[karun]

I have a pair of ocillaris clowns which have started spawning in my tank. They firsh laid some eggs about a month ago. Today I noticed more eggs.
Is there any way I could raise some of these to adult fish? Would they get eaten up by other fish as soon as they hatch?


I remember seeing some articles on this board but can't seem to find them now.


Karun

[ranaman]

Found this link http://www.geocities.com/babypercs/clownpag1.htm
Frank Hoff points out you should try to get rotifers going before you try to raise a spawn. Reed mariculture sells both frozen and fresh(live) algae paste that can let you raise rotifer without the algae cultures See http//www.copepod.com HTH

[Ninong]

Originally posted by karun

Is there any way I could raise some of these to adult fish?

Yes, but you would have to be prepared to feed them properly and have a separate grow-out tank ready. You need to have phytoplankton to feed the rotifers which you will feed to the newly hatched clownfish larvae. Then you need HUFA-enriched brine shrimp nauplii (newly hatched baby brine shrimp) to feed the larvae at about 5 days old--if you feed them nauplii sooner, they will die trying to eat them. And don't forget the food for the culture of brine shrimp nauplii. Eventually you will need adult enriched brine shrimp, etc.

Would they get eaten up by other fish as soon as they hatch?

They would be eaten by anything in the tank with a mouth large enough to accomodate them, assuming they didn't go through the filtration system first.

An excellent book on raising clownfish is Joyce Wilkerson's Clownfishes: http://www.aquatictech.com/books.html


Ninong

[srgtkoons]

I am currently trying to raise ocelleris clowns. Ninong suggested the best thing. Get Joyce's book it is terrific. The best thing to do would be to get some sort of round container to hold the larvae. It drastically reduces larvae mortality. Then you need to get some greenwater (microalgae) cultures and rotifer cultures. You can get them at http://www.florida-aqua-farms.com then from there it is just some intensive feedings and care until the larvae reach metamorphisis. Your lucky that ocelleris clowns have the shortest larvae stage and require rotifers shorter then any of the other clowns. To get the larvae out of the main tank youll need to know when they are going to hatch, and then turn off all your pumps after the lights go out and get ready with a flashlight and some clear plastic containers to scoop them out. Youll also want to use the water from your maintank in the larvae growout tank. Good luck and have fun raising them i know I am.

[karun]

Thanks for the help.
I am travelling for some time. I will work on it after I get back.

Karun