The Picasso Clownfish Breeding Project

A few more observations about the Alpha Pair.

The time between their 1st and 2nd Spawn was 17 days, the time between their 2nd and 3rd Spawn was 16 days. Both times the eggs hatched on the 10th day.

I expect this batch to hatch on Friday March, 25th and for the next Spawn to occur on either Thursday March 31st or Friday April 1st. I'll make sure to keep the broodstock well fed for the week leading up to the 1st. I've been slacking off on feedings for this latest batch and I can tell the eggs aren't as brightly colored (however the clutch size did increase).

I'm already planning a few improvements on the next batch.

Although I did feed the rotifers prior to harvesting, I didn't add any phyto to the fry tank for fear of skunking the water. I think what I did was deny the fry additional nutrition by not having well-fed rotifers.

I won't be taking any flash photography of these eggs and I'm going to make sure to use the paper towel on top of the tank for the first few days.

The Kreisel is out. I couldn't keep the rotifer concentration up.

I've discovered that it's important to actually scrape the bottom of the larvae tank. The tank really gets a layer of slime on the bottom.

My fry tank was running at 75-76 degrees which I'm somewhat happy with. I think readjusting to 79-80 might not be a bad idea.

cool beans jason! please keep us posted!

After this next batch hatches try laying a 4x4 tile, good side down right under the coral and see if they will lay on it.

Adding phyto to the fry tank keeps the rotifers full but it also adds some contrast to the water and makes it easier for the fry to see the rotifers. It also blocks some light

It's Day 8 and I have about a dozen fry left. The remaining fry are much darker now, almost black. They still don't look anything remotely like clownfish to me so I'm assuming they haven't gone through meta. I've got some questions about the stage-two GP food...

How exactly are you feeding the GPs? I just sprinkled a small bit on the surface and after awhile it eventually sinks. The fry haven't paid them much attention but I'm thinking that even at 300-500 microns the food is too large for my fry.

Am I missing something?

I always add GP with the rotifer feeding - - on day 5 I'll cut back slightly on the rotifers but will also add the tiniest pinch of GP....eventually by day 8 or 9 it should be all GP....not sure why your fry aren't eating it ... in more than 30 collections/raisings we've never had a problem with the fry not eating the GP....are you still adding rotifers too?

Originally Posted by Barbara

I always add GP with the rotifer feeding - - on day 5 I'll cut back slightly on the rotifers but will also add the tiniest pinch of GP....eventually by day 8 or 9 it should be all GP....not sure why your fry aren't eating it ... in more than 30 collections/raisings we've never had a problem with the fry not eating the GP....are you still adding rotifers too?

Well, it is day 9 for me and I'm pretty sure the fry haven't discovered the GP yet. I started adding it on day 7 about an hour before I fed the rotifers and I plan to continue feeding rotifers until I know they've switched over. I can think of a few reasons why this batch of fry are a couple of days behind your feeding schedule that relate to improper food/light/temp on my part. I'll keep at it and get it right next time!

Here is what the fry are looking like on day 9. I've got 10 healthy survivors and I haven't lost a fry in 3 days. The fry didn't seem to mind me using a flash, I guess their eyes are strong enough for that, but I don't plan on going overboard on the pics. Especially starting next batch.

Head stripe should be showing up soon, right?

10 is better then 0. The fry look good, can't wait to see some head stripes.

Originally Posted by Barbara

I always add GP with the rotifer feeding - - on day 5 I'll cut back slightly on the rotifers but will also add the tiniest pinch of GP....eventually by day 8 or 9 it should be all GP....not sure why your fry aren't eating it ... in more than 30 collections/raisings we've never had a problem with the fry not eating the GP....are you still adding rotifers too?

It really feels like my GP are just too large? Here is a quick size comparison video of a larger GP pellet (the brown thing floating on the upper edge) next to a fry. Do the fry nibble on the larger granules? He kind of looks like he is interested but then he realizes it's bigger than his head.

I made another fry tank today. I'll be using it for the next batch that should hatch this Friday.

I also scaled back my Rotifer production a little bit. I think two 5-gallon buckets was overkill. I was going through water and phyto twice as fast and the second bucket was just constantly in my way. I'd rather have one batch that I maintain faithfully. The second batch was more of an emergency backup but I'm really not that concerned about a crash at this point. It'd be easy enough to recover.

Two-Week Old Fry!

I don't know if this counts as a milestone or not but I still have SEVEN fry that just hit the two-week mark (a noticeable improvement over the last batch that I killed in under 24 hours).

I'm getting used to seeing the same fish every day when I come home from work and I'm starting to think these guys might make it to the juvenile stage... provided I can get them eating the correct food. They really should be off Rotifers by now but I'm afraid they will starve if I discontinue the feedings. Joyce's book says Rotifers are considered optional by day 12 and should be completely stopped by day 25. So maybe I still have a week or so to continue to overlap the feedings?

This may sound crazy but I can already identify some individual behaviors and personalities in the fry. One guy likes to swim into the corner whenever I do a water change. Another likes to hide behind the Ammonia Alert Badge while another likes to follow the siphone hose around the tank.

