With my Job I have access to clownfish that I don't have space at home to keep. I even have a few pairs that I bought myself but keep at a public aquarium (skunk, maroon clownfish pairs). I also have some friends that let me know when their clownfish have spawned and allow me to take the eggs.
I used to pickup the eggs the night of the hatch, however it's often inconvenient for me and the person helping me. I decided this was not the best option when I got home with a bucket full of maroon clownfish larvae... darn guys hatched on the way home.
First try I brought 4200 maroon clownfish eggs that were 1 day old. Gave them to my black and white Ocellaris that have not spawned for many months now. Results were instant, with the male fanning the eggs. Female even participated in caring for this nest, probably because it was 100x larger than they have ever made themselves. By the end of the week, there were some bite sized "holes" in the nest, but hardly affected the quantity of eggs.
Second try I brought home some regular Ocellaris eggs and gave them to my true percula pair. This pair has spawned for me in the past but has done nothing for about 6 months now. Immediately the male started caring for the eggs and soon the female would help a little. After these eggs hatched, I had to reaquascape the tank to catch one of the fish I wanted out. Completely redid this tank.
I thought this was starting to get pretty easy...
Bill Capman let me know that the Onyx clownfish at the Augsburg College had spawned on the tile again (was 1 year since the last time I got eggs). This time I collected the eggs days before they were expected to hatch. Bill showed me a great video of clownfish's heart beating while still in the egg. the video showed the blood flowing in and out of the heart. Amazing.
Anyways, I brought the nest home and floated them. I tried giving the eggs to my true percula pair, since only days ago they were successful with some Ocellaris eggs on a tile. The clownfish ignored the eggs for a short while, but a few minutes later I caught them eating the eggs, aggressively. These clownfish had gone psycho..
Next I gave the eggs to my black Ocellaris. I think they are getting ready to spawn on their own now, so I was reluctant to give them eggs to care for. But they too also went crazy and started tail slapping the tile and trying to push it away. After taking the eggs out, this pair went on a rampage and redecorated their tank, then terrorized the orchid dottybacks sharing the tank..
I ended up giving the onyx percula eggs to a newly added pair of Ocellaris. They showed no interest at all, but I was out of options as my other Ocellaris pair would be spawning the next day. Fortunately this morning I checked and they have started to care for the eggs.
Apparently if you do major redecorating to their tanks, they'll reject the eggs. Even if they were great parents days before.
Also seems that clownfish that are getting ready to spawn may not be willing to accept eggs as their own.
These pictures are from the first nest that I got from Bill.
<message edited by Chad Vossen on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 4:18 PM>