My Surprise!! Clownfish laid first batch of eggs!

[Nebthet]

So, I came home today after four days away and when my lights came on and I started to put in some top off water I noticed mamma clown wasn't sleeping in her BTA like she normally does. She was hanging around Pappa clown by the sebae anemone.

Then I decided to take a closer look, and at first I thought they were just algae growth on the rocks and then I saw them move.. and holy crap!!! My clowns have officially become a mated pair!! and have their first batch of eggs. I would have to say they are at least a couple days old as you can see the eyes beginning to develop.


The red circle is where the eggs are.
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Clownfish%20Eggs%20and%20babies/clowneggs07-30-2011.jpg

Pappa doing his job and tending to the eggs and keeping the water current over them.
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Clownfish%20Eggs%20and%20babies/clownfisheggs2.jpg

Close up of the eggs. You can see the eyes beginning to develop.
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Clownfish%20Eggs%20and%20babies/clowneggs3.jpg

[Myka]

Congrats grandpa (I'm assuming)!! Great photos of the eggs too!

[Nebthet]

Grandma actually.. lol.. :)

[Myka]

Grandma actually.. lol.. :)

Dang...was trying to figure out wtf a "nebthet" is. :lol:

EDIT: Aha! Google says she is a Greek goddess of some sort. Cool!

[Nebthet]

Actually Myka, Nebthet is the Egyptian goddess of the dead.

[Maverick00]

great pictures! Congrats!

[Myka]

Actually Myka, Nebthet is the Egyptian goddess of the dead.

I did read something about Egyptians too...couldn't really make sense of the particular website I was skimming. Sounds a bit dreary! :p

[fishytime]

OMG Sarah!.......outstanding pics!!!!.......oh, and congrats:biggrin:

[Nebthet]

Thanks very much.

I am thinking I might take daily pics of the eggs development while I am home and post them on here for others to see.

[Myka]

I am thinking I might take daily pics of the eggs development while I am home and post them on here for others to see.

That would be great! Would love to see them. Are you going to try to raise them at some point?

[Cal_stir]

Congrats! they say it's a sign of awesome water quality.
our clowns have been laying for about a year now, a new batch every 2 or 3 weeks, sometimes they eat them because they haven't hatched but she's ready to lay again.
what kind of camera did you get the pics with?

[mike31154]

Very nice photos, particularly the closeups of the eggs. I remember being quite excited the first time my Maroon pair did their thing. Never able to get such good photos with my low end cameras though. Takes anywhere from two to four days after hatching until they spawn again. Pretty consistently takes 7 days from spawning to hatching. Don't know if it's the same for your species OC or Percs? My pair did take a month off not long ago, I think because I was messing around too much with the tank.

[Nebthet]

Congrats! they say it's a sign of awesome water quality.

what kind of camera did you get the pics with?


LOL... funny that you say that. I haven't changed the water in this tank for well over two months. I just put in top off water and keep the skimmer clean.


The camera I use is the Canon t1i. The first pic was taken with the stock 18-55mm lense, the close up of the eggs was taken with the 100mm macro lense.

and yes, eventually, I think in the fall after I read up a lot more on raising the clownfish and get some rot cultures started and some otohime a and b in, I will try to raise a few batches off the little guys. My landlord won't be pleased.. but oh well.

[mike31154]

Joyce Wilkerson's book 'Clownfishes' is a great resource if you wish to raise them.

[Nebthet]

A couple updated pics from tonight.

Daddy tending to the eggs.. still using the 100mm lense, but on a slight angle to pull back a little bit.
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Clownfish%20Eggs%20and%20babies/ceggs2-07-31-2011.jpg

Closer view of the eggs, not on an angle. They have darkened since yestarday and the eyes are black spots now.
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Clownfish%20Eggs%20and%20babies/ceggs1-07-31-2011.jpg

[Myka]

Excellent photography skills!! A treat to look at! Thanks for posting. =]

[KevinK]

these pic's are gust out of the normal great and should be rewarded !!

[Nebthet]

Thanks for the compliments guys.. I will continue to update the pics even though I won't be raising this batch.. but it is a good learning experience to watch the development of the eggs.

[Doug]

Seeing the hatch is awe inspiring if you can catch it. I managed to luck out the last two, when they hatched just after lights out and watched them with a flashlight. A tank full of little babies.

[Nebthet]

Updated pics from just a few minutes ago.
I would say from this clutch there are about 30 or so viable fry developing.

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Clownfish%20Eggs%20and%20babies/eggs1-01-08-2011.jpg

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Clownfish%20Eggs%20and%20babies/eggs2-01-08-2011.jpg

[Myka]

I love watching clowns tend their eggs. So serious!

[Nebthet]

Yes I agree.. but I think the two of mine could do a better job of cleaning the algae off around the eggs..

Here is an updated pic from Today taken a few minutes ago. I wasn't able to do the last couple of days as I had to go back out to my Mother's to help her.
The changes here are larger fry development and silver eyes.
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Clownfish%20Eggs%20and%20babies/eggs1-05-08-2011.jpg

[lapdog2020]

That is so awesome good luck

[happyfish]

Thanx so much for sharing these totally awesome pictures. This IS why we enjoy fish. This helps to remind me that LIFE IS STILL GOOD.

[Nebthet]

Pics from tonight.. I am going to try to watch the tank an hour after lights out to see if it is hatch night or not..

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Clownfish%20Eggs%20and%20babies/eggs07-08-2011.jpg
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Clownfish%20Eggs%20and%20babies/clowneggs07-08-2011.jpg

[Earthgirl]

Awwwww
That last one with the clown looking at his babies is so cute