Picasso Clown Babies - 1/2/12 Updated Video

[BSJF]

Starting to document a few things. :hypnotyized: Here is some more info on the progression of this thread:2/23 Post 97 - Ace Hatch #1 - ~12, no remaining survivors :(3/7 Post 107 - New Eggs 3/12 Post 116 - Eggs Gone :(3/25 Post 118 - New Eggs4/3 Post 127 - Lorraine Hatch #1 ~60, ~45 remaining - Ace has convinced me I still have over 60 little buggers in this hatch.4/7 Post 143 - New Eggs4/15-16 Post 178 - Ace Hatch #2 ~80-100, 38 remaining (when moved to large display tank)4/20 - New Eggs4/-29 - New Hatch - ~182, ~45 remaining5/3 New Eggs5/12 New Hatch ~80, ~25 remaining5/16 New Eggs (this date is probably wrong, I didn't record it the day it happened and I haven't had a hatch on day 10 before)5/26 New Hatch ~60-80, 6 remaining - School project5/30 Eggs6/10-12 Eggs6/23 Eggs (most eaten by 6/26)7/6 Eggs7/19 Eggs8/1 Eggs, hatch on 8/9 not collected8/13 EggsETC, ETC, ETC10/1 Eggs, hatch on 10/9 - new class project - rough estimate 80-100, make that 20...

[Gseclipse02]

if they are sellable at any point can i be put on a list please :)

[Europhyllia]

Awesome! Congrats. :)

[Pennies2Cents]

Congrats! :)

[BSJF]

9442
About half of them are still around. The frogspawn was knocked over on top of them (by mama, but ****ing off mama and papa).

[BSJF]

I can see their cute little eyes today.

[Mr Cob]

Very cool. Add me to your list if you start one. I love tank raised clowns.

[BSJF]

For now, just documenting the timing of everything.

[nrkolas]

totally wanna b part of that list

[chunkymonkey]

I'd love to join a possible list if you start one.

[medi]

Put me down as well.....very cool by the way

[BSJF]

Last night was the night. All gone this am.

[hobogato]

so it was eight days. could you please document again when they have a new batch? i wont be ready to raise them for at least a month, but if we have the timing down, that will make it easier. thanks again loraine!

[BSJF]

Yip, I'm real bad at remembering, so the thread will help track this.

[z28pwr]

From what I hear it's hard to keep them, even people with lots of experience such as GC reef have problems keeping them. Good luck and put me on the list for a pair.

[BSJF]

Finally another batch of eggs. New today. Just raised the new lights up in the canopy and switched up the lights to a different sequence.

[Europhyllia]

Jan 25th it is then ;)

[BSJF]

And they didn't choose to use the ceramic pot I have in there just for this purpose. Oh well, you are getting that baby catcher aren't you :)

[Kristy]

Yay!! Clown eggs... Happy dance! That certainly DOES make all the work on your lighting worth the trouble.

[hobogato]

i can try to make one if karen doesnt get one.

[Europhyllia]

You guys talking to me? I am on a 4 months waiting list for a baby catcher...

[hobogato]

Let me see if I can put one together for maast to use

[Third Coast Tropical]

You don't need anything special to catch them. Plastic cup and flashlight should be plenty. The larvae are phototactic (attracted to light), so on night of hatch, turn of all pumps, etc and wait. I would wait at least an hour before shining light in tank and make sure not to shine directly where eggs were just in case they haven't hatched....as it could delay hatching. Shine flashlight in water and concentrate larvae in an area and then start scooping with plastic cup. Obviously, you should have a rearing tank already set up with matching parameters....Depending on clutch size, you might be scooping quite a bit. Good luck.

[Europhyllia]

We don't stay up with flashlights waiting for babies. lol
That's why we need the baby catcher. So we can just sleep and harvest in the morning :)

The Vossen Baby Catcher:
http://chadvossen.blogspot.com/2010/05/larval-fish-traps.html

[Third Coast Tropical]

Interesting....flashlight /cup have worked just fine for me for a while...and....I am up anyways! I personally like to get them out as close to hatch as possible, have never waited until morning.

[BSJF]

I'm not a night person and don't do manual labor :) Ace building us one is much more better!

Ace, what would I need to set up to keep them in until you could pick them up?

Oh, and BTW my chromis' think my idea of putting that piece of acrylic against the glass is stupid - hah! They haven't spawned over there since.

[hobogato]

ok, i will build at least one today, the only problem will be getting ahold of an led light and something to mount it to the glass

the only issue i see with using one of these is - won't you have to turn all of your pumps off for the larvae to be able to make it to the collector? can your tank go all night without circulation?

[Kristy]

The baby catcher is an interesting idea. But I would totally have to stay up and watch it in action on the night I knew they were hatching anyhow! How could you sleep? :hypnotyized:

[Third Coast Tropical]

[QUOTE=hobogato;805230]

the only issue i see with using one of these is - won't you have to turn all of your pumps off for the larvae to be able to make it to the collector? QUOTE] Yes...and as soon as there is any daylight in the tank, they will begin to be preyed upon if they are not secure in device

[justahobby]

FWIW I have gone for the weekend and accidentally flipped the light switch that shut off all the power to my tank. Everything was fine when I got back. I think as long as you run a good skimmer and not morbidly overstocked there should be plenty of O2 for overnight

[txmaverickmh]

From what I hear it's hard to keep them, even people with lots of experience such as GC reef have problems keeping them. Good luck and put me on the list for a pair.

