Breeding Journal, Species: [Amphiprion Ocellaris]

What 'works best for me' is what will get my babies to survive! lol
This is what I need to get down pat, lol. So def keep the comments and opinions coming!
 
I am trying to write down EVERYTHING I am doing, so that IF and WHEN , lol, I am successful.....I will know what I did. And not, Oh Crap! What did I do? When did I do that? lol....so stopping and jotting everything down.
 
I am still at an pale olive green/light olive greenish color on my ammonia badge...I am afraid that if I do too much of a water change, I may end up shocking the larvae / rotifers that are in there... so I am slowly siphoning some out, and slowly adding new water.
 
(also- I thought that if the larvae were moving about in the center of the tank, and not meeting and hanging out at the sides, then there were rotifers in the water column for them to feed on?)
Wrong thinking?
(will post the video when it is ready )
 

Michelle  
 

Taking notes is a very good thing to do. I have all of mine on paper from the beginning. I don't take as many notes now, just spawn, hatches, additions etc. on a calendar. As you say, when something happens you can look back and see why and not have to guess.

 

 

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

Very true. I definitely do not want to guess later on
 
I am happy to say that with tonight's addition of feeding (I have been adding more top off as I feed) I am now back to a medium yellow color. Very please with this as far as the ammonia badge goes.
 
Just fed more rotifers for the night, with a small dropful of bbs.
Added more phyto, and brushed off the bottom of the tank, stirring the phyto into the water column gently. The bubbler is dispensing the phyto. I will definitely make sure I have a 'more than enough' supply of phyto/rots next time.
 
Ok- going to bed, but for the night...the larvae look well...feeding and swimming. There are different levels, though. Some hang out at the bottom, scooting along, some swim through the center, and about 3 or 4 skim the surface area ? Odd.... but this is what they are doing.

Michelle  
 

Ok- this morning I added some more phyto to the rotifer feeding and also gave some bbs... so far they are loving it (lol...from what I can guess anyway, these are still micrscopic as my husband and son point out, so who knows if they like it, )
 
I am putting a very small amount of bbs in an area, and they seem to head for it, then I add some to the other side of the tank, and they seem to head for that... too soon for them to tell what it is? Not sure, but so far it seems to be working
 
Today is Day #4 P.H.

Michelle  
 

How exciting! I am so jealous! I love baby fish!

http://www.suzysreef.com/

Ok- I got sidetracked this afternoon, lol.... meant to spend more time on here, but found some on MOFIB - and ran into your older posts... wow good reading there guys Thanks for sharing
 
I just got in, going to TRY and do a head count on Day#4, then do my feeding....
adding (correction, sorry typed otohime A because I was looking over at the bag lol)

Tonight I am adding more bbs with the rotifers

 

Michelle  
 

This morning's feeding consisted of rotifers, phyto, and bbs.... the swimmers in there are still looking good, I can see silver bellies, and what I want to believe is a head stripe, lol- but it is way too early for that But on a few there is something silvery/white on the top just behind the head. ... ?
 
I am trying to do a valid head count, although they keep moving on me and regrouping together, lol!
 
My husband counted about 10, I counted 12..... but not sure yet.
 
I will have to wait to load the video until I get home, but I have a question for Tal :
 
The  coloration of the phyto does not really show up in the view when looking from top down, but when looking from the sides, there is definitely enough color tinted in there to make it hard to see the larvae..... in your opinion, do not look at the sides when judging the color of the phyto in the tank.......only look from above, and if I can see the bottom, then it is too light, even though the sides appear dense? From the sides it seems as though they would have enough greenwater to help find food... I am wrong on this? Just making a note since I am running out of the phyto I had stocked, and want to know if they will be ok with what appears colored in the tank, I will provide a pic later on this
 
I took a video from the sides this morning, trying to get the lil buggers swimming past me, lol - will try to post that this evening

Michelle  
 

Michelle, In my case I keep the water green enough that I can't see the bottom with 5 gallons of water in a 10 gallon tank. If you want to get technical you can use something like this: https://3kserver7.com/~frank/secure/agora.cgi?cart_id=7858407.3355*Ay6iV2&product=LIVE_CULTURES See the 3rd item on the page.

