Live Rotifers

[timmytimtim]

Just noticed that my tomato clowns have some eggs that are about to hatch...probably tonight. Anyone know where I can find some live rotifers???

If not....any suggestions?

Thanks
Tim

[allan]

Tim,

You do know it's a bit more involved than just tossing in rotifers, right? I'm sure that you do, but in the event...

You have to collect the fry as they hatch lest they become fish food for your other inhabitants. That's when you start feeding them in another tank with just the fry.

[koa25]

It's pretty invovled. If this is their first batch of eggs it will most likely not be successful. It takes quite a few before they will hatch.

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_u...?v=aiOyupbi5sY

I posted this video before cause this lady knows what she is talking about.

[KOSIKA]

I am fairly new to saltwater fish, but are you bascially telling him not to worry about feeding them because they won't live any way?

[allan]

The first spawn, I am told, fares poorly. But given that these clowns have spawned before and are in a routine, there's more to keeping them alive than just feeding the rots to the tank.

First, and there are experts here that can correct me, you have to be aware of which night they will hatch on... turn off your power heads and dangle a little LED light source over the eggs so they will swim to the light after hatching. Then you place them into another tank where you will feed them a couple times a day, at the least, rots until they grow larger. There's a whole process to keep them alive. If they spawned on a rock that can be removed then half the battle is over, simply remove the rock to another tank where they can hatch and grow unmolested.

There are quite a few folks on here that have raised them, I've had mine spawn once... but I don't have the will/ability/time to keep the fry from doing much more than becoming food for the other fish.

[Sherita]

I am fairly new to saltwater fish, but are you bascially telling him not to worry about feeding them because they won't live any way?

They won't live if left in a reef tank, they become fish and coral food. The only way to raise them is to remove either the eggs or the fry and raise in a tank by themselves. The feeding regimen is intensive from what I understand. There's a lot more to it than just feeding rots in the tank.

[moneytank]

I've got rots, but.....
Like everyone said there is way more to it then that. And if they are to hatch tonight and you don't have rots already established then I'm afraid it's to late for this bunch.
Good news though, if they are laying eggs and they don't get disturbed they should lay eggs again unless than a week after these hatch.(usually).
What I would suggest is you read as much as you can on the subject. A good place for info is marinebreeder.org
After you have read as much as you can if you have questions just ask. I can give you some rots to get you going.