It's 1000 boys!!! Help with clownfish eggs

[jboy929]

Hi there,
I thought I had a new coral growing in my tank as there was an interesting new purplish mass on a samll rock next to my anenome that my two percula clowns have been paying very close attention to.
I have just realized that these must be clownfish eggs!!!
I am very proud, as after all the skimmers Ca reactors, MH lighting and so forth, my tank seems to be coming around into a natural environment.

However, I do need some help. I'm not sure what to do... Should I try to raise the fry? if so, how? will they live in their parent anenome if I leave things alone, or will they get eaten by the other fish?

Any suggestions, comments, or directions to furter resources would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Jason

[ruck'n'reefer]

Congrat's, you must be a proud Papa!!! Do you have a pic for us?

[jboy929]

I'll take a picture of the eggs tonight and post them here. Hopefully, this will spwan (pardon the pun) some good suggestions.

J

[Canadian Man]

Chances are none of the eggs will survive in the tank. They will get eaten.
If one want's to raise them you would have to take them out and supply the eggs with a seprate aquarium, lot's of waterchanges and once they hatch they need the correct food.

[zulu_principle]

With the natural predators in the tank it is unlikely any will survive.

If you are really interested pick up a copy of Joyce Wilkersons book Clownfishes.

But first things first:

Get rotifer culture started and stable.
Phytoplanton if required, but better to buy a concentrated product, DT, Tahitian Blend, etc.
Set up another system for holding of the eggs the night before the hatching and the initial growout.

Congrats and best of luck.


Wendell

[AJ_77]

Do you read the Anemones & Clownfishes forum at Reef Central? You can learn a lot from there also.

[jboy929]

Thanks guys...

I am getting the Wilkerson book couriered to me toinght, so I am going to make a go of this. I have a brand new 5 gallon tank and canopy I am going to set up as the rearing tank with two airstones for circulation, and Illl place the LR rock the eggs are on inside it before they hatch. Until I get the book and am able to fully study however, I have some questions which I think will have to be answered in the meantime...

1)I know about the silver eyes being a hatching sign, but how do I know hatching is imminent?
2)I am in Calgary, I have a brine shrinp hatchery, but how can I get rotifers or green water?

I'll post s picture of the eggs tonight.

Thanks
Jason

[jboy929]

Unfortunately, I don't have a site to post the imgae of the eggs to, so if anyone is interested, I'll email one.

Thanks

[EmilyB]

You will probably find that the critters on the rock consume the larvae before they hatch, once removed from parental care. At least that is what I found.

To truly rear the larvae, you must get the fish to lay in better conditions.
The Wilkerson book will tell you more. Don't worry, there will be many more batches of eggs.



P.S. If you DO get any fry, I am getting rotifers in.

[jboy929]

Thanks for the help everyone....

Unfortunately, I am now way out of my league with knowlegde here. I really want to give this a go, but here are my two main problems:

1) 1st food. I live in Calgary, so there is no way I can get my rotifers or alge discs from the US in time. So, I would have to rely on my homemade green water to sustain them. Will this work?

2)I am getting conflicting advice on whether to keep the LR with the eggs in the main tank, or move them into the rearing tank. As it's going to be very tough for me to watch the tank constantly at night, my plan is to move the LR into the rearing tank as close to hatching as possible.

Advice on my chances of success or what to do would be appreciated from anyone who has done this before.

Thanks again
J