Clownfish laying eggs help please

Falcao · 05/19/2011, 10:28 AM

I have notice my clown fish laying eggs for the first time last night. The problem is the male and the sixline go and eat them. I have no idea on what to do, does anyone have any recommendations?
thanks
Rui

Sugar Magnolia · 05/19/2011, 10:31 AM

Perfectly normal for the first few spawnings. Nothing you can do until the breeding pair figures things out. In the mean time, if you are interested in trying your hand at raising the fry, Joyce Wilkerson's book - Clownfishes, is a good read.

Whisperer · 05/19/2011, 10:33 AM

My true percs are also spawning (their second in a month's time). The first was consumed in 1 day by their tankmates. This time, there were a few left, around 40 eggs. The pair are guarding their eggs but leave them when they feed. I am planning to remove the rock where the eggs are in about 9 days from the time they were laid. I seem to remember they will hatch in about 10 days but I am not sure. Someone please chime in.

JMartin104 · 05/19/2011, 10:41 AM

Just curious, how old or what size do they have to be to spawn?

Whisperer · 05/19/2011, 11:59 AM

Mine is in a 120G, keep them well fed.

Falcao · 05/19/2011, 12:46 PM

is it possible for them to grow in the display tank, or should the clowns be put in a separate tank? thanks for the replies, I have to see if I check on the book.

gooberz · 05/19/2011, 12:58 PM

Congratulatoins! Raising fry is not easy though.
Take Pictures and keep me posted

scram42 · 05/19/2011, 02:08 PM

Raising the fry is a serious undertaking. My percs started breeding a few years ago and I thought it would be cool to raise the fry. Then when I discovered what it would take I decided maybe it would be nice to give their tank mates a treat once a month. The fry won't survive in the display tank and you'd have to put the pair in a tank by themselves for the fry to survive.
If you are serious get the book Sugar M. mentioned. It has EVERYTHING you'll need to know.
Good luck.

billsreef · 05/19/2011, 04:48 PM

There's a few good threads on clownfish breeding and larval rearing in the breeding forum. If your looking to seriously breed them, I'd the seperate the pair out into their own tank. If your only looking to try and rear some larva on a more informal basis, place a tile over the site they are laying the eggs on. After they lay eggs on the tile, remove the tile to a small tank for incubation and immediately replace that tile with a new one. If they are laying on a small easily removable rock, you can also just remove the rock and place another one in it's place. If your not looking to rear any, than just consider it good food for the rest of the tanks critters

Falcao · 05/20/2011, 02:56 PM

thank you guys for the advise. How often do they lay there eggs? Is it a one day thing, or does it continue for a couple? It just caught me off guard, seeing my clown laying eggs on my live rock. Just really did not know what to do. I guess it is something natural that takes place. I have to see if I would think about going through the trouble, and more importantly the time to breed them. Yes, I have read the threads on breeding the clowns.
thanks
Rui

ezerasurfr · 05/20/2011, 02:59 PM

check it out

http://www.breedclownfish.com/

great info site if you intend to keep em...

Falcao · 05/20/2011, 03:29 PM

thanks ezerasurfr, I will check out the link

scram42 · 05/20/2011, 04:25 PM

if there's no changes to your tank they could just keep doing it every few weeks. there's a restaurant near me that has a pair in their tank, and every time I go in, the pair have another batch of eggs.

billsreef · 05/21/2011, 01:51 PM

Typically once a pair starts spawning, they will spawn roughly every 2 weeks. That could keep up for years unless something disrupts them.

Whisperer · 05/21/2011, 01:57 PM

Ok, the eggs have eyes already. How long till they hatch? I will transfer the piece to a 10g tank before they hatch. I feel I have to try raising them instead of letting them get eaten by the tankmates.

evsalty · 05/21/2011, 04:22 PM

Now that they started they will be doing this every few weeks. Mine started around 8 months ago and do it like clockwork every two weeks or so. I have never paid much attention to the time frames.

I wonder if they ever even have a chance to be eaten by tank mates since most fish seem to go into the rock work at lights out and the eggs do not hatch until after lights out. I would think that the skimmer would see them long before the fish would have a chance to see them. I would imagine if you run mechanical filtration then chances are even slimmer that there would still be any in the display when the fish wake up. If you have night swimmers then that would change things.

Falcao · 05/22/2011, 07:17 AM

Thanks again for the responses. It definitely gives me a better idea of what to expect.

nanafish · 08/02/2012, 09:41 AM

Thanx to all that replied. I have the same thing going on in my tank. I have 4 true perculas in with other fish.