We had great success with our Onyx clowns, clowns are VERY easy to raise if you have the right equipment. Unfortunately, our pair of Onyx clowns were getting old or something as they stopped producing healthy babies, they were coming out with difformities, bad stomachs and such, but we still were successful raising them. We actually have healthy babies from the last batch still in our store that we raised up until we returned the parents to their owner. We just aborted the project because the babies kept getting more weird with different unusual qualities, and we didnt want to sell them.

BSJF, we have all the equipment you need, the live hatcheries for baby food, cone tanks, and an employee doing her master's thesis on breeding clowns and seahorses, would you like for us to babysit them for a few months to get some successful hatches for you??? PM me if you would like to work something out!

thanks,

Michael

[txmaverickmh]

Sorry guys, I wasn't trying to do any selling here, just excited for Lorraine and wanted to give a venue to have some successful offspring!!! PM Sent

[BSJF]

morbidly overstocked there should be plenty of O2 for overnight

Well, I would say I am morbidly overstocked, and I have an O2 prob. (Why do I feel like an Alcholic an an AA meeting?)

Ace, would they do ok with the Vortech or air pumps? I can shut down the return flow. Don't think an led light would be an issue, I can rig up something. And magnets is what I would recommend for keeping it in place. Has to be the heavy duty ones like the glass cleaning magnets, not the whimpy ones that come with frag trays. I think I have a spare we could use. Kristy, yes I think I would be wide awake, and Ace would be too (because I would wake him up)!


Sorry guys, I wasn't trying to do any selling here, just excited for Lorraine and wanted to give a venue to have some successful offspring!!! PM Sent

I've replied to your PM. Very tempting concept. I personally didn't read your post as trying to sell, just that a lot of stuff is needed and that you have it, which to me falls in the educational category. I'm glad you posted, who even knew all this was going on? I for sure didn't!

[txmaverickmh]

Thanks Lorraine, I always seem to have a big red bullseye on my back, no worries! Our employee, Shelly, is in her final year for her Masters and is doing her thesis on breeding clowns and seahorses, thought it would be a great partnership amongst friends, professionals, lovely Maastards and a sponsor to get you some successful Picasso babies, sooooo cool!

Michael

[txmaverickmh]

I didn't get your PM though, please send again, email me or call me!

361-920-1465 or txmaverickmh@gmail.com

[Neptune@gabesfish]

I think thats real cool of you to offer help Mike .. Such a good guy!

[BSJF]

Got to see the baby catcher tonight! That is one cool gizmo that Ace built!

[Dreef13]

I would love to join the list as well.

[BSJF]

Everyone, there is no list at this time.

[BSJF]

I get to install the baby catcher today! Wish me luck.

[BSJF]

WE HAVE BABIES -- IN THE BABY CATCHER!!!! HOLY COW WASN'T EXPECTING THEM THIS SOON.

I suppose they could also be chromis, but definitely little fishies!

[txmaverickmh]

Pics please??? I still dont understand how this baby catcher thingy exactly works, can you explain a bit? Congrats on your success!

[ShAgMaN]

LOL, ok now you have to start a list - and I got first dibs! JK, awesome Lorraine - we'll see what happens.

[BSJF]

Well, it worked much better than I expected. I wasn't expecting a release for 2-3 more days. I didn't even have the lighting on it, or the pumps off. Will try and get some pics, but I have a crappy camera, so I for sure can't get the fishies to show up in it. I just see thingys swimming with little eyeballs.

[Reefer4ever]

That is amazing! I will buy some when ready!

[BSJF]

So far to go. This is the easy part.

[BSJF]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eiCa8z2ogY

[Kristy]

What??? Already? Do you still see the clown egg clutch? The eggs should have turned more silvery and quivery as the days grew closer to hatch. Maybe you have chromis babies too? Your tank is just the baby maker!

I wonder what will show up in a couple days?

[BSJF]

Well I can see the babies in the video, hope you can too.

[BSJF]

The clutch was behind the duncans, so I couldn't see much of them. I wonder if Cory or Karin got any photos of it today when they were shooting the tank. Tonight under flashlight, I think there are only 4-6 eggs left where they used to be so I think these are the picassos. I haven't seen any chromis laying lately, but not to say they didn't have some hiding.

[BSJF]

I guess I just leave them in this tonight and make the transfer in the am. I have the return pump on low. Turned off the vortech. Think I need to turn down the bubbles???

[BSJF]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR_5bOArJig

One more video.

[Kristy]

It sounds like what you did was fine. By the way, I told you that you wouldn't be sleeping through this!

[BSJF]

Well that would be your fault! Funny thing is I went to put on the light that Ace gave me tonight, and then decided it could wait until tomorrow. Then I looked in the basket. It really looks like it caught all of them, eventhough the vortech and return pump hadn't been shut down.

[jrnannery]

Congrats, Lorraine, and best wishes to the little guys.

