Breed Clownfish | Saltwater Fish

[richard]

Hi all,

I am back into reproduction, in my show tank I have a pair of black oscellaris from Australia. They have in the thank for almost a year with large size angels. However, even if they stick together at all time, they have not spawned yet. I have tried significant water changes but no luck yet. Would move them in a separate tank would help or do you have other tricks?

Richard

[UNIXMan]

They need time, and a place they feel will be safe for the eggs. I tried all kinds of gimmicks but found the real "trick" was a small piece of rainbow rock in the corner with a couple of holes in it. They fit just fine, nobody bothers them, water current isn't too strong. Just happened one day. Good luck!

[alanna]

Sometimes purple up helps mine. As long as they are happy in the tank and feel safe. Maybe a small flower pot or a small tile. best of luck!!

[richard]

thanks for the advises guys. They have not spawned yet, there is a ceramic tile in the tank. They are such a nice pair

Richard

[UNIXMan]

Take some time to watch your tank. I'll bet your angels are bothering them. I rearranged my reef to increase water flow, and egg production stopped for awhile. Wasn't until I watched closely and saw my other fish charging the clowns that I realized what the problem was. I wedge a few pieces of branch into the holes and caves where they set up their nest, and it only took about a week.

Mind you, this was a breeding pair, and your mileage will vary. Also, check and re-check your water parameters very carefully. It is most important that your pH is normal and steady at 8.1-8.2. All your other numbers should be within range and steady. It is better to dose a small amount every day or every other day to correct calcium, for instance, than it is to dose the entire amount at once. If the water stays about the same, your livestock will be more stable. Another thing, take a really good look at what you're feeding them. Make sure they get different foods every day. I feed them staple flakes (3 kinds) in the morning and either frozen or pellets in the evening. They need a balanced diet just like we do.

Good luck!

[richard]

sorry for the delay, my black oscellaris have their own tank now. A flower pot is there but they never go close to it, no spawn yet. The female is very agressive, she bites me when I clean the glass/tank

sometimes I see them dancing but no result yet

thanks for your advise

[UNIXMan]

sometimes I see them dancing but no result yet

That's the tell-tale sign. It may take a month or more, still, but it's going to happen. It's all in the water quality and the food. You must keep your water at optimal conditions and feed them well. It is very important that the female receive good nutrition to sustain her needs plus whatever it takes for her to produce eggs. Likewise, although it doesn't seem likely, the male needs equally good food or he will not be able to milt them properly. How old/big are they?

I don't do things according to "the book," but I get about 200 eggs every 2 weeks for the last 6 months from a pair that has only started spawning since January. I feed them a variety of flakes and pellets in the morning (make sure there's a good amount of Spirulina in there), dried krill in the afternoon, and something frozen in the evening. That can be mysids, raw shrimp that I would eat, scallops, flounder, beef heart, cyclops (whatever the corals don't eat), squid, etc. I try to give them a varied diet. I dose SeaChem's Reef Plus at half the directions, and I sometimes soak the frozen food with a little bit before feeding. Works for me. Also, I keep the SG a little lower than normal - about 1.022.

Good luck!

[richard]

thanks for the advise, I was out of town

my black oscellaris are fully grown and I know I will happen. I also have 2 pairs of orange oscellaris, they both have been spawning every 2 weeks for more than a year, when they start they don't stop

I am also waiting to get a spawn from a pair of picasso

Richard