05/19/2011, 10:28 AM	#1
Falcao Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 341	Clownfish laying eggs help please I have notice my clown fish laying eggs for the first time last night. The problem is the male and the sixline go and eat them. I have no idea on what to do, does anyone have any recommendations? thanks Rui

05/19/2011, 10:31 AM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Perfectly normal for the first few spawnings. Nothing you can do until the breeding pair figures things out. In the mean time, if you are interested in trying your hand at raising the fry, Joyce Wilkerson's book - Clownfishes, is a good read. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

05/19/2011, 10:33 AM	#3
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	My true percs are also spawning (their second in a month's time). The first was consumed in 1 day by their tankmates. This time, there were a few left, around 40 eggs. The pair are guarding their eggs but leave them when they feed. I am planning to remove the rock where the eggs are in about 9 days from the time they were laid. I seem to remember they will hatch in about 10 days but I am not sure. Someone please chime in. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

05/19/2011, 10:41 AM	#4
JMartin104 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Central FL Posts: 309	Just curious, how old or what size do they have to be to spawn? __________________ Disclaimer: Nube since July 2010 Tank: 90g, 2 X 250 MH, 2 X 96w Act, Fuge w/Chaeto & skimmer Fish with mixed SPS/LPS corals

05/19/2011, 11:59 AM	#5
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	Mine is in a 120G, keep them well fed. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

05/19/2011, 12:46 PM	#6
Falcao Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 341	is it possible for them to grow in the display tank, or should the clowns be put in a separate tank? thanks for the replies, I have to see if I check on the book.

05/19/2011, 12:58 PM	#7
gooberz The Specialist :) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 884	Congratulatoins! Raising fry is not easy though. Take Pictures and keep me posted __________________ "Life is the only game in which the object of the game is to learn the rules" Current Tank Info: 45G Cube with 10G Sump/Fuge, 250MH 20K, Koralia 1050GPH and Mag 7 Return

05/19/2011, 02:08 PM	#8
scram42 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hamilton Posts: 93	Raising the fry is a serious undertaking. My percs started breeding a few years ago and I thought it would be cool to raise the fry. Then when I discovered what it would take I decided maybe it would be nice to give their tank mates a treat once a month. The fry won't survive in the display tank and you'd have to put the pair in a tank by themselves for the fry to survive. If you are serious get the book Sugar M. mentioned. It has EVERYTHING you'll need to know. Good luck. __________________ 30 Gal Reef. Skimmerless. HOB 'fuge. Orphek PR 156, MP10, SPS, LPS, RBTA, 2 Percs 2 Azure Damsels. and various inverts. Current Tank Info: Staring over

05/19/2011, 04:48 PM	#9
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	There's a few good threads on clownfish breeding and larval rearing in the breeding forum. If your looking to seriously breed them, I'd the seperate the pair out into their own tank. If your only looking to try and rear some larva on a more informal basis, place a tile over the site they are laying the eggs on. After they lay eggs on the tile, remove the tile to a small tank for incubation and immediately replace that tile with a new one. If they are laying on a small easily removable rock, you can also just remove the rock and place another one in it's place. If your not looking to rear any, than just consider it good food for the rest of the tanks critters __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

05/20/2011, 02:56 PM	#10
Falcao Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 341	thank you guys for the advise. How often do they lay there eggs? Is it a one day thing, or does it continue for a couple? It just caught me off guard, seeing my clown laying eggs on my live rock. Just really did not know what to do. I guess it is something natural that takes place. I have to see if I would think about going through the trouble, and more importantly the time to breed them. Yes, I have read the threads on breeding the clowns. thanks Rui

05/20/2011, 02:59 PM	#11
ezerasurfr Moved On Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 663	check it out http://www.breedclownfish.com/ great info site if you intend to keep em...

05/20/2011, 03:29 PM	#12
Falcao Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 341	thanks ezerasurfr, I will check out the link

05/20/2011, 04:25 PM	#13
scram42 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hamilton Posts: 93	if there's no changes to your tank they could just keep doing it every few weeks. there's a restaurant near me that has a pair in their tank, and every time I go in, the pair have another batch of eggs. __________________ 30 Gal Reef. Skimmerless. HOB 'fuge. Orphek PR 156, MP10, SPS, LPS, RBTA, 2 Percs 2 Azure Damsels. and various inverts. Current Tank Info: Staring over

05/21/2011, 01:51 PM	#14
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	Typically once a pair starts spawning, they will spawn roughly every 2 weeks. That could keep up for years unless something disrupts them. __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

05/21/2011, 01:57 PM	#15
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	Ok, the eggs have eyes already. How long till they hatch? I will transfer the piece to a 10g tank before they hatch. I feel I have to try raising them instead of letting them get eaten by the tankmates. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

05/21/2011, 04:22 PM	#16
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	Now that they started they will be doing this every few weeks. Mine started around 8 months ago and do it like clockwork every two weeks or so. I have never paid much attention to the time frames. I wonder if they ever even have a chance to be eaten by tank mates since most fish seem to go into the rock work at lights out and the eggs do not hatch until after lights out. I would think that the skimmer would see them long before the fish would have a chance to see them. I would imagine if you run mechanical filtration then chances are even slimmer that there would still be any in the display when the fish wake up. If you have night swimmers then that would change things.

05/22/2011, 07:17 AM	#17
Falcao Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 341	Thanks again for the responses. It definitely gives me a better idea of what to expect.

08/02/2012, 09:41 AM	#18
nanafish Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ohio/Col. Station 44028 Posts: 629	Thanx to all that replied. I have the same thing going on in my tank. I have 4 true perculas in with other fish. __________________ Just think how much deeper the ocean would be if sponges didn't live there! Current Tank Info: 60g Reef Snowflake Clowns, Gobies etc.

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