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

Cool- thanks Tal....... have you ever used the "Moina" listed on that same page?
 
I will be sure I have the phyto stocked in large amounts in future batches... using the algae discs as a backup to what I have on hand at that time   , or simply use them alone.

Michelle  
 

Today is Day #5 - came home from work to find 2 larvae at the bottom of the tank.....dead.
 
Gave another feeding of the rotifers, phyto and holding off on the bbs this evening, as there seemed to be plenty of rots in the feeding, not sure if the bbs is culprit for the 2 dying? Thinking of adding a tiny pinch of oto A this evening....any thoughts?

Michelle  
 

Personally, I skip NHBS for the clowns and go right to Oto A. I start with a tiny pinch at first to see if they take it. Then I try again the next day.

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

Thank you so much for all the detailed info! Truly invaluable!

http://www.suzysreef.com/

I just took a quick vid to show my rotifer density and color of green. I added RotiGreen at noon and will add more at midnight. So this is what it looks like after 8.5hrs. This was set up on Monday for a small Darwin hatch and I've only added rotifers once. You can see 1 larvae in the vid but there are more. I had the light off the tank and just put it back on for the vid.

 

The tile that is still in there has a small clutch of Picasso eggs that are hatching. Since they were both small clutches I'm rearing them together.

 

 

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

Awesome - thanks for sharing Tal- yes I see how the difference is between ours- your phyto is GREEN compared to mine, mine was a darker color, not so bold like yours. And that is strictly the RotiGreen only?
 
-- Today is Day #6 P.H.
I did end up giving a very small amount of oto A last night, and again I sprinkled some over the surface of the water this morning before turning the bubbler back on (turn it off to feed)
 
They do seem to go for it, they seem to smell it? I guess as the area I put it in they go for almost instantly.  I try to feed in the same spot, to get them used to it, but with the addition of the otohime I added it to a different side. So that is a good thing if they are taking to it that quickly
 
I will do more this evening and try to post an updated vid, as I have not been able to since the last one
 
 

Michelle  
 

LOL, they don't call it RotiGREEN for nothing.

 

Clowns are visual feeders, they go after what they see. When I feed the OtoA, I take a tiny pinch, sprinkle a little on the surface and then put my fingers in the water and spread the rest out. This gets some on the surface and some in the water column. 

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

 

Lol- too funny  

 

Ok well tonight I came home and found (1) victim  Today is Day 6 PH

 

I am not doing the bbs from this point, as they seem to be going for the otohime.

 

Trying to get a video uploaded, lol apparently I took ALOT of videos and now I have to delete them before adding more to my camera..so took one with my phone- we'll see how it come out

 

Michelle  
 

Michelle  
 

Not the best video Still have to empty my camera But you can see them eating/swimming.
 
 
Lots of silver bellies

Michelle  
 

Michelle  
 

1 Week Post Hatch
 
Very happy about this, (I have gotten this far once before, but then added the bbs directly from the culture vessel and the entire batch then had died...so not repeating these steps)
 
This morning the larvae are doing well - did more otohime A this morning

Michelle  
 

Came home......offered oto A....
 
Counted......13..?
 
Ammonia badge register safe.
Larvae seem to be eating the food well
 
No bad news to report (whoo hoo)

Michelle  
 

Woke up this morning.... things still appear to be fine from what I can tell.
 
The ammonia badge is a slight merge between yellow/olive green-just a slight tint, so I corrected that this morning.
 
Fed some more otohime A only- no rotifers at this point.
The water is clearing out some in color- that was leftover from the phyto that was in the tank. So makes it easier to see my little 'fish' I can see more detail with each day- which is cool.
 
I am trying to get a really good close up- so you guys can tell me what it is I am looking at. I swear I saw stripes - but too soon right? So maybe what I am seeing is something else reflecting the light? I am not sure- maybe just too hopeful, lol
 
Anyway- today marks 1 week + 1 day post hatch... very happy about this, as have had no real catastrophic losses as in the past. There has been a few losses- but have not taken the others down with them
 
Ok- have  a  great weekend, just felt like sharing this, and will post a (hopefully) clear pic of what the larvae look like today

Michelle  
 

Sounding good. The head stripe starts showing up around 7 or 8 days so you're probably starting to see it.

