Percula Clowns

svine · 01-21-2006, 05:49 PM

I'm looking into getting a mated pair of percula clowns and was wondering if clowns will reproduce successfully in captivity?

Dani · 01-21-2006, 05:51 PM

I've heard yes, but people will have mated pairs for YEARS and most of the baby fish will die before too long.

svine · 01-21-2006, 05:53 PM

Is the reason they die due to being eaten or are they just hard to keep alive for some reason?

Dani · 01-21-2006, 05:59 PM

Um, not sure. I'm really not the person to be asking. I think if kept with other fish they will get eaten, but it seems like I heard that your water conditions have to be PERFECT for breeding to be successful, and they might be difficult to feed.
Don't take my word for it, I don't really know much about this topic. Hopefully someone with some knowlege on this will chip in soon.
There was a thread on this the other day...I'll see if I can find it.

Dani · 01-21-2006, 06:07 PM

Found it!
http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64698

this talks about clownfish mating...maybe it'll help.

reef_noob · 01-21-2006, 06:10 PM

Clowns will breed quite readily in captivity. However, it usually takes a couple of years for them to be ready to do so. Good water conditions a comfortable environment and good spawning grounds (many people use a terra cotta pot) will help.

From what I understand, the fry are very difficult to keep alive for the first few days and there are very specific requirements for doing so. Once they get past a week or so they'll do fine but they do need to be kept in a separate tank.

svine · 01-21-2006, 08:21 PM

thanks to all for all the information. I guess we will see if things happen naturally.

svine · 01-21-2006, 08:25 PM

You mention terra cotta pots. I have noticed in some tanks I have seen that they use various types of pottery in them. Is there certain types of pottery that are reef safe?

reef_noob · 01-21-2006, 08:27 PM

AFAIK, most pottery should be inert.

svine · 01-21-2006, 08:32 PM

some even appear to be tinted and maybe then baked. Do you think that would be ok? I was contemplating adding some to my tank but didn't want to contaminate it.

JCox · 01-21-2006, 10:28 PM

When I had my first reef tank about 18 yrs ago, I used regular brown-orange colored flower pots (clay, terra-cotta?) to prop up the live rock in the back. It never seemed to have any ill effects and was actually recommended at the time.

svine · 01-21-2006, 10:32 PM

thanks Jeff!

Mako56 · 01-25-2006, 04:47 AM

I have a pair of Maroon Clowns that lay eggs every 10 days or so they are pretty regular. I have caught some fry three times now and the longest I had them live was seven days. The next batch should hatch Sunday or Monday night and I am more ready this time hoping this will be the time I make it. There is so much to learn and set up to make this work at least for me it wasn't automatic.

VWD · 01-25-2006, 09:34 AM

We have some at work that lay the eggs all the time, Don't really know whats happen to them. Never have see a baby. Maybe eaten during the night.

fish.freak · 01-25-2006, 01:14 PM

I have been thinking about ways to keep fry alive, maybe a unergravel filter in a 10 gal, so they wont get sucked in and rotifiers and cycopese liquid to feed. This is just my plan if and when my pair spawns. a rounded edge tank would be ideal, maybe a 10-20 gal tru-vu. The clay pot or tile method is what I have read too. mine have hosted to a cave in the lace rock.