Difference between revisions of "Breed Clownfish"
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#Get a mated pair from an aquarium store. Clownfish are external breeders, meaning that the female fish lays eggs and then the male fish fertilizes them after they have been laid. To make this happen you will need to get a pair of clownfish that are already bonded, in other words mated to each other. | #Get a mated pair from an aquarium store. Clownfish are external breeders, meaning that the female fish lays eggs and then the male fish fertilizes them after they have been laid. To make this happen you will need to get a pair of clownfish that are already bonded, in other words mated to each other. | ||
#*Many aquarium stores will sell mated pairs specifically for clownfish breeding. If your store does not have any in stock, they can probably special order a pair just for you. Don't be afraid to ask! | #*Many aquarium stores will sell mated pairs specifically for clownfish breeding. If your store does not have any in stock, they can probably special order a pair just for you. Don't be afraid to ask! | ||
| − | #Develop a mated pair. The other way you can get a mated pair is to develop two young clownfish into a bonded pair yourself. Begin by buying two clownfish when they are still young. One of the amazing things about clownfish is that they are all born neither male or female, so you don't have to worry about getting one male and one female.<ref>http://www.ocellarisclownfish.com/ocellaris-clownfish-male-female/</ref> Any pair will do. | + | #Develop a mated pair. The other way you can get a mated pair is to develop two young clownfish into a bonded pair yourself. Begin by buying two clownfish when they are still young. One of the amazing things about clownfish is that they are all born neither male or female, so you don't have to worry about getting one male and one female.<ref name="rf1">http://www.ocellarisclownfish.com/ocellaris-clownfish-male-female/</ref> Any pair will do. |
#*Developing into a male or female fish only occurs as the fish get older. The sex of your fish will actually be determined by the dominance of the fish when fighting each other. The dominant fish will change sex into a female and the less dominant will become male. | #*Developing into a male or female fish only occurs as the fish get older. The sex of your fish will actually be determined by the dominance of the fish when fighting each other. The dominant fish will change sex into a female and the less dominant will become male. | ||
| − | #*If you are keeping a lot of clownfish in the same tank, only one bonded pair will develop. The most dominant of all will become female and the second most dominant will become male. The rest will remain sexless.<ref>http://www.fishchannel.com/saltwater-aquariums/species-info/clownfish/breeding-clownfish.aspx</ref> | + | #*If you are keeping a lot of clownfish in the same tank, only one bonded pair will develop. The most dominant of all will become female and the second most dominant will become male. The rest will remain sexless.<ref name="rf2">http://www.fishchannel.com/saltwater-aquariums/species-info/clownfish/breeding-clownfish.aspx</ref> |
#*If you want to keep the fighting to a minimum and make the fish change sex as quickly as possible, it is a good idea to get one clownfish that is larger than the other, that way it is clear from the get go which one is dominant. | #*If you want to keep the fighting to a minimum and make the fish change sex as quickly as possible, it is a good idea to get one clownfish that is larger than the other, that way it is clear from the get go which one is dominant. | ||
#Keep the water in your tank clean. Clownfish are not as sensitive to water conditions as other fish can be, but keeping the water clean can make them more likely to breed. | #Keep the water in your tank clean. Clownfish are not as sensitive to water conditions as other fish can be, but keeping the water clean can make them more likely to breed. | ||
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#Track changes in the clownfish eggs. Clownfish eggs go through multiple stages of development. As stated before, they begin as an orange color but shift | #Track changes in the clownfish eggs. Clownfish eggs go through multiple stages of development. As stated before, they begin as an orange color but shift | ||
#*The eggs should hatch in about 7 to 10 days. You will need to feed the fry live rotifers for the first week. Rotifers are plankton that many species feed on. After that, you can start to introduce live brine shrimp. Clownfish babies will only eat live food. | #*The eggs should hatch in about 7 to 10 days. You will need to feed the fry live rotifers for the first week. Rotifers are plankton that many species feed on. After that, you can start to introduce live brine shrimp. Clownfish babies will only eat live food. | ||
| − | #Set up a separate hatchling tank once the eggs are laid. It does not need to be very big, a 10 gallon (37.8 l) tank will do fine for the hatchlings. Make sure the tank does not have a large filtration system but instead has an air stone that lets off little bubbles or some other more gentle means of oxygenation.<ref>http://www.firsttankguide.net/airstones.php</ref> Too much filtration could easily kill all your tiny fry. | + | #Set up a separate hatchling tank once the eggs are laid. It does not need to be very big, a 10 gallon (37.8 l) tank will do fine for the hatchlings. Make sure the tank does not have a large filtration system but instead has an air stone that lets off little bubbles or some other more gentle means of oxygenation.<ref name="rf3">http://www.firsttankguide.net/airstones.php</ref> Too much filtration could easily kill all your tiny fry. |