[hobogato]

very cool! cant wait to come see them :)

[Europhyllia]

That's fantastic! Glad it worked so well. :)

[BSJF]

Little babies and momma are awake now.

[BSJF]

We don't stay up with flashlights waiting for babies. lol



No flashlight required, but no sleep either.

[BSJF]

And this is in anticipation of 3 months down the road. Can't wait for Ace to take a pic like this!
http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/MrsDoni/GROW%20OUT%20System/?action=view&current=65030fb2.pbw

[jrnannery]

Oh man, what a beautiful sight!! Seriously, I hope y'all can get this working.

[Kristy]

Oh that's so cute I just can't stand it! I could watch that photo montage of the baby picassos for an hour.

Fingers crossed...... (this part was too easy!)

[BSJF]

As you said too easy. Appears Ace will have a mysis culture upon closer inspection. And, there are only about 8 clown eggs left this am. Silvery dots for eyeballs. It was a good dry run anyway.

[Europhyllia]

Eek. I hope the shrimp didn't eat the clowns! :o

[Kristy]

Ah man, false alarm! I thought this seemed impossibly easy.

[BSJF]

:)

[BSJF]

Actually, these might even be peps or cleaners. I have very mature pairs of both of these. Ace...

[cbianco]

Thought I'd help out a bit!

Sorry for any hijack. :p

Christopher :)


Copy code from below, take the space out of the first "you tube" -> "youtube" and replace the funny string of numbers/letters after the equal sign in the link with your video's string.

[you tube]2eiCa8z2ogY[/youtube]

[you tube]aR_5bOArJig[/youtube]



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eiCa8z2ogY


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR_5bOArJig

2eiCa8z2ogY

aR_5bOArJig

[BSJF]

Thanks Christopher. I can't ever remember how to do that.

I also just discovered a new batch of chromis eggs on the back wall. They totally avoided the acrylic piece Ace gave me for them, but they always lay a ton of eggs.

Started the chromis their own thread here. Pics of the eggs and better video of the catcher included in that thread.

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?64584-Chromis-Eggs&p=806132#post806132

[BSJF]

And this is the thread where Doni documents her entire process of learning to breed picassos. Amazing!
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/livestock-breeding/32474-rearing-picasso-percula-clownfish.html

[neogenix]

We had great success with our Onyx clowns, clowns are VERY easy to raise if you have the right equipment. Unfortunately, our pair of Onyx clowns were getting old or something as they stopped producing healthy babies, they were coming out with difformities, bad stomachs and such, but we still were successful raising them. We actually have healthy babies from the last batch still in our store that we raised up until we returned the parents to their owner. We just aborted the project because the babies kept getting more weird with different unusual qualities, and we didnt want to sell them.

BSJF, we have all the equipment you need, the live hatcheries for baby food, cone tanks, and an employee doing her master's thesis on breeding clowns and seahorses, would you like for us to babysit them for a few months to get some successful hatches for you??? PM me if you would like to work something out!

thanks,

Michael


Sorry guys, I wasn't trying to do any selling here, just excited for Lorraine and wanted to give a venue to have some successful offspring!!! PM Sent


Thanks Lorraine, I always seem to have a big red bullseye on my back, no worries! Our employee, Shelly, is in her final year for her Masters and is doing her thesis on breeding clowns and seahorses, thought it would be a great partnership amongst friends, professionals, lovely Maastards and a sponsor to get you some successful Picasso babies, sooooo cool!

Michael


I didn't get your PM though, please send again, email me or call me!

361-920-1465 or txmaverickmh@gmail.com

Dude, this is really nice of you! I'll be sure to stop down there when I make it to Corpus... may come down there to collect my new car ;)

[BSJF]

New batch laid today.

FNjgYXmlGSc

[Zack]

Awesome!

[markgsa]

That is cool. Congrats.

[BSJF]

Trying to decide if it will be tonight or tomorrow night. See silvery eyes with orange bellies today.

[BSJF]

Previously Weds 1st, hatched Weds 8th?
Or is it Mon 17th, hatched Tues 25th?
This time it is Mon 14th, hatched TBD

Sigh

[hobogato]

:nailbiting:

[Big_Pun]

i love your clowns, and good luck! i embeded the video, i hope you dont mind.

[BSJF]

Thanks Chris, I tried to follow the instructions given previously to do that and couldn't make it work for some reason.

[BSJF]

Guess it isn't tonight. Just the little shrimpys again.

[Europhyllia]

Are you sure? Ace mentioned the last ones that you thought were shrimp were in fact probably Chromis? No?

[BSJF]

These were definitely shrimp. I did the glass / flashlight method this time. Swore they were little orange fishies as I collected them, but easier to inspect after I was done. Little eyes, orange bodies, and a shrimp like tail. Didn't swim, darted like a shrimp. There were a few smaller thingy's that I collected with them too. Would be cool to have a microscope and a camera that worked with it. I put them in the fuge. I can't believe how many of them I have. Kinda scary.

[hobogato]

did the clownfish eggs hatch?

[BSJF]

Nope, they are still there. Expect them tonight for sure.

[BSJF]

Lights are out. Shhh!

[hobogato]

:nailbiting: again!

[BSJF]

Me too!

[BSJF]

More shrimpies, eggs still there.

