rock now (I know not to take it out and expose air to it), and put it in its own tank... then that would be ok- right? Then I wouldn't have to worry about catching the fry, they would be in their own tank, and I can just add a bubbler to it, until I go to the store tomorrow and get a corner filter......? Good idea or void?

I would think this should work. I'd advise against the filter for the first couple days though. Just run a heater/airstone.

For more info check out http://www.breedclownfish.com/step-2-preparations-for-clownfish-fry/

[jolson10450]

yes what i would do is do a water change and with your old water from that tank use it to fill a batch tank. take a tupperware and put it in your display tank. move the rock with the eggs on it into the tupperware and then lift it all out so the rock is in the tupperware with the normal tank water. then place the whole thing in the batch tank slow and steady then slowly lift the rock and put it into place for the hatching to begin. then remove the tupperware and done! well at least until the fun part starts =) That is probably the safest way to handle them without siphoning or exposing them to air.

[Chelle's Ocean]

:tongue_out: You read my mind Justin! I used a fish bag, though, lol- to lift the rock out and place it in the new tank.
I actually filled my 1 gallon with the biocube tank water, then replaced the biocube water w/ a mix of h2o from my main tank and fresh water.
I put the filter bag I bought over the little filter that came with the tank, (no media or anything in it, just is circulating the water for now, and just threw in an additional airline for water movement / air.
Josh- I am thinking either tonight or tomorrow....as you may be correct , I may have missed a day. That is exactly one of the sites I had read :)
I took a couple of quick pics...will try to post them.
(it is dark because I have already shut everything off as I normally would have- don't want to shock the lil eggs by "bright light", and haven't quite figured where I am now going to set this tank up- for the moment, it is right next to my bed,:embarrased: haha )

[Chelle's Ocean]

Also threw in a pic of Bubba the frogfish :tongue_out:

[Chelle's Ocean]

(On our club forum, I was asked if any new developments, as they are following my thread there:)

:cry: Yes......the numbers dwindled. Now there are none. Very sad. The few that were left started to do a spiral spinning 'dive bomb' swim which from what I read is not a good sign :cry:
I think I may try to leave them in the tank next time- then net them out when they hatch. The website mentions removing before hatching, but that survival is low that way.
Who has raised baby clowns before on this forum?
What are some technigues you used?

Not sure if the temperature may have been off by a degree or that the circulation was too much or too little. I actually had the same water from the biocube -so the chemistry was the same.

Sad......I don't want to play scientist and experiment on the little guys until everything is 'just right'.....but I don't want to sit and do nothing, either-leaving them to death by predation or filtration if not removed.
:?: Any tips anyone for the next clutch?

[jimsflies]

Sorry to hear that Chelle. Fishtal and Tanglovers here are both clownfish breeding gurus. Hopefully one of them can give you some tips to get you further next time. Skyhigh also has raised clowns in the past as well...I know we have others, but those come to mind as resident experts.

[MizTanks]

If ya wanna breed them why not just put them in a breeder tank?

[BK's Reef]

If ya wanna breed them why not just put them in a breeder tank?

i heard good things about those!:highfive3:

[fishtal]

Chelle,

You did well on your first attempt. Instead of typing out a long reply I'm going to give you a link to my site, this should help you on your next round: http://fishtalpropagations.com/ConditioningandSpawning.aspx

That's the first page, work your way down and let me know if you have any questions.

BTW, if you're going to pull the eggs out of the tank and put them in a rearing tank you don't have to be that careful. The eggs can be exposed to the air for a short time. That's how I get pics of them. ;) The key is aerating them well after they are in the rearing tank. That can be kinda hard if they are on a rock, but not impossible.

As mentioned by someone above, it's best to fill the rearing tank with water from the tank that the eggs come from. Think of it a s a water change. ;)

Good luck!

[Chelle's Ocean]

If ya wanna breed them why not just put them in a breeder tank?

