canadawest
11-26-2002, 06:22 AM
Calling all Anemone keepers with hosting clownfish!!!
Well it seems like the fertility of my Bangaii Cardinals has spilled over to my Percula Clowns as they have produced their first clutch of eggs in the 18+ months that I've had them. So I should be thrilled right? Listen on...
So I noticed these little eggs stuck to the rock because I had observed my BTA hadn't opened up and expanded in two days, not to mention the overly aggressive male attacking me when cleaning the glass near their area. Anyways, I've frequently observed a day once a month or so when the BTA stays receded and hidden for a 24 hour period. This has seemed to be normal behavior since keeping BTAs (18+ months) and not a cause for concern but this time it had been two days. So upon closer inspection I discovered the eggs stuck to the underside of the rock, facing the front of the tank, right in the area where the Anemone would normally expand during the day.
So it seems the Clowns are purposefully keeping the BTA from opening up to protect their offspring. Now the question is, would this be normal in the wild? I would have to expect that if the Anemone was harrased too much it would just pack up and move to a new spot right? With that theory in mind, is the Anemone just going to hang out now under shade during the gestation period of the eggs? How long is it able to survive without expanding and feeding from photosynthesis, or is it getting enough food from ambient light reaching it and whatever food the clowns bring by?
Unfortunately both the egg cluster and the Anemone are attached to the same HUGE rock so separating the two is not possible. Should I just let nature run it's course?
PS... I have no intention on raising the clownfish fry right now, possibly something I will consider for future after I do a lot of research and study.
Ideas? Opinions? Experiences?
Well it seems like the fertility of my Bangaii Cardinals has spilled over to my Percula Clowns as they have produced their first clutch of eggs in the 18+ months that I've had them. So I should be thrilled right? Listen on...
So I noticed these little eggs stuck to the rock because I had observed my BTA hadn't opened up and expanded in two days, not to mention the overly aggressive male attacking me when cleaning the glass near their area. Anyways, I've frequently observed a day once a month or so when the BTA stays receded and hidden for a 24 hour period. This has seemed to be normal behavior since keeping BTAs (18+ months) and not a cause for concern but this time it had been two days. So upon closer inspection I discovered the eggs stuck to the underside of the rock, facing the front of the tank, right in the area where the Anemone would normally expand during the day.
So it seems the Clowns are purposefully keeping the BTA from opening up to protect their offspring. Now the question is, would this be normal in the wild? I would have to expect that if the Anemone was harrased too much it would just pack up and move to a new spot right? With that theory in mind, is the Anemone just going to hang out now under shade during the gestation period of the eggs? How long is it able to survive without expanding and feeding from photosynthesis, or is it getting enough food from ambient light reaching it and whatever food the clowns bring by?
Unfortunately both the egg cluster and the Anemone are attached to the same HUGE rock so separating the two is not possible. Should I just let nature run it's course?
PS... I have no intention on raising the clownfish fry right now, possibly something I will consider for future after I do a lot of research and study.
Ideas? Opinions? Experiences?