Breeding Journal, Species: Amphiprion Ocellaris

Separate from? Other tank mates?
Abit nervous of putting him anywhere just yet. Was going to slowly start adding something to his tank, but small -peaceful things, lol... like a baby blue leg, some xenia, not sure what to put in with him as he is still so small......... any ideas?

Michelle  
 

Ok- quick question, as not sure about this...
when I began this journal, had a few bumps along the way, I now have a new clutch (hoping due tonight ) ... do I start a 'new' journal or just keep adding to the one that I have here as far as updates, changes, new observations?
 
Is it protocol to start a new journal with each one you want documented... or just a new one with each 'different' species?
 
Let me know guys - thanks
 

Michelle  
 

The idea behind a journal is to document your work with a particular species so you only need one. Does that help?

http://www.fishtalpropagations.com/#!home/mainPage
"Making captive breeding easier."

Yes, thanks Tal...I will just add to this one then, rather than making several unnecessary ones
 
Ok- so ...

• lights out at 9:46pm
• Last collection at 11:44pm (had to stop- have not slept in a few days and am TIRED! plus these guys are too fast!!)
• All settled in their tank, added rotifers and algae before going to bed

Total number of this clutch: 135 so happy with this number
 
On the advice of Bob F., I have tried to make the brood tank as 'close to sea water' parameters as I could, from doing a google search...raising my salinity up,etc.
 
I kept the constant read heater at 78 degrees, and opened up the window during the day for heat/natural sunlight.
 
I have been feeding a more varied diet to the pair.
 
Take a quick glimpse at my newest babies

 
Have a good night everyone- I am going to call it a day
 

Michelle  
 

 
 

Michelle  
 

Video above is Day 1- I am now on Day 3 P.H....funny, but there seems to be little swimmers, already? Too soon, yesh, but they are there
 
The increase in sg and temp have def made a difference

Michelle  
 

 
There are what seem to be swimmers.... too soon and my eyes are playing tricks on me? Or it could be possible? See some swimming more than darting

Michelle  
 

Ok, so while doing ALL the other tanks, I decided to do a water change on the larval tank.
Something I had not done in the past.
 
Now they are acting weird.
 
They are laying up at the surface of the water... as if they were dead....not all of them, but a good handful of them are doing this. Then, I touched my finger to the water, to nudge them, just to see, and they go speeding off like a bullet. ?
 
I did have the light on when I was doing this, so maybe too much light? Not sure. I covered the top of the tank again, so only a light ambient light is on them for feeding... and the only other thing that has changed is the temerature. I had ran out and grabbed an extra heater (as have not had one in this larval tank- due to the weather being in the 90's this week- their tank stayed at a constant 80 in the garage).. but this morning was chilly, their tank read at 78.
 
So I gave them some more oto, and walked away to let the tank settle...as I am fighting the urge to get in there and 'do something' lol...
 
Maybe I added the water too quickly? I took 2 cups tank water out, added 2 cups fresh saltwater, couple drops prime, and some phyto. Began adding it slowly, then abit more towards the end.
 
Any thoughts ? Maybe the temp change of the new water? Maybe the stir up of the sediment from the bottom of the tank?

Michelle  
 

Some of mine did this when the were only a few days old too. It was if they were too tired and worn out from getting food. Only two of them did it, but just like you said, I touched it to see if it would move then it would dart off and be fine, but a minute later it would floating at the top again.
I may be wrong and someone please tell me if I am, I read in a book that there sometimes can be an oil on the water and can get on the fish and is hard for them to swim in the water column and so they float. But again I may be wrong. My books are at work and I can't verify this at the moment.
My fish did this for two days and were fine afterwords, none died from it.
Good luck with babies!!
 

I don't do any water changes during the first week so I've not encountered this issue. Keep us posted on what happens.

http://www.fishtalpropagations.com/#!home/mainPage
"Making captive breeding easier."

sorry let me clarify.. by a few days old they were 7 days old, so they were a week old when i did first water change.
 

Ok- thanks guys.
 
Yesterday marked Day 5.... I should have waited, as I NEVER do water changes on any of my tanks (yeah, I know..... but it works for me )
 
A film of oil on the water surface? From what? I put in bottled water (as in all my tanks), rotifers, phyto, and the prime. I make sure my hands are ,lol, 'surgically scrubbed', so as not to have anything on them go into the water. And of course the only other thing I add is the otohime A.
 
So....... is it a possibility that I have added too much prime? Could that be where the oil may be coming from? I have noticed they like to stay in the back right corner of the tank, odd, and I have thought similar - that they perhaps were 'too tired' and I have adjusted my bubbler so they weren't swimming against a current so to speak.
 
I keep checking on them, but at the same time, not altering what I have been doing (minus the stupid choice of making a water change last night lol) - hoping they will bounce back to the way they have been.  I definitely have lost a few, although it is hard to tell how many just yet, just eyeballing it I can see a change.
 
*** Sorry!! As I am writing this I just thought to mention (sorry) I had used a new phyto from a different source. Not as dark green. This was just added friday as I ran out of my other. Could this be linked to any 'oil' or residue that may have gotten into the tank? I can tell you that I know for a fact that I am very cautious as to what I am putting in...but if something was in the phyto that I wasn't aware of........ is that a possiblility...or maybe I overfed the oto? That wouldn't do it, would it?
 Ok- just thinking out loud... I appreciate the feedback guys, as I was SO EXCITED to have gotten 135 babies! And now..... - well now I think I am just looking for an obstacle as it always seems to have happened in the past. I am determined to get this pair of mine to have healthy offspring. But really? lol, seems there is always something
 
(oh and just to share with the Florida friends here, lol.... on top of ALL of this - had to deal with a raccoon since 4:30 am ... an officer came out and took the little guy away- whew, so now I can concentrate on the fish....and not the wildlife hahaha)

Michelle  
 

Alright I found the answer in my book 'Clownfishes' by Joyce D. Wilkerson. she says "larva repeatedly turned on their sides at the surface and/or alternated between swimming and acting comatose. Floating paper towels for just a few seconds mopped the oil away. Oils can come into the tank from omega-3 enriching liguids used to fortify rotifers." 
Some Green water addittives contain omega-3 and also so do the rotifer foods.

Thank you! That is exactly what they are doing.
 While on their sides I can see their full bellies So a good sign there
 
SO......... I overfed the rotifers, thus contaminating my water? What is a good guess-timate on how much to feed to the tank? I was trying to go a little on the heavy side this time around, hoping perhaps they would mulitply while IN the larval tank. A constant source of food while I am not home. Too much I guess.
 
Ok- thanks- heading out to the garage now to soak up some oil! (fingers crossed)

Michelle  
 

I'm unsure of what amount of rots is a good amount or too much. I like to over feed than under feed, and yes I do more water changes. I would hate to know that I'm starving my fish babies.

I agree- but if I fouled the water by adding too much,,.... then I would hate to think I am the cause of what happened
 
Ok- so they have definitely swam better, more on their bellies than sides... but I can tell there is a significant change in numbers now that the water has cleared up from being too green.
 
This is going to be small, if any survive.
 
Holding off the rotifers and maintaining the oto, to not add any more to the water, there  plenty rotifers in the tank from what I can see with a flashlight.
 
 
 

Michelle  
 

Just thought I would share my newest additions
These are regular Ocellaris according to the fellow reefer I received them from.

Michelle  
 

How old are these guys? Over the years I've seen very few(under 5) mis-barred A. ocellaris offspring and they are all fully barred by the 4th week of age.

http://www.fishtalpropagations.com/#!home/mainPage
"Making captive breeding easier."