How long do Clownfish clean rocks?

Fargo20 · Mar 21, 2023

For those of you who have had their clowns lay eggs how many days of cleaning rocks do your clowns do before a lay? My clowns have been cleaning their ceramic pot for the better part of 2 days now.

I’ve been waiting for this a while and really excited but will be leaving for vacation in 13 days. If this is the beginning of a 2 week cycle I’ll be fine and can take care of everything in about 20 days when they would be hatching if that’s the case.

I have a camera set up and have ordered the necessary equipment and food. I’ve planned it all out but have been struggling to find any information on this. I know it’s probably not going to work out the first time and there will be another chance in another 2 weeks. It’s not my style to not at least try.

HankstankXXL750 · Mar 21, 2023

Not sure how long they clean the rock as I didn’t witness it on either my first or second brood. However once the lay the eggs you probably have 8-12 days depending on species. My Carmel Mochas took 12 days the first time. And the second I put in a pot, but they ignored it and cleaned the rock on the other side of the anemone and I was watching the pot.

c_healy · Mar 21, 2023

A better tell tale would be when the female has her tube(I don’t know what it’s called) out all the way. It’s very noticeable and will stick out a good bit the night she will lay. Mine just laid tonight and her tube was out about an 1/8” or so. I’ll try and get a picture of it the next time they lay.

Fargo20 · Mar 21, 2023

HankstankXXXL750 said:
Not sure how long they clean the rock as I didn’t witness it on either my first or second brood. However once the lay the eggs you probably have 8-12 days depending on species. My Carmel Mochas took 12 days the first time. And the second I put in a pot, but they ignored it and cleaned the rock on the other side of the anemone and I was watching the pot.

I guess it is all a bit dependent on the species. My female is a black ice and my male is a gladiator, both Ocellaris.

HankstankXXL750 · Mar 21, 2023

c_healy said:
A better tell tale would be when the female has her tube(I don’t know what it’s called) out all the way. It’s very noticeable and will stick out a good bit the night she will lay. Mine just laid tonight and her tube was out about an 1/8” or so. I’ll try and get a picture of it the next time they lay.

That’s cool to know. I never read anything about a tube, only that they would start a wiggle dance leading up to the spawn.

Fargo20 · Mar 21, 2023

c_healy said:
A better tell tale would be when the female has her tube(I don’t know what it’s called) out all the way. It’s very noticeable and will stick out a good bit the night she will lay. Mine just laid tonight and her tube was out about an 1/8” or so. I’ll try and get a picture of it the next time they lay.

Thank you. I’ve seen them before but didn’t think about that being a big indicator. The tube will protrude and then they’ll lay close to lights out that evening?

dedragon · Mar 21, 2023

I wouldnt worry about raising any fry or anything until another few months. It takes time for a pair that just starts laying to have much healthier and larger clutches. You will see the first times are rather small compared to ones breeding for a longer period of time and regularly.

Fargo20 said:
Thank you. I’ve seen them before but didn’t think about that being a big indicator. The tube will protrude and then they’ll lay close to lights out that evening?

Sometimes they are out a little but it will be noticeable( especially the female) and happen about halfway through the day,

jjencek · Mar 22, 2023

HankstankXXXL750 said:
That’s cool to know. I never read anything about a tube, only that they would start a wiggle dance leading up to the spawn.

The wiggle dance is not the best indicator. I have had pairs wiggle for a year before laying eggs. The tube is the best indicator for me - when I see that, I know they will be laying eggs with 24 hours or much less.

biom · Mar 22, 2023

dedragon said:
I wouldnt worry about raising any fry or anything until another few months. It takes time for a pair that just starts laying to have much healthier and larger clutches. You will see the first times are rather small compared to ones breeding for a longer period of time and regularly.

Agree, in our case first clutch was very small (50-60) and the parents were so inexperienced and overprotecting and i think they removed most of the eggs and fry even the healthy ones during the incubation and at the end there were only two eggs remained. The situation greatly improved with clutch #2.

Paul B · Mar 22, 2023

They clean the rocks forever. Even if it is only one fish.
I have this pair for 30 years, they constantly spawn but when they are not, the bigger one cleans the rocks.

Fargo20 · Mar 22, 2023

Paul B said:
They clean the rocks forever. Even if it is only one fish.
I have this pair for 30 years, they constantly spawn but when they are not, the bigger one cleans the rocks.

great information. Do you think it’s more of a for sure thing if it’s mostly my male cleaning and the female comes to help rarely?