SA Fancy Ocellaris (Clownfish)

[berkdog]

I was at the lfs today, and I saw two tanks: SA Ocellaris and SA Fancy Ocellaris (about +$2 each). These were both tank bread, and I was told "SA" stands for where they were bread. And I was told that these 1/2" fish are already eating.

Anyway, can someone speak of how to quarantine these baby fish? I asked about freshwater dips and formalin treatments, but was told babies probably wouldn't need these, and a copper treatment (and garlic enriched food) would probably be all that's necessary.

leebca *always* does a freshwater dip and recommends formalin treatments for all clownfish type fish for precaution. right? And garlic is supposedly not really scientific...

What type of medications should be done during quarantine? Also, how to feed baby clownfish?

Oh, I was also told a pair of tank-bread clownfish can be tankmates with a pair of another species of tank-break clownfish. Is this true? If they're tank bred and are introduced in the main display around the same time, then you could have 4 clown fish (of 2 types)?

Thanks!

[asting]

I'm not sure about the former questions, but...
What size tank do you have?
In large (LARGE) tanks 2 pairs could be achieved, but it's really not recommended.

[leebca]

Ask the LFS what they're eating and buy the same food to start with. But, as omnivores, they need foods listed here: Feeding Marine Fish and Fish Nutrition

The question to dip or not has to do with how the fish were handled. If the tank bred fishes have never been in contact with wild fish, I would agree to bypass the dip and treatment for Brook. But be careful about getting the answer to this 'contact' concern.

If the baby fishes are in an LFS system that is connected to other (wild) marine fishes, they are to be considered contaminated and require the dip and treatment. So, if that tank is connected to other tanks by plumbing, common water, etc. they have made contact.

If the nets used to catch one of those baby fishes are the same nets used to catch the other wild fishes -- those fishes have made contact. Same goes if the same holding containers are used. Get the idea?

I would still ask what "SA" stands for. If it is a location, does it mean South Africa, South America, or ?

Your LFS is acting suspicious -- why would a copper treatment be needed if the fish are tank bred and never in contact with wild fishes? Something smells.

Multiple pairs require a lot of room.

You don't want to pair brothers and sisters. You want one fish from the hatching at the LFS (for example), and another fish, larger by 1 to 1.5 inches from another hatching (or wild) to mate with it. To properly pair Anemonefish, you want to begin with a size difference.

[berkdog]

Thanks Lee!

I appreciate your comments.

What happens of a pair of brothers/sisters grow up together? Will they constantly fight? Or will they try to pair and their children might be deformed (b/c of incest)?

[leebca]

When two Anemonefishes are put together, one changes to a female. The female picks on the male to keep it in the male gender. What differs the two is their size. The female is larger.

So to put two fish together of the same size means they have to fight A LOT to see who becomes the female. Not a pretty sight and in captivity, can lead to death and/or disease. Not a good process for 'mating.'

Genetically, probably not much will happen, but the genetic strain will be weakened. Mixing the genes is best for the species.

[reefhead728]

have you ever heard of "Life Gaurd" from Instant ocean it can be used in qt tanks any one used this before adding fish to DT

[berkdog]

Lee, how long before two babyish clownfish define their sex? Not until they're 1-2", right? I guess that's a good idea to get them from different hatcheries so the gene pools mix more and there's more diversity!

Reefhead, thanks for the suggestion. You use Instant Ocean "LifeGuard"? What else do you use in your quarantine tank? Lee has a great QT setup instructions. I'm looking to buy that formalin 37%... all I found looking around so far is 3%.

[berkdog]

Also, would it be okay to have 2 small sized clownfish and then 2 medium sized ones so they can pair up with each other? Or 2 small sized and 1 medium sized so there's a pair+3rd wheel?

[berkdog]

Also (yes I'm so curious), could you pair a "regular" tank-bred ocellaris with a black and white ocellaris or black ocellaris? Or would they need to be the same coloring ocellaris?

[reefhead728]

As for mixing the ocellaris i dont have a answer ive never tried to keep more than 2.
The LIFE GUARD i havnt had to use yet i just picked some up as a general cure.

[leebca]

reefhead,

The use of chemicals isn't necessary if you are patient and do things correctly. Save your money. If you would like to discuss such topics, move it to a new thread, you're hijacking berkdog's thread. I won't reply to other topics in this thread in the future.

[leebca]

berkdog,

Anemonefish reach sexual maturity at different rates, depending upon their species. When you read text that say their 'medium length' is X inches, that is about/near their maturity. In some species that may be 2". In others, the female may reach 6".

Multiple pairs require a lot of space, as you were cautioned before. Each pair will want no less than 9 cubic feet of 'their' space and in addition will not tolerate other pairs near their territory. Do you have a 125+ gallon or at least a 6 foot long tank or are planning one? If not, then I'd suggest just one pair.