[Europhyllia]

So WHAT ARE your magic orange shrimp???

(can seahorses eat them?)

[BSJF]

I'm not sure. They are new hatches of whatever, I can see them float and then pop as they hatch. It's cool to watch, unless you want to see clowns.

They seem to hatch most nights about 10-20 minutes after lights out, so it would be easy enough to start a culture if you wanted to. Have you put your baby catcher in your large tank? You might already have something similar in there.

[BSJF]

It's pretty sad when you have date night have had to be home before dark to hatch babies. Pumps off once more, it's got to be tonight doesn't it? 9 days.

[ShAgMaN]

Hehe. I'm going to throw the Shagadelic Mojo down...<===8 BAAM!!! Tonight is the night!!! Oh, and I got dibs.:angel:

[BSJF]

lol~

[ismvel]

It's pretty sad when you have date night have had to be home before dark to hatch babies. Pumps off once more, it's got to be tonight doesn't it? 9 days.


Date nights can lead to rearing life...how did this happen in the reverse order??? LOL

[Europhyllia]

Good Luck :)

(I just got the kids some head lights at Harbor freight and thought of you! lol)

[BSJF]

Well, I'm going to say I have at least a dozen. But before I wake up Ace, I should sit a bit longer and make sure they aren't shrimp too. These don't have the flat tails and seem to swim. I hope I'm right. There are a ton of other critters in with them though.

[BSJF]

There still eggs on the rocks too. So they aren't done.

[BSJF]

Almost done. For sure.

[BSJF]

Well I put the new babies to bed, probably have about 30 of them. Most were caught with the cup and flashlight method because I couldn't figure out how to make the light work on the catcher, but there were some in the catcher too. There are still some eggs on the wall, maybe 10 more. Will check one more time before I turn the return pump back on and go to bed.

[alton]

Congrats, I know everything will work out

[BSJF]

A sneak preview. I might have video too.
1103111030

[BSJF]

The video turned out great. Now to identify the other hatch I collected with them. Chromis? or critter. So small.

The hatch

9JqFnTEqOQ0

Captured

bp2ojkp06HY

Someone embed this for me or tell me how again?

[Europhyllia]

great video! Definitely fishies! :)

[BSJF]

Babies have been delivered to their new mommies/daddies. Under Ace's microscope, the smaller hatch is shrimp. Thinking mysis. Now for the curve ball, I have another shrimp that hatches as well, a bit larger. So cleaner or peps maybe? To me those look like cleaners just visually, but I wouldn't have a clue really.

I definitely need to get a concentrated LED light for the catcher if I use that method in the future. Otherwise the flashlight in the corner worked better with the standard flashlight.

There are about a dozen eggs that didn't hatch, probably because I messed with the flashlight too much.

[Europhyllia]

That's fantastic. And cleaner shrimp babies are great too! I bet they make good reef/fish food. :)

[BSJF]

My tank is so full of life at night it is crazy. It's like speckled soup.

[BSJF]

New batch of eggs laid today.

[alton]

How are the others doing?

[Europhyllia]

Yes! Updates! Pictures! More videos. What's up with Ace? lol

[Regric25]

turn and burn!! LOL Those fish are busy! How is the first batch doing?

[hobogato]

turn and burn!! LOL Those fish are busy! How is the first batch doing?

they are in my classroom rick. unfortunately most of them did not make it to the artemia eating stage. we have two that are fat and happy and eating like champs tho. we are going to have to work on increasing the nutrition of the rotis to get a better survival rate.

[alton]

Hey two is a start, way to go.

[BSJF]

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/livestock-breeding/32474-rearing-picasso-percula-clownfish-23.html#post495268

Ace, how does the one that survived so far compare to these pics at 12 days old?

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/livestock-breeding/32474-rearing-picasso-percula-clownfish-24.html#post495905

Or these at 13 days.

[hobogato]

not anywhere close to that big. has the beginnings of white on the top and by the tail tho and shaped just like those.

[BSJF]

So when you going to post a pic for me?

[BSJF]

Well, this batch is gone. They didn't look ready to hatch yesterday, so I'm thinking they got ate. Timing wise I was expecting tomorrow night at the soonest.

[hobogato]

darn.

[BSJF]

New batch laid today.

[BSJF]

silvery eyes noted. Humm. Temp has been higher in the tank because the chiller is offline. Wonder if they could hatch on day 7?

[BSJF]

Hatched a couple different things tonight, but no fishies.

[Europhyllia]

Tomorrow then :)

[BSJF]

Probably. Have you used your baby catcher yet? Did you see Chad posted a link to this thread on facebook about making some?

[CoryDude]

No matter how hard I stared under that rock, I still couldn't make them out! Kind of like those 3-d posters from the 90's.

[BSJF]

lol - you needed your camera with the superduper lens. It would have found them. They do hide them well though.

[Europhyllia]

No matter how hard I stared under that rock, I still couldn't make them out! Kind of like those 3-d posters from the 90's.
Cory I couldn't see them either!
And I also can't see the rocketship on the 90's 3-d poster I have hanging here. I think it's just an insider joke. There's nothing to see in those posters!

Lorraine I think I need to feed (even) more or something. He starts a batch and after a few days they're gone. Haven't even gotten to the 8 day mark yet when I would put the box in the tank.

