Question for you clown experts

domination2580 · Aug 8, 2016

Ok i have a 2 yo female ocelleris and a 1yo snowflake clown. They eat like hogs, heres my question though. The female looks huge. Belly big and round, and they stay together. Does it look like she would be getting ready to lay eggs?

reeferfoxx · Aug 8, 2016

If she didn't just eat, 2 yrs is when she hits maturity. It would then be very possible that she will lay eggs.

domination2580 · Aug 8, 2016

She looked like that before i fed. Ive been feeding heavy to help the cycle begin

domination2580 · Aug 8, 2016

She has looked like that for a few days now.

reeferfoxx · Aug 8, 2016

domination2580 said:
She looked like that before i fed. Ive been feeding heavy to help the cycle begin

Help the tank cycle?

domination2580 · Aug 8, 2016

No to keep her fat and healthy to be able to support laying eggs

domination2580 · Aug 8, 2016

To give her extra nutritious food

reeferfoxx · Aug 8, 2016

Ohhh ok... haha! Had me scared for a second. Is she hovering an area?

reeferfoxx · Aug 8, 2016

sorry for double post.

Keith_0011 · Aug 8, 2016

IMO one of the first things you will see is the pair obsessively cleaning a small area to put the eggs.

reeferfoxx · Aug 8, 2016

Keith_0011 said:
IMO one of the first things you will see is the pair obsessively cleaning a small area to put the eggs.

+1

domination2580 · Aug 8, 2016

Well see i just put a piece of tile in the tank for them, its spotless and clean. As far as hovering. They dont really stray from the anemones at all so shes always by them

DeniseAndy · Aug 8, 2016

I have actually never seen any of my clowns get large bellies prior to spawning. I did get that with my dottybacks though. I also had it twice now with my fish that became egg bound and passed away. I could not catch them in time to do anything about it. Too large system.

They will usually clean an area like crazy and after lights out is when they will lay. I usually have to wait till moonlight or next day to see the eggs. Mine are stealthy. Keep and eye on that belly. If it does not go down in a day or two, you may want to intervene if possible.

domination2580 · Aug 8, 2016

DeniseAndy said:
I have actually never seen any of my clowns get large bellies prior to spawning. I did get that with my dottybacks though. I also had it twice now with my fish that became egg bound and passed away. I could not catch them in time to do anything about it. Too large system.

They will usually clean an area like crazy and after lights out is when they will lay. I usually have to wait till moonlight or next day to see the eggs. Mine are stealthy. Keep and eye on that belly. If it does not go down in a day or two, you may want to intervene if possible.

Intervene to do what?

DeniseAndy · Aug 8, 2016

You would have to sedate her and get the eggs out of her. This requires some skills you may not have. Someone in the area may be able to help and sometimes a vet will be able to help too.

I work with a few pros and have some of those skills on my own. I wish I had a chance to use them before the fish died though.

Do not worry yet. I just hate seeing a large belly like that. I have only seen it like that when issues happened. I know dragonettes get big bellies when they lay too.

If she does not lay in three days or so, write back. You may want to try some antibiotics in the food or some preventative dips. I did save one through antibiotics.