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

Cool Hope so.....lol having a time trying to figure out what's what
 
I am not noticing a change in color, except in maybe (2) ...the rest are still transparent.
 
Feeding tonight went well...got the video uploaded, just waiting for youtube to get with the program lol As soon as it is ready I will post it

Michelle  
 

 

Looking good?

Michelle  
 

Can't seem to get as close of shots as others..... and I have a nice camera, lol...will need to wait until they are bigger I guess

Michelle  
 

So in reading other journals - I am trying to pinpoint the 'settlement' stage...as I believe a few have undergone it already, and the rest are following. They are looking like miniature fish- and swimming  rather than darting.
 
I have one that I am calling Speedy Gonzalez, lol, as when I feed the tank, he swims laps across the entire tank! He is so crazy and FAST! He cracks me up Funny to watch how fast these itty bitty fish are
 
I am trying to take notes on other's journals, so I know how to properly document mine for reading purposes. To be honest, I was (and am) concerned with getting them to survive past meta... and beyond But I haven't been as 'exact in my documenting as others have.... so anyone who may want to add to my journal- please feel free, no offense will be taken. I just am not sure what it is that should be documented as far as the time lines go.
 
If I start to see a couple changing, then that would be the START of settlement, right? And then record the entire period from 1st fish to last fish changing... or just record the day I first notice the change.
 
Also- I am not going to count any further, lol... until they are bigger I thought I had less than I did, but got excited last night when I found I had 16 So 16 out of the original 22 is very pleasing to me to have them living, eating and doing well this far

Michelle  
 

With clowns, settlement is usually between day 7 and 10'ish. When they look like fish is when they've settled.

 

Once you get them past settlement you should be fine. I rarely loose any after that. Hang in there.

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

Cool- thanks for the encouragement.... fed throughout the day today - all seem happy .... like little hungry, hungry hippos, lol... going for the food
 
Odd though, noticing more and more how some like the bottom, some the middle, and there are a few that like to skim the top of the water. Weird how they are all over the place like that

Michelle  
 

Yeah, they like to clown around like that. I notice that my Picasso offspring tend to hang out at the bottom more than other types.

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

You are too funny, lol.
 
Yes- the babies I have in the other tank do tend to hang around the bottom...any reason for that- that you know of? ...

Michelle  
 

Not really. All of my clowns are raised in pretty much the same type of environments.

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

So.... still seem to be doing well for the most part..... new question:
 
When to introduce the next in line of otohime? When does B1 come into play?

Michelle  
 

I did a tiny few specs of a sprinkling this evening of the B1...to see what would happen, and a few jumped for it. They are all heading to the surface at feeding time now- but I don't want to add it in bigger amounts if they can still choke on it.
 
Any thoughts?

Michelle  
 

I've only used A. As they grow I start giving them a little frozen cyclopeeze and flake foods that I've crushed with at mortar and pestle. I've never had any choke on food but if they spit it out it is too big. That's a good way to judge the food size. IMO

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

Ok-  will stick with the A then, as don't want any type of problems at this point, lol
 
I was just looking at your picasso variant thread... your babies look so much bigger than mine do.. is that because of the type of breed...picasso vs ocellaris... ?

Michelle  
 

They really aren't that big. Actually they are smaller than regular A. ocellaris or A. percula.

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

Must be my camera then.... have to get a really good close up
I am seeing the stripes just by looking down from over the tank  
But it doesn't seem to come across through the videos?
 
Just want to say thank you to everyone for sharing and caring (not done with this thread by any means,lol) but just throwing it out there- you guys are great - very informative, very helpful
I appreciate all the tips and suggestions
 
Today is Day #11 Post Hatch and I am farther then I have been with previous batches, I owe this to the mass amount of rotifers this time around, lol, the otohime as suggested, and this forum - thank you!
 
Have a great evening everyone- I will try to post weekly shots...(maybe do a test tube shot? for a close up.....thinking that will be clear.
 

Michelle  
 

Glad that you're enjoying yourself here Michelle. We're happy to help.

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

 

Sooooo pleased

Michelle