[BSJF]

I think it takes them a while to figure out what to do with them.

Well no clowns last night either. Did have a good sized hatch of the bigger shrimps though. Thinking they are cleaners. I'm sure they will all die, but until then, trying to feed them nhbb. Have a few of them in the tank that the clowns will go in and those are only getting rotis.

All this work and I have to go out of town Friday. Really don't think the hubby can figure out what to do with everything while I am gone. Probably not fair to even ask him to.

The clown eggs are looking great. Tonight has to be it for sure.

[BSJF]

New babies tonight! They look happy, like me :)

[Europhyllia]

* Like * :)

[Kristy]

Yay!!! About time! I keep checking this thread thinking there should be good news by now... :)

[BSJF]

You and me both. I don't know why I have such a hard time on the timing. I thought I had it figured out last time and missed them. With the temp being higher this time, I thought they would hatch earlier, but really didn't.

I'm really hoping I have enough food for them!

[alton]

Congrats Lorraine

[BSJF]

darn heaters. baby tank was quite warn this am. they seem fine, but I hate that.

[BSJF]

I still need to work more on the light with the baby catcher. Last night most of them kept saying let me in, let me in. Several also went behind the catcher to get to the light.

[Europhyllia]

would it be big enough to just add a submersible LED light and place that into the catcher?

[Europhyllia]

something like this that you could attach to the INSIDE:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-WHITE-Durable-submersible-LED-Floral-light-/260747676190?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb5c5ca1e

[BSJF]

Not sure. Anywhere the light broadcasts to is where they go. So even though I put it at the entry, it broadcasts out. The other tricky part, is the ones that have been caught are also attracted to where it shines, so if it is only at the base, they will keep trying to get back out. What I current have going on at least only lights up the catcher itself. It is strongest at the entrance but reflects off the acrylic. Shrimp don't seem to have any problem with this, but the fish are stronger so can swim away from the entrance easier.

[Europhyllia]

so do you think the catcher would be more effective if it was made from black acrylic?

[hobogato]

or maybe just the baffle that separates the holding chamber from the entrance chamber could be black?

[BSJF]

They need to be able to see the light from across the tank to be attracted to the catcher so I think the outside should be clear, but it would probably be good to have the internal baffle dark. But not sure that is a big issue really. If you have the light on without the bubbles, some would find their way out, but with the bubbles going strong they stay there eventhough they are attracted to the light.

[BSJF]

Not to jinx myself, but they seem to be happy and are growing so hopefully I'm not starving them. I replaced the heater today as well. Now to write the instructions so my husband can tend them while I am away. This is going to be hard!

And the shrimp are still doing good too. I've moved most of them over to a 5 gallon bucket with the others so as not to over populate the fry tank.

[Europhyllia]

Oh man I don't envy your husband. He seems like the kind of guy that would just do anything to make his Lorraine happy. He's going to be feeling really bad if they die before you get back!

[BSJF]

Well, the concept of him tending to them seemed much easier way back when than it does now, but I'm sure he will try and follow my instructions as best as he can. Since this is my first time too, it is hard to figure out the instructions to give him though.

[BSJF]

4 days old already. I'm going to miss my babies!

Instructions have been printed for tending while I am away.

AND, a new batch of eggs were laid today as well.

[alton]

Pictures when you get back?

[BSJF]

Day 7 today! Just checked in with the babyfishsitter (my hubby). All is going well. He started brine today to feed tomorrow. He made me nervous when he asked if I had more of that green stuff. The Rotigrow is very concentrated and what I left should last a few weeks. I did bump up the feedings to 3 times a day before I left cause they seemed to be eating more. He must be doing something right if they are still alive.

[Europhyllia]

Aww you better bring him back a nice pressy from Boston!

[BSJF]

Day 9. I'm finally home. They sure got big while I was away! Some have white stripes on the head too. Growing fast.

[StevenSeas]

What no pics yet?

[BSJF]

it's really hard to even see them through the green stuff in the tank. I just fed them nhbbs and watched them eat under a magnifying glass - they love it! Will try for pics or video within the next few days.

[Europhyllia]

Awesome!

[hobogato]

cant wait to see pics!

[BSJF]

If everyone wants pics, then someone with a real camera should really come and take some. My camera isn't able to focus on these guys, but I am in love!

[hobogato]

hopefully i will need to come by soon anyway, i will bring my camera :)

[BSJF]

Just to document a few things for future reference.

Started on rotifers being fed rotigrow plus. Also dosed a bit of rotigrow plus directly to fry tank. Low watt light on 24/7. Fed 2 x a day, but rotis were available in the tank at all times.
Day 4 increased feedings to 3 times a day.
Day 8 added nhbbs 2 x day, enriched with Vitachem. Still also feeding rotifers and adding rotigrow plus.
Day 9 increased nhbbs to 3 x day, rotis/rotigrow plus same.

Temp is ~80 (but I did have a spike up to 84 early on)
pH is 8.0-8.1
Salinity started at 1.025, slowly lowered to 1.023

Too many babies to count but there are 45-50 of them.

