Clownfish fry journey

Richie49 · Sep 19, 2016

So yesterday at midnight my clownfish fry hatched. I have no rotifers(didn't have phytoplankton on time) so I am using barely hatched baby brine shrimp. Do you guys think this might work out. Let me know and I'll keep documenting this.

Nothead59 · Sep 19, 2016

Don't know. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. If not, they'll lay again

Richie49 · Sep 19, 2016

Yea I'll have rotifers for the next batch they lay. I just wanted to document this experience and see if hopefully I get at least some results

Richie49 · Sep 20, 2016

Most of the fry are almost always along the glass, is this normal or no?

WestOhooligan · Sep 23, 2016

NHBBS aren't very good for clowns, especially before they settle/metamorphose. Rotifers are about the only thing tried and true. Hanging near the glass could be normal, mine swam the whole hatch tank. Typically people tint the water with isochrysis or nannochloropsis. This will give some contrast and make the food easier to find for the fry. I never used baby brine shrimp because of the relation to Sudden Fright Death. Something about the shrimp mess with the clowns' liver and kidney functions. I went from rotifers straight to Otohime from Reed's.

Richie49 · Sep 23, 2016

But I've read that it is possible to raise clownfish fry without rotifers and only feeding baby brine shrimp

Wiz · Sep 23, 2016

Cool thread. Hope it works

Richie49 · Sep 23, 2016

Just another update:
My female laid more eggs today and will get rotifers for this next batch of eggs.

Clarksski · Sep 23, 2016

I have a egg laying pair too... They've laid about a dozen times now..They lay their eggs on the glass cleaning magnet! I'm busy with my new build but when I finish and get them transferred to new tank, I'll try and hatch some. I've done some research and I'm pretty sure you need lots and lots of Rotifers.. The fry are so small and their eye site so bad that the need the Rotifers right in front if f their mouth...
To culture Rotifers... You'll need lotsa green water. I found a lot of info on brineshrimpdirect.com.
It's truly a labor of love if you decide to rear them.

Clarksski · Sep 23, 2016

Also, you can order millions of cultured Rotifers from Reed Mariculture. They are out of Bay Area in California.

Richie49 · Sep 24, 2016

Yea I just order my rotifers and will start culturing them once I recieve them. What salinity does the fry tank have to be?does anyone know?

Richie49 · Sep 25, 2016

Update:
It is now day 7 and it looks like I have only 3 fry left. The stomachs look a bit orange and I read that that is good. Hope I can make these 3 survive and thrive.

WestOhooligan · Sep 26, 2016

I'm a member of the MBI. Marine Breeders' Initiative. If you want some great info go here: http://www.mbisite.org/Forums/tt.aspx?forumid=112

Richie49 · Sep 26, 2016

Ok thanks for the info.
Update:
One fry seems to have grown a white stripe on the head. I've also noticed them eat once in a while

Richie49 · Sep 29, 2016

Update:
Day 14 and all 3 fry are still alive. 1 has developed head and body stripes,1 has developed only head stripe, and the other still hasn't gotten a stripe. I just fed some crushed flakes to see if they will eat it. I will post pics later

Richie49 · Oct 1, 2016

Here are 2 of the fry. The one one the left is the biggest one. There are 3 altogether.

Richie49 · Oct 5, 2016

Update: parents laid eggs again and this batch looks way bigger.
Also the 3 fry seem to be doing pretty good and they seem to be getting their colors already.

Richie49 · Oct 8, 2016

Does anyone know when to add the fry to main tank?

Richie49 · Oct 10, 2016

Update :
Sadly I think I lost one fry. He was just laying at the bottom of the tank sideways. So that leaves me with only 2 but I'm going to sell those two.

Blue Lip · Oct 24, 2016

Richie49 said:
Yea I just order my rotifers and will start culturing them once I recieve them. What salinity does the fry tank have to be?does anyone know?

I keep mine around 1.023