Baby Clown Fish - 5 days old

[GaryG]

Well ... Even though the books and everyone said it was very hard Pat and I decided to try to hatch and raise our clown fish eggs. I read Joyce Wilkerson's book and followed her word for word. First I had to grow some micro-algae cultures. Then used the algae to cultivate rotifers. The rotifers are what you need to feed the larvae after they hatch (smaller than brine shrimp). My sun room looks like Dr. Frankensteins laboratory.

The eggs hatched on Christmas Day. We transferred them out of the reef tank and into a 10 gal. It has been a very hectic week feeding and caring for these little guys. I think we have about 75 to 100 of them that have made it so far. The first 3 days are the "critical period" where they either learn to catch the rotifers or starve and die.

I did not want to tell you guys about this until after I was sure that a substantial amount got passed the critical period. Now I'm proud and can show them off. Here are some pictures:

[asmith]

Congratulations! That is so exciting. Good luck raising them and please keep us posted on your progress.

Andrew

[dbmet]

Wow ...thats great --Thanks for sharing the pics...

[Brooke]

Awesome Gary!

I had intentions of attempting to raise clowns...but banggai proved to be less Frankesteinish.

Keep us updated on your progress!

Brooke

[Drew]

Gary, this is really a great accomplishment. You should be very proud! I would love to raise clownfish also but I guess my pair feltdifferently. Do you have an anemone for your pair? What species of clownfish are they? Once again, congrats, keep us updated. It seems a lot of people are breeding marine fish these days, who would have thought it 10 years ago?

Drew

[GaryG]

The proud parents are two Clarke's Clownfish that I have had as a pair for about 3 years. They have a carpet anenome that has been their home for about 1 1/2 years (this is in our 150 reef tank). They started spawning in early December. The first batch hatched (after 8 days) and I assume were all eaten by the rest of the tank. Two days later they laid another batch (it was fun watching them do this) and this time we were prepared to catch them and put them in the 10 gallon. They died within 3 days because I did not have the correct live food. By the time the 3rd batch hatched I had the mirco-algae and rotifers brewing, and they seem to be fine as of today (day 6). In the meantime the parents have laid another batch of eggs. So far they have laid a new batch 2 days after the previous one hatches. I'm going to skip this one, but maybe the batch after that I will capture (I bought a second 10 gal). I want to leave a little space between batches (it's hard work!).

I don't know what I am going to do with them if they survive. I guess I will try to take them to my LFS and ask for some store credit. There is no way this can be economically worth it. If I figured in my time and all the "stuff" they will probably have a cost of $hundreds each! I'm just doing it for fun, learning, and the experience.

I would love to give some to fellow reefists. It would give me great joy to know that my proginy are happy in someone's tank. So if any of you are within a reasonable drive of central Connecticut I'd love to give you some when/if they are ready (will be a couple of months). I could meet you half way.

[Rick O]

Hi Gary,

I want to congratulate you for six successful days of clown rearing. I have read Joyce's book from cover to cover several times and I know that what you have done so far is no small feat. I have a pair of ocellaris clowns in a 20 gallon tank and if they ever spawn I am going to attempt to raise the babies. I hope when the time comes you won't mind if I pick your brain.

Good luck,
Rick

[GaryG]

Rick: No problem. Assuming that I get through the next stage which is metamorphasis (sp?). According to Joyce that is the second critical period (8th to 12th day). If I make it past that then I will probably be successful.

Joyce's book is great. I basically followed what she said step by step. I recommend for anyone who has clown fish, even if they are not spawning. The book has great information on their history, habits in the wild and captivity, nutrition etc ... Not to mention some wonderful pictures.

The other problem that I have is tax season is coming up. I'm a CPA and I work 70 to 80 hours a week from the first week of February to April 15th. So my time will start spreading thin. So, I'm not sure if I am going to start another batch now, or wait until spring. I guess that also depends on how easy it is to unload the little guys once they mature. No use making more if they have no place to go.

Does anyone know how easy it is to get an LFS to take home tank bred fish? Do they have a concern about their long range health? Again, I'm not in it to make any money (I'd be much better off spending this time in the office). I'd be happy to trade them for a bucket of salt or a piece of coral.

[MontanaRocknReefer]

Congratulations Gary!! Great job you are doing for your self and the future of clown fish! Keep us posted please! Johnny

[Rick O]

Promise us you'll post a pic of them in a schooling ball. I think that is one of the most awesome sights in keeping fish.

At least two of the LFS in this area buy all of their clowns from ORA so I would imagine that they would be happy to have captive bred clowns.

[asmith]

Gary,

You should not have much trouble finding a LFS to take them. I had my first batch of baby bangaii's the day after Christmas. I was running around town frantically searching for brine shrimp eggs. The LFS's that I talked to said they would buy as many as I could supply. It can be cheaper for them since they don't have to worry about shipping losses. Besides, tank raised fish are often hardier than wild caught fish.

Good luck,
Andrew

[JennM]

(insert Crocodile Hunter accent here!)Gorgeous!!!! *g*

Do you let the parents incubate the eggs, or do you remove them and let them hatch elsewhere? A friend of mine has had his fish eat their eggs or else someone else in the tank did, if they could get past the protective parents. The clowns "host" in a terra cotta flowerpot, and have spawned several times, and despite his own "Frankentstein lab" hasn't got any to hatch. He's got Ocellaris clowns.

I've got tomatoes who go through the motions but don't spawn. I've had them 18 months and they were about 4 months old (tank raised, home raised!) when I got them.

If you can't find an LFS locally to buy them.....email me. I'm sure I can help you out. You are right, the blood, sweat and tears that go into raising them not to mention the dollars, don't make it a profitable venture financially, but it's amazingly rewarding. It's truly a labour of love.

Well done!

Jenn

[GaryG]

Jenn. I let the parents care for the eggs in the reef tank (they lay them on a rock right next to their anenome. When they hatch they go to the surface. My wife holds a flashlight at the top of the water (which they are attracted to) and I siphon them out.