Misc water stuff - 10g tank, started tank several days before hatch, kept rotis in the tank. Day of hatch, lowered water and did about a 50% WC on the remaining water. There was 2-3 gallons left before I added the water from the main tank with the hatch. By the time I was done, I had about 8 gallons. Lowered that to about 3 gallons for the first few days, then gradually increasing to about 6 gallons by the time I went on my trip (Day 5). WC is daily 1-2 gallons. I also add PRIME each morning and evening.

[StevenSeas]

Wow progress seems great. Also sounds like a lot of work but it must be very rewarding to watch them grow up.

[Kristy]

Oh Lorraine... this is such great news! I am so excited for you. Big props to Kriss who did SO GREAT caring for the babies while you were gone. Still need to come by your house for a couple of things, so I can't wait to see these guys myself!

[BSJF]

I love feeding them and seeing nice fat bellies!

[Texreefer]

Having done this before, i understand what a great sense of pride and accomplishment you feel... I can't wait to start this up again myself... you get so attached to them

[BSJF]

And I already have my favorites picked out :)

[Mr Cob]

pretty awesome....love the documentation on it. Will be a great reference for many years to come. Be sure to tag this thread Lorraine using the button: <Add/Edit Tags>

great job!

[Texreefer]

I saw some info on fish breeding where you earn points for certain levels of success with breeding different types of fish... we should start something similar inside of MAAST. wish I had the link... pretty interesting stuff

[BSJF]

http://www.gcca.net/infochest/info_bap.htm

Did a google and found this. I'm sure there are probably others.

[BSJF]

Does anyone know if anyone sells Otohime locally?

[BSJF]

Great tool for cleaning the fry tank. I also drain into a seive just in case. When Kriss was tending the babies, I put a mesh bag over the inlet part so he couldn't possibly make a mistake.
http://www.seahorsesource.com/cgi-bin/shop/detail.cgi?id=SSI601

[alton]

I saw some info on fish breeding where you earn points for certain levels of success with breeding different types of fish... we should start something similar inside of MAAST. wish I had the link... pretty interesting stuff

That sounds great but with our bylaws Lorraine probably could not apply because she is a board member? I want to make a motion?
(Let Board Members Participate in everything)

Sorry to get off topic, I am just cranky because I can't have meat again today (I really wanted a barbacoa taco this morning)
What you are doing Lorraine is awesome.

[Third Coast Tropical]

Does anyone know if anyone sells Otohime locally?

I have never seen any.

[BSJF]

Sorry to get off topic, I am just cranky because I can't have meat again today (I really wanted a barbacoa taco this morning)



Thanks for reminding me Alton. I haven't had meat for a month now.

My reward is seeing these awesome babies. They are already quarreling like siblings. And they come in all shapes and sizes. Some have very dark bodies, others bright orange, a few that are very light. Some have their head stripe many others don't. Some are double the size of the others. All seem to be healthy and eating.

[Europhyllia]

Thanks for reminding me Alton. I haven't had meat for a month now.

Go Lorraine! I've been wondering if/how you've been holding up. :)

[BSJF]

Day 9


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbWVjnc_8MU


Day 12


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR6gLHgnH0c


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONnSX66omUo

[BSJF]

Go Lorraine! I've been wondering if/how you've been holding up.

Waddling around pretty good, but very fatigued.

[justahobby]

Where are the recent pics??

[Europhyllia]

On Facebook! Video :)

[Europhyllia]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR6gLHgnH0c

[Europhyllia]

Oops. Just noticed the links were already there. lol Now you got it embedded as well...
Isn't video better than pics anyway?

[BSJF]

lol Karin. I still can't figure out how to embed, but for those who didn't see page 17, these are the videos. Ace took some pics today as well, so hopefully he will have a few that turned out. Can you believe how much they grew in 3 days? I can't

Day 9
http://www.youtube.com/user/BSJFISH?.../2/NbWVjnc_8MU (http://www.youtube.com/user/BSJFISH?feature=mhum#p/a/u/2/NbWVjnc_8MU)

Day 12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR6gLHgnH0c (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR6gLHgnH0c)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONnSX66omUo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONnSX66omUo)

[BSJF]

Just noticed one of them has their second stripe already. Boy they grow fast.

[BSJF]

Guess it's date night Friday with my tank watching for babies. Day 8 on the eggs today.

Trying the new and improved catcher with black stuff. Ace, for future reference the top of the catcher needs to be taller(like the one I gave you back) and the one side that is shorter needs to be as tall as the rest of it.

[BSJF]

Babies are coming now! Yeah!

[hobogato]

awesome!

[BSJF]

Looks like only a partial hatch tonight. ~20 or so. Still a ton of eggs with beady eyes looking at me. Good night.

[justahobby]

:D Thanks Lorraine and Karin for bring the videos up. I have a tendency to skip threads that grow really fast with the intention of catching up later.... and then the threads REALLY grow so I put them on hold with the intention.... well you get where I'm going with this.

Way to go Lorraine. Very exciting to see more fish breeding on MAAST.

to embed a youtube video you can click on the film icon beside quote and past the url. Or the ole fashioned way is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONnSX66omUo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONnSX66omUo)

Take everything after the V=
so you get: ONnSX66omUo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONnSX66omUo)

Then put:

[ youtube ] ONnSX66omUo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONnSX66omUo) [/youtube ]

minus the spaces and that will give you:



ONnSX66omUo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONnSX66omUo)

[Texreefer]

Very cool.. cant wait to do my own

[BSJF]

Lots and lots of time, lots and lots of messes, but fun if you are looking for something to keep you entertained.