Hi Jamie :thumbsup: I had the mated pair in my 180g, which was 500% impossible to get to the eggs. I have only had 3 "fake" things in my tank since set up 3 years ago....a terra cotta pot, a large pvc elbow (both of which make caves)... and a VERY large, tall , huge, heavy a$$ statue that came with the tank (bought it off of a friend) Out of everything else in the tank, they chose to lay on the statue, in the back next to the glass... my tank is very deep, so I stayed up many nights, basically in my tank waiting to net the hatchlings - but with the timing...the fish...the filtration (after night one it was turned off) many reasons of a newbie trying to get the fry but failed. I finally got the male/female out of the tank, (took that damn statue out! lol), and have moved the clowns to the 14g biocube earlier this year.
I would have loved to just let the eggs have remained in the cube...but I feared filtration (cant just turn it off and not affect the tank), and also what if the clowns or baby blenney ate the fry? I wasn't sure if that would happen....initially they were put into the biocube with the hopes of it being a breeding/raising tank.
I am now considering setting up a permanent tank right next to the biocube- to mirror the exact water/tank parameters for future clutches.
lol....they breed very well, they have their part down pat! I just have to learn my part on raising the little treasures!

[Chelle's Ocean]

Chelle,

You did well on your first attempt. Instead of typing out a long reply I'm going to give you a link to my site, this should help you on your next round: http://fishtalpropagations.com/ConditioningandSpawning.aspx

That's the first page, work your way down and let me know if you have any questions.

BTW, if you're going to pull the eggs out of the tank and put them in a rearing tank you don't have to be that careful. The eggs can be exposed to the air for a short time. That's how I get pics of them. ;) The key is aerating them well after they are in the rearing tank. That can be kinda hard if they are on a rock, but not impossible.

As mentioned by someone above, it's best to fill the rearing tank with water from the tank that the eggs come from. Think of it a s a water change. ;)

Good luck!

Thank you for that! I appreciate it, although I still have that feeling of "I failed,:angelsad:" poor little guys.
Thank you for that link, I will read up on it as well. I was given another link to RS and have been up reading through all of that also.
I am always interested in learning what will benefit my tank(s) - so again, thanks for sharing your info:thumbsup:
Please feel free to comment on what I post here.... I would love to have even 1 little one survive. I read someone's signature line on a forum, and to round it off: "If I can get just 1 fish to the market...that's 1 less fish pulled from the Ocean." I agree with this, and would like to be able to help support the aquaculture community.
I have a LONG way to go...... but willingness and eagerness will help me in that journey.:highfive3:

Thanks everyone....... I am going to be gone for a day or 2, keep posting, I will be here...just reading - I need to check out the link above as my mamma & pappa are swimming and singing "Let's Get It On" hahaha and I also want to pop by some more of your posts I have missed.
Night to all! Have a great weekend!!
btw: I think I may start copy/pasting, as I reply to CR, RS, RB,RC and our own club forum here in Florida, so I may be leaving info out with each post by accident. I did use the tank water from the clown tank.... but maybe my temp was off? Or the lighting difference? Not sure, will def read everything - real fast before the next clutch, lol- and post as much step by step as I can for advice!
:silly: Sweet Dreams!

[Chelle's Ocean]

So I need a broodstock tank, a larval tank, and a growout tank?
My broodstock tank would be the clown's 14g biocube, already setup for several months as theirs, many months before that as 'up for grabs' tank while deciding what to put it in.
A larval tank and growout tank? Would the babies never be added to the parents' tank?
yeah...it is late..I am asking questions ahead of time....let me do what I said above and get off here so I can read everything word-for-word then I will be back, lol

[fishtal]

So I need a broodstock tank, a larval tank, and a growout tank?
My broodstock tank would be the clown's 14g biocube, already setup for several months as theirs, many months before that as 'up for grabs' tank while deciding what to put it in.
A larval tank and growout tank? Would the babies never be added to the parents' tank?
yeah...it is late..I am asking questions ahead of time....let me do what I said above and get off here so I can read everything word-for-word then I will be back, lol

Ideally, yes, three tanks. Although the rearing tank can be used for grow out if it's large enough. Filtration gets trickier as they grow.

I wouldn't suggest putting the juveniles back with the parents at any time.

Another breeding site you might want to check out for more info: http://www.mbisite.org/Default.aspx