Clownfish eggs disappeared!

coraltastic · Oct 13, 2012

My clown laid eggs 9 days ago they were looking good. They were silver and u could see the eye 2 days ago. I had been checking every night since for fry. I woke this morning all eggs were there before lights on. Looked again after lights on and all eggs r gone, but no fry. I wonder did the clowns eat them because they wasn't going to hatch. If anyone has any info or solutions please help.

NanaReefer · Oct 13, 2012

Most likely eaten, pretty common.

bullysam · Oct 13, 2012

+1 eaten...by fish and or other corals after they hatched

coraltastic · Oct 13, 2012

Thinks that is what I thought. The clowns r in my frag tank. I put a plexi decider in the tank and separated them from the other fish an corals when I found the eggs. I only have a small powerhead in that section of the tank so I don't think it is too Fuchs water flow. The only coral on that side is a small Hollywood stunner chalice and a Rbta that the clown host and had laid the eggs underneath of. Does anyone know how many day it will be before they lay another batch of eggs?

Alpha Aquaculture · Oct 13, 2012

When have the eggs hatched in the past? There is a chance they could have just hatched early in the morning. Usually the parents eat the eggs when the eggs are more immature or are unfertilized. If they let them go to day 9 I would say there's a strong chance they just hatched in the tank. You can expect hatches every 10-14 days, so if its been 9 days you could expect more eggs between tomorrow and Thursday. This is not set in stone at all. My pairs are all different and some will go months before laying again, others right away. I just had a female lay another batch of eggs in the same spot as the last batch but about 10 eggs from the last batch hadnt hatched yet, so there was a few mature eggs in with all the new orange ones.

sabeypets · Oct 13, 2012

bullysam said:
+1 eaten...by fish and or other corals after they hatched

+1... ALL pumps must be off, the parents will quickly snack on them after they hatch when the lights are on (small chalice may catch and eat a few).
Ocellaris/Percula will spawn regular every 12 days (3 or 4 day after hatch). It may take a couple of spawns before they become regular.

coraltastic · Oct 13, 2012

Yea that was there first batch. They're percula clowns. I have looked and looked for fry but nothing. Would they maybe be hiding?

Alpha Aquaculture · Oct 13, 2012

coraltastic said:
Yea that was there first batch. They're percula clowns. I have looked and looked for fry but nothing. Would they maybe be hiding?

Newly hatched clownfish fry are very light sensitive. So if they hatched out in a reef during the day they are probably done for due to the bright light. I've heard stories about people finding some 2 month old clownfish babies that got swept to the sump and then were able to survive. I wouldn't worry about where they are now. Instead focus on recording the info you collected from this first clutch. Exact dates and times for when they laid and when you noticed the eggs were gone. Create a breeding log you can refer to in the future. You will begin to see trends and will be able to predict laying and hatching. Then you will be ready to start your rotifer culture and you will be on your way! Keep us posted as you progress

coraltastic · Oct 13, 2012

Thank for all ur help. I already have a rotifer culture started. Could someone show me a pic of what the eggs look like right before they r subpost to hatch? I am going to put a peice of tile around the area where they lay the eggs at. Any info on what to do and what not to do on this subject?

coraltastic · Oct 13, 2012

Well maybe it was good that I lost this batch, I just got my rotifer culture started yesterday. I should be more prepared for the next batch. I am going to try to lay tile around the egg laying spot so maybe the will lay the eggs on the tile and I can remove them the afternoon before they will hatch.

coraltastic · Oct 14, 2012

Alittle update I went and checked for fry after lights out last night and there was fry everywhere. I set up my fry tank and dosed some Rotifers last night.

coraltastic · Oct 14, 2012

Woke this morning everything looks ok but my Rotifers culture water isn't that green color u want not clear though. How do i keep the water green while I am at work and asleep?