Next batch should hatch Friday.

wow you're becoming a pro! got any new pics?

SWEET!!!! Good luck with the next batch too.

Originally Posted by rgrking

wow you're becoming a pro! got any new pics?

Eh, I just tried but this was the best I could manage. I'll try to get something better over the weekend.

I'm actually convinced that they have gone through meta after watching the video on my computer. You can't really see it very well with youtube's compression and poor resolution but their body shapes really have changed. Their colors have changed too.

Most clowns are past meta in 7-10 days unless the temp is low. I wean most of mine onto Otohime A during the second or third week depending on the size of the fry. Some just grow slower.

Keep up with the rotifers and greenwater until you see that the majority of the fry are eating OtoA. I move onto frozen Cyclopeeze and finely crushed flake when they are ready.

Good job!

Originally Posted by fishtal

Most clowns are past meta in 7-10 days unless the temp is low. I wean most of mine onto Otohime A during the second or third week depending on the size of the fry. Some just grow slower.

Keep up with the rotifers and greenwater until you see that the majority of the fry are eating OtoA. I move onto frozen Cyclopeeze and finely crushed flake when they are ready.

Good job!

Thanks, Tal. I ran this tank at 75-76 because I used a non-adjustable heater that locked in at that temperature range. I'm sure it delayed meta by a few days but I'm also sure that they've gone through it now. I wasn't sure what I was looking for at first but after spending some time studyng them last night, I can see they've changed. I'll run the next batch at 79-80.

I just ordered some Otohime A from Reeds. My friend Chelsey recommended it as well. Now I just need to find some frozen cylopseeze.

Yup, that will slow them down a bit. Now that you've seen what they look like after meta you know what to look for.

If you can't find Agent Cyclopeeze locally you can get it for a good price here: Frozen I mix the frozen with the freeze dried as well.

Nice Fishtal. A place to get bulk frozen feeds is just what i needed.

Originally Posted by RCA

It really feels like my GP are just too large? Here is a quick size comparison video of a larger GP pellet (the brown thing floating on the upper edge) next to a fry. Do the fry nibble on the larger granules? He kind of looks like he is interested but then he realizes it's bigger than his head.

do you rub it between your fingers as your pinching it into the tank? you could also try a smaller size for them too...GP is being substituted for live bbs in a lot of hatcheries now with great success

Originally Posted by RCA

Eh, I just tried but this was the best I could manage. I'll try to get something better over the weekend.

I'm actually convinced that they have gone through meta after watching the video on my computer. You can't really see it very well with youtube's compression and poor resolution but their body shapes really have changed. Their colors have changed too.

looks like it to me too!

Originally Posted by RCA

Thanks, Tal. I ran this tank at 75-76 because I used a non-adjustable heater that locked in at that temperature range. I'm sure it delayed meta by a few days but I'm also sure that they've gone through it now. I wasn't sure what I was looking for at first but after spending some time studyng them last night, I can see they've changed. I'll run the next batch at 79-80.

I just ordered some Otohime A from Reeds. My friend Chelsey recommended it as well. Now I just need to find some frozen cylopseeze.

you really should have the temp running about 80-82 by day 4 or 5....anything under 80 delays that process and really isn't healthy for the babies...I'm glad you're gonna bump it up next batch! .........we tried OtoA with 5 or 6 of our batches and they just wouldn't eat it ...I swear by Randy's products but for us this particular line of foods didn't work ....you could also try pinching (and refining it by rubbing your fingers) in cyclops-eeze instead of the GP with the rotifers at this stage....the cyclops-eeze is a great bbs replacement too ...
looking forward to your next batch also! good job so far jason!

Originally Posted by Barbara

do you rub it between your fingers as your pinching it into the tank? you could also try a smaller size for them too...GP is being substituted for live bbs in a lot of hatcheries now with great success


looks like it to me too!


you really should have the temp running about 80-82 by day 4 or 5....anything under 80 delays that process and really isn't healthy for the babies...I'm glad you're gonna bump it up next batch! .........we tried OtoA with 5 or 6 of our batches and they just wouldn't eat it ...I swear by Randy's products but for us this particular line of foods didn't work ....you could also try pinching (and refining it by rubbing your fingers) in cyclops-eeze instead of the GP with the rotifers at this stage....the cyclops-eeze is a great bbs replacement too ...
looking forward to your next batch also! good job so far jason!

A lot of good ideas in there Barb, thanks!

So do Clownfish Parents know best???

As you know, my clownfish are laying on the base of a Frogspawn which could potentially eat their offspring. During the last incubation period, the parents allowed the Frogspawn to expand fully... until hatch night. They attacked the side of the coral just above their nest, forcing it to retreat.

Tomorrow is Day 10 and the last 2 batches took 10 days. However, I just got back from work and I can see the parents have forced the coral to retreat again. I'm wondering if they know something I don't and that the eggs are hatching tonight!

I think I better get ready just incase.



Coral is closed above the clutch.

The clownfish knew it was tonight.

I've only managed to snag 15 larvae so far and it's midnight. The rest of the clutch is taking it's time hatching. I hope I'm not up until 3am.