Clownfish Fry Raising Journal Update 05/24/12

Discussion in 'Breeding Tropical Fish' started by Tropical Addict, Jan 28, 2011.

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  1. xjaydub20x

    xjaydub20x Feather Duster

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    We are now down to 4. Found a dead one when I vacuumed the tank this morning. Pretty sure it is due to lack of food - I've been draining what was left of my rotifer cultures this whole time since they crashed the day or so before these eggs hatched. Needless to say I haven't had much to work with. The one that died probably starved to death because there weren't enough rotifers and it wasn't yet accepting the dry food. One other fry looks weak as well. It doesn't swim very well and appears to roll a few degrees from side to side occasionally. The rest (the ones that have likely been eating the dry food) appear to be swimming around like normal. Hopefully these baby brine shrimp hurry up and hatch so I can get them in the fry tank.

    Also started a new rotifer culture today. I'll also do some serious work on my current cultures (fresh water, food,etc).
     

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    Last edited: May 9, 2011
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  3. Pickle010

    Pickle010 Spaghetti Worm

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    Are you working out of one rotifer bucket? If you are - as soon as you can split the culture into 2 buckets and go another 3 days without harvesting. I can run 3 hatches (the most I've tried) off of 2 buckets of rots easily.
     
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  4. xjaydub20x

    xjaydub20x Feather Duster

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    I actually had a few different cultures going. Two 3 gallon buckets, two 5 gallon buckets, and a few 1 gallon jugs. All were pretty neglected though, I'm sad to say. Need to get a routine similar to yours in place ASAP.
     
  5. Pickle010

    Pickle010 Spaghetti Worm

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    Yeah.. you will do much better if you focus your efforts on 2 / 5g buckets and get into a routine. It's critical that the rots are fed as close to every 12 hours as possible. If the rotifers are starving they can become toxic to the fry.

    The other thing is it would take a lot of phyto for all those separate containers and the fry tanks. Condensing it will make your phyto last longer.

    If you are concerned about the cultures crashing you can take a 1 gallon container and fill it with your rotifers and water from one of your buckets and add some phyto and refrigerate. They can live up to two weeks in the refrigerator. If you remember to swap that out every week and half while you are doing a rotifer bucket change you will always have back up.
     
  6. xjaydub20x

    xjaydub20x Feather Duster

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    Day 7 and we still have 3.5 swimming. I'm surprised the one I was worried about is still kicking... I think it's a matter of time though before he gives up.

    I was lucky that a 55g barrel in the backyard was loaded with rotifers! It was full of extra natural sea water from scripps in la jolla so I dumped some extra rotifers and phyto in it a while back. The phyto is fed by the sun and the rotifers are fed by the phyto. Wish I would have thought to check it sooner - might have 5 healthy fry today If I had.

    Started feeding baby brine shrimp today. Took almost 36 hours to get some to hatch - now I can plan ahead and get them started sooner next time. I would like to introduce them around day 5.

    I expect that meta may be delayed a few days as the water temp wasn't at 80 degrees the first few days. Can't wait to see some orange or stripes! :)
     
  7. Zoanthids21

    Zoanthids21 McKoscker’s Flasher Wrasse

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    Thats awsome Joey! I hope they survive!
     
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  9. Pickle010

    Pickle010 Spaghetti Worm

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    Water temp and diet will have a major impact on Meta - I've seen people have clutches go 14 days or so before hitting meta primarily due to diet. All you can do at this point is maintain the water quality and keep them well fed.
     
  10. xjaydub20x

    xjaydub20x Feather Duster

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    Yeah, I was a little surprised to have any left after three days so I didnt exactly have everything in place. I now have two 5 gallon buckets with rotifers and a backup 55 gallon barrel in the backyard. Just yesterday i put a thermometer into the fry tank and found that it was only 76 degrees! Can't believe i hadn't done this sooner. Bumped up the heater to maintain 80 degrees. What a learning experience this whole thing is! All I can do is learn from my mistakes and hopefully not make the same mistakes twice. :/ I appreciate your help Pickle!
     
  11. xjaydub20x

    xjaydub20x Feather Duster

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    Some photos.
     

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  12. 1babelove

    1babelove Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    I am in such amazement...congrats.. every chance I get im checking the thread to see how the babies are... you are doing good, you are learning...