Have you ever tried before? Do you have momma/papa?

[BSJF]

Ace counted them in one of his pics -- 61 happy babies.

[Texreefer]

Yes, I have raised them before. I am getting ready to search for my pair. I'm going to do a mamma Picasso and daddy onyx

[BSJF]

Diversity is good. I had planned to do the same. I had an onyx female and bought 2 picassos to find her a mate. She died and then the other picasso took her place.

[BSJF]

The babies moved into their big tank today. I added a ceramic pot and some dragon's breath macro algae to give them places to play/hide and help clean the water. Also switched over to my new LED light.

[Kristy]

Can't wait to see these guys in person!!!

[BSJF]

The second part of Ace's hatch arrived tonight. A zillion of them. 2 buckets full.

[hobogato]

wow, i think there are probably 60 or more in tonight's hatch. many of them are pretty lethargic as they are still getting used to the warmer tank. thanks again lorraine :)

[Kristy]

Oh how exciting! Those babies are absolutely amazing!

[BSJF]

probably 60


If I had 60 in my hatch, I swear you have double that. Did you count them?

And, did you find the cleaner shrimps? There are at least a dozen of those in there too. They are the larger ones. I a smal white bowl I was able to see the orange on them.

[hobogato]

i didnt count them, but there are lots! i did find the cleaner shrimp, there were at least 25 or 30. i put them in their own bucket.

[buck27]

Great thread and grat vids. I love this hobby! now time for bacon and eggs lol Im hungery and so are the babies (bbs). happy reefing

[BSJF]

Babies have already had 2 meals this morning. I have yet to be fed!

There appears to be about 30 eggs that have yet to hatch. Most still look viable. This has been the craziest hatch I have had! (Like I have had so many - lol!)

[hobogato]

amazing!

[buck27]

great stuff, for sure. I have a pair of picasso's in my fuge that I hope will breed one day.

[justahobby]

Did you try the gel cyclopeeze yet?

[BSJF]

buck27 - That's cool! Where did you get your picassos? It's amazing how fast they grow. My pair will be 3 years old in August.

Justin - Not yet, it has been crazy around here with the transfer to the larger tank, back to back hatches, company (wink). Today though.

I have one baby that is already completely white, except for his orange belly after he fills it with nhbbs!

[BSJF]

The cute little white baby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1etSDNxC30

Some of the rest on Day 14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUGyr15xVcI

[Kristy]

Well it sounded like there would be a photo or two on that post... But nada! What's up, Lorraine?

[justahobby]

Great videos. They are really zipping along. Now if you could just shorten the length of the videos....they are getting a little too long :p

[BSJF]

That's strange. The longer one didn't load. I just took a few stills of the white baby (who needs a name). I will see if I can retrieve it from my camera. The other videos are on my phone, so blah, blah.

[Kristy]

Ok found the videos.... that'll teach me to check MAAST on my phone! I agree Justin, who has time to watch videos that just go on and on like that?

[justahobby]

It is completely selfish on her part to expect us to spend half the day finishing one video. We have better things to do, regardless how cool little " Frosty the nameless clownfish" is.

[BSJF]

11368
My white baby - "Frosty"

11369
the rest of the crew - or at least a good chunk of them. Seriously, my camera can't focus on these guys.

[BSJF]

I love Frosty!

[justahobby]

You have done a tremendous job Lorraine! It will be interesting to see what the Frostmister looks like when he gets adult colors.

[BSJF]

Thanks Justin.

I am seeing more and more white on them today. Another one like frosty, and a few more that aren't far behind! They are arguing so much! Over stupid stuff, just like kids do. Missed them at work today, but I'm working from home the rest of the week.

[Texreefer]

I want some... going to be quite a while before I have a spawning pair

[buck27]

great photos and great job at rearing for sure. I hope my pair of picasso's spawn by the end of summer or sooner. I have a grade A female and a grade B male but I'm not sure what genetics will pass on to the babies? I would assume that it wouldn't matter because you will still end up with grade A, B ect. correct? I also have a black and white pair but they never spawn, just dance. sort of sad really.

[BSJF]

About 10% picassos is what you would expect with 2 picasso parents. The majority will just be regular percula, but if those are bred to a picasso, will likely throw white.

I've decided this thread is useless without pics. So, anyone?

We hatched more cleaners last night. Crazy!

[BSJF]

Well are we tired of hearing about these guys? New spawn today, largest to date. Ace tooks some pics of them and the babies, so hopefully will post them when he can.

[BSJF]

One of my Frostys
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z113/bluespotjawfish/4-20-11/DSC07791-1.jpg

Want more pics?

[Europhyllia]

Oh my! It's going to be interesting to see how this one will turn out! lol

[alton]

I was very fortunate to go by and see Lorraine’s tank and was very impressed not only with her tank (which should be the next TOTM) but her setup of rotifers, mysid, and baby cleaner shrimp. Her setup with all the baby clowns was neat. My favorite was the fat one with mostly white on top and an orange belly.

