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View Full Version : My Heteractis magnifica and clowns


cprowler
08-03-2007, 03:32 AM
For the last year, every 14 days or so (I haven’t actually counted I just heard that :mrgreen: ) my Ocellaris Clowns lay eggs. They were just getting started when I got home today so I took some pics.

Here they are cleaning the rock off before.

http://oceanv.net/zld/reef/clownmate-004.jpg

http://oceanv.net/zld/reef/clownmate-003.jpg

If you look closely you can see the white-ish clear tube that sticks out

http://oceanv.net/zld/reef/clownmate-002.jpg

http://oceanv.net/zld/reef/clownmate-005.jpg

Proud parents

http://oceanv.net/zld/reef/clownmate-006.jpg

digital-audiophile
08-03-2007, 03:36 AM
Awesome pictures!!! How long have your had the mated pair and the Anemone?

cprowler
08-03-2007, 03:50 AM
I got them 3 years ago this Sept ot Oct, I can't quite remember. The Nem was about the size of a softball and now it's the size of a basketball. The clowns were the same size and I'm assuming juveniles, after about a year they chose their sex's and a few months later started laying eggs every 2 weeks.

NateL
08-03-2007, 03:56 AM
How long do they protect them for? Do you ever get babies or are they devoured?

cprowler
08-03-2007, 04:33 AM
They protect and fuss over them till they hatch, about 10 days. In the year and a half they have been doing this I have never seen a baby.

cprowler
08-03-2007, 04:57 AM
Here are some more pics I have taken over the years.


http://oceanv.net/zld/reef/an055.jpg

http://oceanv.net/zld/reef/ca02.jpg

http://oceanv.net/zld/reef/ca01.jpg

http://oceanv.net/zld/reef/rcpc001.jpg

Der_Iron_Chef
08-03-2007, 12:53 PM
Beautiful. I know the whole clownfish-anemone thing is common, but I still think it's just fantastic to watch. Very cool. Thanks :)

Renegade
08-03-2007, 02:19 PM
love the pics. What kind of camera?

christyf5
08-03-2007, 02:22 PM
That anemone is just spectacular. So awesome about the clowns too and terrific photos!! :cool:

surgeonfish
08-03-2007, 02:33 PM
I have a pair of Tomato clowns that also lay eggs every few weeks. However, they are at the back of my tank and I have never been able to take pictures as good as yours. They lay their eggs on the tank glass so I was never able to remove them to try and raise them.
What kind of anemone is it? Do you feed it directly?

Mik_101
08-03-2007, 05:03 PM
Spectacular clowns. Do the fish like eating the eggs?

cprowler
08-04-2007, 01:23 AM
Thanks for the kind words everyone!

The anemone is a Heractis Magnifica aka Ritteri and I don’t direct feed it anymore as they can grow very large, 3 or 4 feet around if I remember correctly. I don’t think it would get that big in this environment but it’s big enough. It does get stray mysis shrimp and other food when feeding every thing else.

I don’t think they eat their young from what I remember hearing in a podcast about it. Not sure what episode…. :mrgreen:

http://www.reefcast.com/index.php


The first pics were taken with a Nikon D70 and not sure on the older shots.

Jason McK
08-04-2007, 02:23 AM
Sweat pics buddy. Remember what I said about giveing me the full resolution file and I'd hook you up with some prints.

J

cprowler
08-04-2007, 02:32 AM
Sweat pics buddy. Remember what I said about giveing me the full resolution file and I'd hook you up with some prints.

J


Yes...I think about that once and a while, I just need to get some together. There are two or three I like to have printed. :mrgreen:

danny zubot
08-04-2007, 04:36 AM
Very cool, nice clear pics. :biggrin:

Mik_101
08-04-2007, 07:03 AM
Very cool, nice clear pics. :biggrin:

Yes they are very high quality pictures.

cprowler
02-24-2009, 04:17 AM
I've noticed that my Ritteri was starting to split nearly two months ago. It has split apart on the left side so it is in the shape of a backwards letter "C", it split right down the middle so half the mouth is on each side. It looked like a mouth is forming on both of the sides.

http://www.zld.ca/reef/Rit-split02.jpg

Week after week it would look like it was going to finally finish the split but it never did. I would move around a bit and I would get new hope but it would just not split.

http://www.zld.ca/reef/Rit-split04.jpg

http://www.zld.ca/reef/Rit-split06.jpg

After discussing it with some other Mag owners I finally decided to help it along. The last couple days it started roaming and looked like it was going to finally finish the split. It had climbed up the rock-work and the overflow and sat there for a couple of days. I tried to move it but it would not let go and when I tried to force it the flesh started to tear. So after nearly two months I had enough and cut it in the narrowest spot trying to minimize any release of toxins. I also put in fresh carbon and have water change water ready.

Anyway they seem to be doing fine, I don't like where they are but will leave them for now to let the flesh heal.

Here are some crappy pics but it gives you the gist of it.

http://www.zld.ca/reef/DSC_2287.jpg

http://www.zld.ca/reef/DSC_2294.jpg

Delphinus
02-24-2009, 04:42 AM
Heh, you're a braver man than I. Good luck!

cprowler
02-24-2009, 12:50 PM
When I tried to move it and the flesh started to tear that toxins could be released so I figured that I would help it along. I didn't think having it partially split for two months was doing it any good.

zazzoo
02-24-2009, 04:49 PM
are you gonna try to raise the fish ? if so .. pm me.... i used to breed true percs....... its alot of work ... but inthe end its so worth it :D

cprowler
02-26-2009, 04:01 AM
Well it's been 48hrs and they both seem to be doing well and I have not noticed any ill effects on any the fish or corals. So far so good, now I just have to move them back down onto their rocks.

zazzoo - The pics of the clowns mating are from way back, they do have a batch of eggs that are near ready to hatch on the rock the nem(s) vacated. You can see in this pic that the clowns are staying close to but want to go to the nems.

http://www.zld.ca/reef/DSC_2287.jpg

I have no intention of raising them, it's way way way too much work as far as I'm concerned. But that's just me...:mrgreen:

I'll try to get some decent pics tomorrow.

cprowler
03-07-2009, 05:45 AM
Both are still doing well. I got the one off the overflow and down onto one of the rocks, the other wont let go of the rock near the cap.

I'll try to get some decent pics tomorrow.

cprowler
06-24-2009, 04:01 AM
A quick update:

My anemone spit again and now I have two to find a home for. :sad: :lol:

The clowns laid eggs today and I tried to get some shots but out of a hundred or so I didn't get much, here are the best two.

http://www.zld.ca/reef/DSC_3799.JPG

http://www.zld.ca/reef/DSC_3870.JPG

Delphinus
06-24-2009, 04:07 AM
Dude I'm totally looking you up next time I'm out your way. Don't mind the bucket I'll be bringing. :lol:

cprowler
06-24-2009, 05:09 AM
Looking forward to it. :mrgreen:

Myka
06-24-2009, 05:52 AM
Great photos!! :)

cprowler
06-24-2009, 01:46 PM
I guess I should of mentioned that I was trying to get a shot of the little tube that the eggs come out of. I mentioned it in the first post but if you just look at the last you might be wondering what the hell's he doing. :biggrin: