After talking to Loren and John Lauth at the meeting last night, it occurred to me that there are quite a few members with breeding pairs of clownfish that regularly lay eggs in their tanks. It might be helpful to have a thread with that information in case any one is interested in attempting to raise the fry but may not have room for the breeding stock. I know that several hobbyist are trying to rear clownfish and would probably like to know who has what species of clownfish that are spawning. So, if you want to repond with the species that are spawning, how often and wether or not the eggs are available for collection, I think it would be great information to share here if you are willing.
BZ

My maroons are laying eggs. About 1 a month or so...at least that I can see. Collection on these can't happen...laid on the overflow. Perhaps the buyer of these fish will have better luck with placement.

I bought my ocellaris clown pair from purplegorilla and they were laying eggs in his tank. I'm waiting for them to adjust to my tank and start laying eggs so I can try to raise the fry.

My pair of tomato clownfish have been laying every two weeks for two years now. I don't see how the eggs can be collected, never heard of that done before. I raise as many babies as I can and sell them when they are about 4 months old. Right now I have about 13 babies that are 3 months old. Anyone interested in buying some?

That's great! Glad to hear you are raising the young. Good job!

My 4 year old false percs were laying eggs every 12 days, but after I broke my tank down and then put it back up, they haven't laid eggs again. It's been over a month and they don't seem to be back in the groove yet.

The eggs can be collected if they are laid on something that is easily removable from the main tank.....for example a small rock.

My maroon is laying eggs every 2 weeks. Tank is too deep for me to be bothered with. I figured its just fish food. Its actually about to hatch because I can see the eggs turning silver.

My maroon is laying eggs every 2 weeks. Tank is too deep for me to be bothered with. I figured its just fish food. Its actually about to hatch because I can see the eggs turning silver.
They started laying eggs?!? that's great! When I was there to pick up your other pair they wern't. The clowns you sold to me still havn't started laying eggs. I think It's because I keep adding things to my tank. We'll see. When I get the 58g up and running they will be moved into that along with my gdm and my firefish and basicly everything in my 30g because that is going to become a quarentine tank.

My Ocellaris Clownfish are laying eggs pretty regularly about every two weeks. They lay them right above the anemone and that whole rock is easily removable. I am not currently raising them since I dont have any cultures of rotifers or anything.

My maroons have a new clutch every other week. They lay eggs the day after a hatching. They're impossible to get to though and will remove my fingernails if I give it a try...

My Ocellaris Clownfish are laying eggs pretty regularly about every two weeks. They lay them right above the anemone and that whole rock is easily removable. I am not currently raising them since I dont have any cultures of rotifers or anything.

if want a culture pm paumat14, i saw her set up and it is sweet.

They started laying eggs?!? that's great! When I was there to pick up your other pair they wern't. The clowns you sold to me still havn't started laying eggs. I think It's because I keep adding things to my tank. We'll see. When I get the 58g up and running they will be moved into that along with my gdm and my firefish and basicly everything in my 30g because that is going to become a quarentine tank.

Yes...either they just started after you bought my other clowns or I wasn't just paying attention. I am kind of glad they did though because I had them forever and was wondering when they gonna do their things. :D

if want a culture pm paumat14, i saw her set up and it is sweet.

I sent her a message but never heard back on how to get in touch with them so I gave up.

I sent her a message but never heard back on how to get in touch with them so I gave up.

i am sending you a pm.

There they are fellas... I knew tey were about to do it again... and I just love to share this moment with the fellow Reefers.
my Maroon's with bb's

There they are fellas... I knew tey were about to do it again... and I just love to share this moment with the fellow Reefers.
my Maroon's with bb's
are you going to try to raise them?

I don't have time or the dry goods to try... =(

That is very cool! thanks for sharing. Do you think they would use a piece of clay pot if you put in near that spot? Then the eggs could more easily be removed for rearing.
Bob

I can try... but I don't know.

I think that would confuse them and disrupt their egg laying routine, that's why I would hesitate to do it. When the eggs hatch, I scoop them up and put them in another tank. It works really well.

I think that would confuse them and disrupt their egg laying routine, that's why I would hesitate to do it. When the eggs hatch, I scoop them up and put them in another tank. It works really well.

how would you know ? Most of the time eggs hatch at night.

updates: the eggs change color from orange to gray.... are the eggs going bad?

updates: the eggs change color from orange to gray.... are the eggs going bad?

They are getting ready to hatch

mine lay about every 12-14 days and have for the last 3 years now.

it usually takes 7-8 days for them to hatch. they will go from orange/red(depending on the kind of fish) to gray, then you will notice some silver tops to them(this is actually the eyes) a day or two after that they will hatch as soon as the lights go off.

Mine have now taken to laying on a tile which makes things easier when for you know who to come get them.

My question is:

"Which came first...the clownfish or the egg?"

My question is:

"Which came first...the clownfish or the egg?"

I thought the question was "why did the clownfish swim across the channel?"

to find Nemooooooo... LOL

:eek: :confused2: here is the egg's updates... I think it's day 7...

:up:

Nice list here!
By the way, you can remove the eggs from their substrate on the night of hatch. I do this regularly to retrieve eggs from the reef tanks of friends. I use a slurpie straw attached to a length of air line. Cut one end of the straw to a bevel with a fresh razor blade. Use that edge like a spatula to gently cut the threads attaching the eggs to the substrate. The air line is used as a siphon to suck the detached eggs into a container.

I then rush the eggs home and place them into an egg tumbler. Usually, if it is already dark outside, they have hatched by the time I arrive at home. This makes life simpler for me!

BTW, I have rotifers and algae aplenty for the adventurous.

Likewise, I have rotifers and phyto cultures going and I'm on the west side of town if anyone out this way needs/wants to try their hand at raising.
bob

all gone the egg's hatch over night... no signs of survivals.

all gone the egg's hatch over night... no signs of survivals.
The eggs always hatch after you turn the lights out. Next time turn the lights out leave for 30min to an hour and then come back and shine a flashlight in the tank. All the little fish will swim to the light and then you can siphon them out.

I use a RED flashlight to shine in the tank when the eggs hatch. It does not bother the fry or the parents. A white flashlight will make the fry become disoriented and start swimming in circles and eventually hurts them, they can die from it.
Would love to swap some of my tomato clown babies (3 months old, a little over 1 in. long) for a pair of Banggai cardinals (juveniles possibly). If anybody is interested, please let me know.

My Ocellaris lay eggs in my 20 gal here at the office all the time. In fact, they're guarding a batch right now!

- Brad

Would love to swap some of my tomato clown babies (3 months old, a little over 1 in. long) for a pair of Banggai cardinals (juveniles possibly). If anybody is interested, please let me know.

If you do not get any takers, I'll pm you when I get the next brood of my BC. Nothing to trade right now.

Bob

I have a pair that love act like a real couple more so than a pair of clownfish. The female is as mean as the day is bright, and likes to focus on everyone elses miscomfort more so than mating. (She hasnt touched the anem yet even though the male has hosted it for a couple months now.) Im thinking to maybe take her out and replace it with a new clown?

I have a pair of skunks and a pair of perculas that spawn every 3-4 weeks.

As I said in the talk, I am interested in any fish eggs. Skunks and True Perculas are a bit hard to come by right now because they were not popular clowns for so long. The harvesting technique is simple, quick and almost totally non-invasive.
As I was recently down for expansion, I have nothing to trade really. If you have clowns, you probably do not want more. You can always PM me.
John

I will call you when I get them.

It is fun to have breeding fish, I know. I am trying to provide a variety. There is no way that I can maintain 40 or 50 different pairs in that room you saw in the presentation. I do not think that I would be allowed to consume the entire house either.
The best way for me to get this hatchery going on a larger scale is to rely on you enthusiasts. Besides, on the average, reefers take excellent care of their fish. The fry are healthier when they hatch and have a increased survival rate!

That said, without vast numbers of breeding pairs, I can focus on the most difficult part. That would be finding the ways to get all of the different species through the larval stage.

John

My O. Clowns spawned for the first time today:

http://wrlclan.com/images/tank/clown_spawnage/S5031492.jpg

http://wrlclan.com/images/tank/clown_spawnage/S5031498.jpg

Sorry bad camera.

Funny, mine just spawned yesterday!

here is a video of my gbm making a fish porn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mJMUll37VM

Woohoo! The Ocellaris Clownfish in my 210 have finally started laying eggs! Of course, they have picked a spot in the furthest spot from the front of the tank and on the bottom so no way I can reach them! I'll try putting a piece of slate in the tank and see if they use it next time.

do the clowns generally stop feeding prior to spawning?

Mine feed normally. After spawning, they will not chase food so actively, because they "defend" the spawning site. The only time when they really eat ravenously is after hatching, before a new spawn.
Dana

It looks like the common theme here is Maroon, Ocellaris and Tomato Clowns spawning in reefers tanks. Less common are Skunk and True Percs. I thought I would bump this thread to see if any one else out there has any other species that are spawning regularly. I know John would be interested in collecting some to raise if they are out there and accessible.

The ocell in my fathers tank have had eggs every time I have been home.

I have a mated pair of yellow bar maroons that lay eggs about every 20 days. I have had the pair for 6 years.

Let me ask you guys, I have a pair of onyx-ish percs that I have owned for 1 year, and recently the female has started being really agressive towards the male. He is starting to look a little tattered. Should I worry or is this normal courting behavior? THey never did this before, but never have spawned, either.

Let me ask you guys, I have a pair of onyx-ish percs that I have owned for 1 year, and recently the female has started being really agressive towards the male. He is starting to look a little tattered. Should I worry or is this normal courting behavior? THey never did this before, but never have spawned, either.

My Oceallaris acted the same way before they started spawning. It sounds like she is asserting herself and things should probably be ok. Keep us posted esp if they lay eggs!

I thought I would bump this thread to see if any one else out there has any other species that are spawning regularly. I know John would be interested in collecting some to raise if they are out there and accessible.

Funny you mention that I ran into John at petland yesterday. Devastating to hear about the storm.

Please give some tips on breeding because I'd love to do some of that! I have bred freshwater fish succesfully, and would love to breed my perculas. I think they are a mated pair.... one is bigger than the other, so all I need to do is get some tips on how to breed them!

Just move here from Charleston, SC. I have true percs that lay eggs about every 15 days if anyone is interested?
Thanks,
James

my Clarkiis are spawning regularly. should have a halloween hatching

I have a pair of false percs that are laying. I would be more than happy to capture the larve if you have a trap I can use..

Jason

I have eggs now but will be out town when they hatch. They are on a rock. Hopefully this will be the start of regular laying. We want to try eventually to raise but do not have time right now. I'll post again if they lay another batch next week.

I have eggs now but will be out town when they hatch. They are on a rock. Hopefully this will be the start of regular laying. We want to try eventually to raise but do not have time right now. I'll post again if they lay another batch next week.

Make sure you have you cultures going in full swing and your rearing tanks up and going before they lay the next batch.

add me to the list. my clowns have finally spawned after 3 years. they were babies when i first got em.

add me to the list. my clowns have finally spawned after 3 years. they were babies when i first got em.

Sweet! What kind of clownfish?

I have a pair of breeding onyx. 25 day old juvi's right now and another set hatching this Fri/Sat.

I have a pair of breeding onyx. 25 day old juvi's right now and another set hatching this Fri/Sat.

Onyx, SWEET!!