Anemonefishes can be paired with other species and give offspring of various types.

berkdog, if you're interested in more about Anemonefish then you need to get a book about them. I can't teach you everything about them in posts. There are books just on these kinds of fishes and will give you all the information you would want.

[berkdog]

If not, then I'd suggest just one pair.

Cool, then 1 pair will be all I'll have Thanks for your guidance!

Anemonefishes can be paired with other species and give offspring of various types.

Wow neat! So my pair can be 1 small fancy clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris, tank-bred) and 1 medium *other* anemonefish? Such as a Black and White Ocellaris (Amphiprion ocellaris) or even a Teardrop Ocellaris or a distant Pink Skunk (Amphiprion perideraion) , Cinnamon Clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus) or True Percula (Amphiprion percula) ? That'd be neat-- having 2 very unique clownfish that will mate. I like diversity in mating

berkdog, if you're interested in more about Anemonefish then you need to get a book about them. I can't teach you everything about them in posts. There are books just on these kinds of fishes and will give you all the information you would want.

Sounds good! I have seen some recommendations for books. Some I've skimmed through (which don't have the level of detail I want). I'm looking for a great few anemonefish books that will teach me all of the basics and also the perhaps unusual and (to others) uninteresting facts about them. Thanks for the help so far When I know more, I hope to be nearly as helpful

[berkdog]

Clownfishes by Joyce Wilkerson is the #1 book I'm being recommended.

Also, in terms of species mating compatibility, I discovered the following:

-True/False Perculas can mate with each other (black or orange)
-Tomato Clownfish should only mate with themselves (they are known to mate Cinnamon/Tomato but it's discouraged)
-Cinnamon Clownfish should only mate with themselves
-Clarkii Clownfish should only mate with themselves
-Skunk Clownfish should only mate with themselves (they are known to mate with different colors, ie pink and orange, but it's not recommended)
-Saddleback clownfish should only mate with themselves
-Sebae Clownfish (Seba's) should only mate with themselves
-Maroon clownfish (Premnas) should only mate with themselves (gold stripes with mate stripes pair without a problem, but in general maroon are most hostile/territorial type to pair up in general)

Thank you

[berkdog]

Follow up question about Clownfish:

If I want to have 6-10 fish in my tank, would it be okay if I just had 2 clownfish and an anemone for the first year or so? Would they go into shock if/when I introduced the next fish (not a clownfish... but something that was a compatible tankmate). I mean, establishing territory for a year or so, would I just need to rearrange the live rock so they had to adjust for the new comer? Would moving the live rock make them have to readjust to their anemone too?

Thank you

[reefhead728]

I was at the lfs today, and I saw two tanks: SA Ocellaris and SA Fancy Ocellaris (about +$2 each). These were both tank bread, and I was told "SA" stands for where they were bread. And I was told that these 1/2" fish are already eating.

Anyway, can someone speak of how to quarantine these baby fish? I asked about freshwater dips and formalin treatments, but was told babies probably wouldn't need these, and a copper treatment (and garlic enriched food) would probably be all that's necessary.

leebca *always* does a freshwater dip and recommends formalin treatments for all clownfish type fish for precaution. right? And garlic is supposedly not really scientific...

What type of medications should be done during quarantine? Also, how to feed baby clownfish?

Oh, I was also told a pair of tank-bread clownfish can be tankmates with a pair of another species of tank-break clownfish. Is this true? If they're tank bred and are introduced in the main display around the same time, then you could have 4 clown fish (of 2 types)?

Thanks!

If you read this part of berkdogs thread he is asking a QT all, I have done is asked if him or anyone else has tried a product for qt tank. You call that highjacking his thread.And i am patient all i was saying that i got some to use just in Case.

[berkdog]

Yes, thank you reefhead728... I'm still in the process of cycling my display tank, and am just in the research/planning stage. For the QT tank, I even found AmQuel on sale (16oz for 6 dollars) and AmQuel Plus for the same price (also gets rid of Nitrite and Nitrate). I'm considering buying this for my future QT in case levels spike unexpectedly.

Also, I believe Leebca is just doing his job to keep a single topic consistently in a thread. I'm trying to learn the how-to's of forums and fish all at the same time. Lee's very patient with us, so thank lee!

[reefhead728]

Yea berkdog, try to look into keeping some basic meds at all times, becouse you never know when somthing is going to go wrong.

[leebca]

reefhead,

I see where you were coming from. It was I who lost the thread context. I had focused on the title. You are right, the talk about the quarantine process is a part of the thread.

But medication and use of meds and addivites are all covered here: Stocking the Marine Fish Medicine Cabinet

[berkdog]

BTW, I found out that SA just stands for the name of a local hatchery/breedery. They told me the name of it, but I forgot now. They're tank-bred. I think I'll get two of them to be my eventual mating pair A black and an orange one.. both A. Ocellaris.