[BSJF]

orange belly = belly full of nhbbs

I received my powdered food from BSD, but it was too big (300-500 range). I attacked it with my heavy duty rolling pin and put it through the sieve set I got, and now have powdered food for the kids.

I also got a hydrometer that stays in the tank, it says 1.018 and my refractometer says 1.022. Don't know which is right.

[hobogato]

ok, was that the only acceptable pic, or are you just teasing us?

[Kristy]

Want more pics?

YES please! What is this your first thread on MAAST? Pretty sure you know the answer on this one!!

[BSJF]

Beg!

[Texreefer]

One of my Frostys
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z113/bluespotjawfish/4-20-11/DSC07791-1.jpg

Want more pics?

Very cool

[justahobby]

Man that's a cool fish. You need to keep it for yourself..... or give me dibs!!
First your videos are too long and now the photos are too huge : P What did you do with the fresh batch of babies?

[BSJF]

Ace has the 2nd hatch.

I have new eggs and will keep the 3rd hatch.

Not much begging, but I guess I will post them anyway, after all it is the weekend and we need entertainment.

[BSJF]

4/20/2011 Spawn - Tried to count them ~400
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z113/bluespotjawfish/4-20-11/DSC07869.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z113/bluespotjawfish/4-20-11/DSC07859.jpg

[Texreefer]

you tried to count them??????:hypnotyized: you have way too much time on your hands:bigsmile: I have lost countless hours starring at my pair when I had them with their purple based Magnifica,, sure miss those guys

[BSJF]

Yip, last night's project. It's like counting sheep.
11387

[BSJF]

4/20/2011 #1 Hatch
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z113/bluespotjawfish/4-20-11/DSC07841.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z113/bluespotjawfish/4-20-11/DSC07840.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z113/bluespotjawfish/4-20-11/DSC07837.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z113/bluespotjawfish/4-20-11/DSC07835.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z113/bluespotjawfish/4-20-11/DSC07831.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z113/bluespotjawfish/4-20-11/DSC07830.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z113/bluespotjawfish/4-20-11/DSC07790.jpg

[BSJF]

Ok, you can stop begging now. Good night.

[BSJF]

Babies got some new play toys today. Clay pots.

[Europhyllia]

So all of the different fancy' clown versions really come from the same batch just in different ratios?

[BSJF]

Yip, I'm very happy with the coloring I am seeing on these guys. You need to come see them tomorrow Karin!

[justahobby]

Looks like you are getting more like 50% rather than the 10% you quoted.... very nice!

[Kristy]

Wow - you can really see how much bigger they are getting!! You're doing so great, Lorraine... You should really be proud of this!

[BSJF]

Looks like you are getting more like 50% rather than the 10% you quoted.... very nice!

I would guess that there are about 8-10 out of the 60, so a bit more than 10%.

[BSJF]

Seriously? I leave them alone for 3 hours and I swear they doubled in size.

I doubled the water volume this morning and they seem to have grown a lot today as a result. The 29g is now just over 1/2 full.

[BSJF]

New video on its way. They are big enough that my underwater camera can focus on them!

[BSJF]

Here they are - Day 20.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IKJS-tzEYo

[aquadude]

Hi Lorraine,

It was a pleasure visiting you today. I must say seeing baby clowns is something I've never personally seen in this hobby, that is until today. :bigsmile:

Here are the pictures of the baby clowns I took today.

I hope to see them here in the near future.

Keep up the great work!!!

Nick

[BSJF]

Thanks Nick for the pictures! It amazes me how they have a 29g tank and use about 2 inches of it. Too funny.

[BSJF]

And I posted an extra long video just for Kristy, Mike, and Justin. 1-1/2 minutes!

[Europhyllia]

Great pictures Nick! Amazing how they already got their markings

[aquadude]

Thanks Nick for the pictures! It amazes me how they have a 29g tank and use about 2 inches of it. Too funny.

No problem. Thank you for letting me come experience the babies first hand. It is amazing how the clowns pile up in one little spot. Keep up all the hard work and I'll see you in two weeks for the doctor check up on the babies. Lol

[ReefCube]

they look great!

[kkiel02]

Wow they look great! Looks like you have some interesting stripes coming in on a few of them. Very nice.

[BSJF]

Thanks all.

My shipment of Otohime food came today. I got the sample pack that has every size imaginable. The smallest size (A) appears to be the correct size for them and they seem to like it. They will grow into a few of the others. I never cared for the BSD food (might just be that I had the wrong size), so glad I have this. The Hikari First Bites has worked in a pinch and I like the fact that the pellets sink slowly like a brine shrimp would, but for some reason I wasn't comfortable that it was the right food to feed them.

[Kristy]

You are going to have a PhD in clownfish before these guys graduate from your tank!

[BSJF]

Well at least a mad scientist degree.

[BSJF]

Any predictions on if we have babies tonight - Day 7?

I say it's too early, but I have been wrong before.

[Kristy]

I'm thinking tomorrow. Unless you see those silvery eyes swaying like they are about to detach... :)

[BSJF]

Saw eyes yesterday.

Tonight my babies' water is bad. I guess I fed too much. Glad I checked it. Hopefully the WC is enough.