Thanks to Disney's Motion Picture 'Finding Nemo,' almost everybody is familiar with clownfish.
Clownfish, or Anemonefishes, from the family Pomacentridae, are one of the easiest tropical marine aquarium fish to breed. Clownfish regularly lay eggs in aquariums. They have quite large eggs and larvae, and since the larvae easily eat cultured live foods, raising them is somewhat simpler than it is with many other marine species.
You need to get a pair if you want to breed clownfish, and that's quite interesting - believe it or not, clownfish are all born as males! When they are adults, the largest and the most dominant fish of the group will undergo a sex change and become a female. The second largest usually becomes the breeding male, while all the other fish remain juveniles and gender-neutral. If the breeding female disappears, the breeding male will change to a female, and so on. Buying an established pair may be a reasonable way to go, but it is often better to have a group of juveniles growing up together. If you choose to buy a pair you should look for a pair that goes around together. Sometimes you can be lucky enough to get a pair already spawning. Anyhow, establishing an adult pair can be a little tricky; and you need to keep your eyes on them to make sure that the female doesn't kill the male.
The next thing is to set up the tank. The tank should be large enough, approximately 200 liters for the breeding pair. It is better to keep a pair alone in an aquarium when trying to spawn clownfish.
The aquarium should be furnished with a nice anemone, a few live rocks and other rocky substances with a vertical surface, a layer of coral sand on the bottom, bright lighting, good filtration, and a protein skimmer. Your clownfish should be stress free, which means no aggressive tank mates and good water quality. As for feeding, clownfish need a mixed diet of fresh raw seafood and vegetables. A good diet includes prawns, mussels, and squid. It is best to feed small bits at regular intervals.
Spanning can begin 1 to 12 months after the fish have settled into their new home. When the fish are ready to spawn, they become very aggressive. The male clownfish will dance up and down in front of the female (also known as "clownfish waggle"). They will also start to clean their selected rock by robustly biting it. The spawning itself usually occurs in the afternoon or early evening. Once the spawning is complete (within several hours) the male takes on responsibility for attending the eggs, whereas the female acts as protector of the eggs and supervisor of her male.
Spawning is likely to occur again at intervals of 12 to 18 days. The eggs should be left in the care of the parents and not removed, unless the parents are known to be egg eaters. At first the eggs are a bright orange colour, but after several days this diminishes and the eyes appear. Hatching usually takes from 6 to 15 days, depending on temperature.
The most critical stage of the fry is the first 10 days of their larvae span. If you can get your fry to survive this period the rest of their raising should be easier.
About The Author
Article by William Berg writer for Aquatic Community with more then 20 years of aquarium experience. Find more of Williams articles about Piranhas or maybe something completely different like a Clown loach
Article may be reproduce as long as it is not edited and this resource box is included "as is with live links" on the bottom of the page.(Java links and PHP links are not allowed, I.e. SE friendly links only)
The proper selection of a training collar can have a... Read More
It is very important to decide whether to keep your... Read More
If Your Dog Suffers From Arthritis, Consider The Natural Alternative:Rimadyl... Read More
Dog bite injuries are alarmingly the most common condition that... Read More
The city I live in just increased its fees for... Read More
The shutting and opening door trick can be taught to... Read More
House rabbits are a perfect pet for many people, regardless... Read More
Internet Fraud, Classifieds Scams, Abuse and Suspicious Replies are world... Read More
Are you nuts? You think banging your finger with a... Read More
Of course, we humans use shoes to protect our feet.... Read More
It is Winter time again, a time of the year... Read More
Stroking your cat can be good for your health! It... Read More
Imagine being on a horse and he bolts. You pull... Read More
Congratulations on your choice to bring home a West Highland... Read More
For thousands of years, dogs have been "man's best friend."... Read More
So you're bringing home that cute little puppy from the... Read More
If you are beginning to feel like an endangered species... Read More
One of the best parts of the day for any... Read More
Are there so many great dog breeds out there that... Read More
Pets can enjoy the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy as much... Read More
Did you know that pets outnumber people in the United... Read More
So, you read somewhere that introducing a new kitten into... Read More
Obesity in dogs is a growing problem, which can cause... Read More
Do you have some adult discus fish and want to... Read More
Dogs are believed to be descendants of wild wolves. They... Read More
Tired of cleaning the cat box? Here are some tips... Read More
'Help, my cat is pregnant and I don't know what... Read More
Choosing a dog is a fun adventure. The search for... Read More
If your kids have been begging you to get a... Read More
We've recently moved into a new apartment complex that really... Read More
By Jeffrey Rolocopyright 2004 AlphaHorseIn the dating world many men... Read More
Contributed with the help of Karen L Overall of the... Read More
Everybody loves puppies. Who can resist those cute little faces... Read More
Did you know that your goldfish can live for over... Read More
Just like humans, dogs are subject to diseases and illnesses.... Read More
Introducing your puppy to the crate should be an easy... Read More
"Mom, can we get a puppy?" Who hasn't heard that... Read More
Adopting a dog is a lot of fun, but it... Read More
Giving your dog a bath is important, but not as... Read More
Anyone wanting a new kitten should be a cat lover.... Read More
Cute cat names? Max is popular, Lady a favorite for... Read More
Dog crate training is one of the most effective ways... Read More
Okay, so it's not the cleanest or most appealing of... Read More
So you'd like to know how to build a dog... Read More
Chocolate. Who can resist it?Your dogs health depends on it!... Read More
The American Kennel Club recognizes 150 different dog breeds. There... Read More
The treatment for heartworms is different for cats and dogs.... Read More
As pets go hamsters are fairly easy to take care... Read More
Training your dog to "sit" is probably the first thing... Read More
Sure, you may be a master of human First Aid.... Read More
It happens all too often. A family or cat friend... Read More
Everyday someone asks me, "How do you start a pet-sitting... Read More
This mysterious cat is originally from the country of Siam,... Read More
Even a cat that compulsively cleans itself can benefit from... Read More
If you are seriously considering keeping fish as pets or... Read More
Whether you intend to show your Westie, or keep him... Read More
Do you really know all there is to know about... Read More
After years of practicing both conventional and holistic medicine for... Read More
At some time or another even the sweetest cat "misbehaves."... Read More
Yesterday we talked a little about the 6 Keys for... Read More
OriginDo you know that the adorable little puppy you bought... Read More
There are three important litter box considerations to account for... Read More
Stroking your cat can be good for your health! It... Read More
Contributed with the help of Karen L Overall of the... Read More
Do you want to save money, anxiety for your kitty,... Read More
Puppies have a natural instinct inside that causes them to... Read More
Pet |