#*You must also provide proper lighting for the fry since they will be searching for food but their vision is not the greatest. The light shouldn't be too bright, one light bulb is sufficient, and should be as diffused as possible. | #*You must also provide proper lighting for the fry since they will be searching for food but their vision is not the greatest. The light shouldn't be too bright, one light bulb is sufficient, and should be as diffused as possible. | ||
=== Raising Clownfish Fry=== | === Raising Clownfish Fry=== | ||
| − | #Move the hatchlings to a separate tank. Some breeders move the eggs before they hatch but most wait until the hatchlings come out of their eggs, as moving the hatchlings is easier.<ref | + | #Move the hatchlings to a separate tank. Some breeders move the eggs before they hatch but most wait until the hatchlings come out of their eggs, as moving the hatchlings is easier.<ref name="rf2" /> Either way, you will need to raise the fry in a separate aquarium as clownfish are known to eat their own eggs and hatchlings. Be sure to get the extra tank ready ahead of time. |
#Feed your clownfish hatchlings. While in the egg sack, the embryos use energy from the yoke to survive, but once they emerge, the hatchlings will need food fast! | #Feed your clownfish hatchlings. While in the egg sack, the embryos use energy from the yoke to survive, but once they emerge, the hatchlings will need food fast! | ||
| − | #*Clownfish hatchlings should be fed live rotifers, which are microscopic aquatic animals.<ref>http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/phyla/rotifera/rotifera.html</ref> These can sometimes be found at an aquarium store but you should check with your's to make sure. | + | #*Clownfish hatchlings should be fed live rotifers, which are microscopic aquatic animals.<ref name="rf4">http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/phyla/rotifera/rotifera.html</ref> These can sometimes be found at an aquarium store but you should check with your's to make sure. |
#*Many clownfish breeders find it easier to breed rotifers for their hatchlings to eat, than it is to find them at an aquarium store. Make sure you have a steady supply of them before beginning the breeding process, otherwise your hatchlings will die at this stage. | #*Many clownfish breeders find it easier to breed rotifers for their hatchlings to eat, than it is to find them at an aquarium store. Make sure you have a steady supply of them before beginning the breeding process, otherwise your hatchlings will die at this stage. | ||
| − | #Change 20-50% of the water in their tank daily.<ref>http://fish.mongabay.com/breeding.htm</ref> This is important in order to keep the water clean but it also assures that the water is clear enough for the hatchlings to see the rotifers they need to eat. | + | #Change 20-50% of the water in their tank daily.<ref name="rf5">http://fish.mongabay.com/breeding.htm</ref> This is important in order to keep the water clean but it also assures that the water is clear enough for the hatchlings to see the rotifers they need to eat. |
| − | #Expect some of your fry to not make it through the transition from a fry to a fish.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48Q-jVqDcDI</ref> One of the hardest transitions in the life of a clownfish is when they move from their larval stage to being a juvenile clownfish.<ref>http://www.breedclownfish.com/clownfish-metamorphosis/</ref> | + | #Expect some of your fry to not make it through the transition from a fry to a fish.<ref name="rf6">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48Q-jVqDcDI</ref> One of the hardest transitions in the life of a clownfish is when they move from their larval stage to being a juvenile clownfish.<ref name="rf7">http://www.breedclownfish.com/clownfish-metamorphosis/</ref> |
| − | #*To give them a good shot at developing, transition their food from rotifers to live brine shrimp so that they can get enough energy to grow rapidly. You can also add nutrients to the water, such as those sold for keep saltwater reef tanks healthy.<ref | + | #*To give them a good shot at developing, transition their food from rotifers to live brine shrimp so that they can get enough energy to grow rapidly. You can also add nutrients to the water, such as those sold for keep saltwater reef tanks healthy.<ref name="rf7" /> |
#Watch as your fry turn into juvenile fish. If the fish make it through the transition, you should start seeing the distinctive color of the clownfish develop on your fish. They should continue to grow rapidly, so make sure you continue to give them enough food and to keep their water clear and clean. | #Watch as your fry turn into juvenile fish. If the fish make it through the transition, you should start seeing the distinctive color of the clownfish develop on your fish. They should continue to grow rapidly, so make sure you continue to give them enough food and to keep their water clear and clean. | ||
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== Warnings == | == Warnings == | ||
