True Percula spawn

[Abominable Reef]

My pair fianlly spawned:



Unfortunately, I think my cleaner shrimp made dinner out of them the same night. The shrimp will be moved to my other tank, and I hope that will fix that problem. I am gearing up the next spawn though, so stay tuned for more posts!

[a2fire2i]

Congrats!! The clowns didnt go after the shrimp when they went near them?

[Ploppers]

Congrats. Those are some good looking fish.

They'll get better at it with time. Mine will pick up snails and drop them on the sand if they get with in 3 inches of the eggs now.

[Abominable Reef]

Thanks guys. After reading up a little in Joyce's book, it looks like there are a number of reasons that the eggs might have dissapeared. I'll hope for the best next time. Meanwhile, I've got my work cut out for me getting ready!

[Bones18]

Congrats! I need to ask, What are you feeding those guys? they look very healthy not to mention that the black has filled in for the female, and the male now has a black dorsal.

Once again very nice job!

[Abominable Reef]

Thanks Bones. They have done OK for me. I attribute the black filling in on the female to the GBTA they are hosting in. I have read that contact with the GBTA affects the amount of black on them, and being that she is fully mature, I don't think aging has played a part in it. The male on the other hand, may be affected by the GBTA as well, but I think mostly matured into being more black. Then again, I'm no expert, so it's hard to say. How has house flipping been for you these days?

[kazam]

I would have my peppermint shrimps go after them. Even when they would hatch and I would be taking the larvae out of the tank, the peppermint would make a dash for them.

[Bones18]

If you don't mind my asking, what is their diet?
I have not been flipping any properties since the relocation to MN from MI.
once again they look awesome

[Bones18]

I'm just amazed b the amount of black that has grown in on the male espically Would you be able to post more pics ?

[Abominable Reef]

Why certainly although they don't seem to be willing to pose too well this morning.

Here is the male at the end of June (actually this is the photo from Ed; I don't seem to have any early ones)



And here he is today:



His dorsal is almost all black now, except a tiny bit on top.

As far as food goes, I feed a homemade mixture, containing (all fresh, and raw), about equal parts of Halibut (or cod), salmon, table shrimp, clams, and dungeness crab. Together with about 3 cloves fresh blended garlic. All blended finely, pressed out flat inside a ziploc, then frozen and cut into cubes. They love it.

[Abominable Reef]

Well, here we are at day 17 since the last spawn, and no new clutch. They were cleaning an area a few days ago, but did not spawn. Is this normal? A couple of things I did since the last spawn is to remove the cleaner shrimp, and also placed two terra cotta disks near them in hopes that they would spawn on them. They didn't show much interest in the disks though. Do you experts out there think that could have disturbed them too much? Should I remove the disks?

Also, I am having trouble getting my rotifer culture up past about 20 rotifers/ml in a 5 gallon container. Assuming they will spawn again, will that be adequate for them?

Thanks for any help

[Ploppers]

When I tried putting a tile over my clowns favorite spot they stopped laying for a couple days until they managed to knock the tile over. I'd just give them time to get used to the discs.

[billsreef]

Higher densities with the Rot's would be better. How are you culturing them?

[Abominable Reef]

I have the rots in a 5 gallon aquarium with a heater and air bubbling at about 2-3 bubbles/sec. SG 1.020, pH 7.8 temp 79, ammonia at 0.5 or so. Doing 50% water changes every other day, but trying to filter the rots so they stay behind. Suggestions appreciated.

I think I will just leave things the way they are until next spawn time as far as terra cotta disks are concerned. Maybe they will get used to them?

Thanks for he comments

[billsreef]

Culture set up looks alright, maybe a little amquell or chloramX for the ammonia might help. What are you feeding the rots?

[Abominable Reef]

I am feeding them Roti-Diet 1-2 mls twice a day. Maybe that's not enough?

[Abominable Reef]

OK, here we go again:



They skipped one spawning, but are at it again. This time, only about 75 eggs. Hopefully, by removing the shrimp, they will remain until they hatch. We'll see.

[seacraze]

Amazing - the fish are beautiful ... I can't wait to see the outcome!

[Abominable Reef]

Thanks, but it looks like whatever was eating the eggs is at it again. All gone this morning.


Somehow I have to get them to lay eggs on something removable. They don't seem to like the terra cotta disks I put in there. What if I try something more natural, like putting half a clam shell over there nesting site? I'm geussing that they will skip another spqwn because of the disturbance, though. Any thoughts?

[seacraze]

Yesterday a fellow reefer told me he used a peice of clear plexiglass and placed a sheet over where they laid the eggs - this way it look the same and would lay them there - he was able to easily remove for hatching in another tank - hope this helps. I am going to see if I can track him down to comment on this thread for you.

[Abominable Reef]

Thanks Seacraze, that's a great idea. I'm going to try that.

[JOHNNY O.]

Originally posted by Abominable Reef
Thanks Sacra, that's a great idea. I'm going to try that.

Hello there when I was using the Plexiglass my clowns always went to the corner top of my glass. So I made a corner piece and placed it in the same place(WITH SUCTION CUPS) they laid there eggs. And with out hesitation they cleaned it up a laid there eggs on it. I let them reach term with the parents and at the night of hatching I would remove it and place it in the fry tank. Always worked for me but I never tried it on rock work

[JOHNNY O.]

Originally posted by JOHNNY O.
Hello there when I was using the Plexiglass my clowns always went to the corner top of my glass. So I made a corner piece and placed it in the same place(WITH SUCTION CUPS) they laid there eggs. And with out hesitation they cleaned it up a laid there eggs on it. I let them reach term with the parents and at the night of hatching I would remove it and place it in the fry tank. Always worked for me but I never tried it on rock work

You may want to try heating up the Plexiglass in hot water and try to form it to the shape of the rock the best you can and secure some how they will beat the crap out of it I'm sure you have witness this on your on good luck.. AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

[kerusso316]

Try moving the tile in slowly.

[Abominable Reef]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll try these suggestions and let you know how it turns out.