Easter came early...

[Rendos]

Walker's clownfish have laid eggs in my tanks. Here are some pics...
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/62135192-L.jpg
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/62135194-L.jpg http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/62135196-L.jpg
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/62135197-L.jpg
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/62135198-L.jpg

[wjhuie]

Richard is the shiznit. Thanks for taking care of my babies they look so healthy and happy.

[crpeck]

Awesome pics, Richard. From the looks of that nest, it does appear that it could be a first try ... or at least a first try in your tank. It definitely is a tribute to your good care.

Cathy

[luckyfish]

Your a father! I would begin the proceedings to have Walker pay child support.

[cateyes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7071031#post7071031 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wjhuie
Richard is the shiznit.

what's a "shiznit"?

[wjhuie]

It means he's awesome. Its a compliment.

[crpeck]

Ah Richard .... We now crown thee ......

Papa Shiznit

[cateyes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7078182#post7078182 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wjhuie
It means he's awesome. Its a compliment.

ah,, i see,,, i figured it was some type of "presidential title"... :)

[cateyes]

how about an egg update......

[Rendos]

I have about 25 left...not sure if the parents ate the others or what, but they are getting very dark. Thursday of this week is the appoximate hatching date. I will take some pics tonight. I do have the phyto going, and a tank setup for the babies. My rotifers should be here tomorrow so I can get their culture started. I also have a brine shrimp hatchery for when they get bigger. I have to thank Cathy Peck for setting me up with most of that stuff, and Barrett for the phyto, and air pump. The parents are still fanning the eggs constantly. I hope to have at least a few survivors out of this bunch. Once they hatch, I will probably be updating with pictures on a daily basis.

[cateyes]

that sounds great Richard.. i hope you are successful, it will be very interesting to see their progress... take lots of pics...

by the way ,, is there a reservation list for the "Clownfish Love Shack"??? i want to send Fred and Ethel up there!!! they need some inspiration!!! :)

[wjhuie]

That is so cool. Can you take a picture or two of a few of my frags. please

[Rendos]

My little patch of 22 eggs. These are not the greatest pictures, but here goes:

http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/62865817-L.jpg
http://fishman.smugmug.com/photos/62865818-L.jpg

[wjhuie]

thanks cathy

[nam2212]

What kind of anemone are they in?

[crpeck]

With so few and since you haven't timed a batch or two to know exactly when they're going to hatch, you're going to be lucky to snag any of them.

A couple of nights before the hatch, they'll go from black to silver. The eyes will be really silver and defined the day before. Then the evening that they're going to hatch the eyes will go kind of a copper color. The nest I've got here is one day ahead of yours and I see silver eyes tonight.

If you miss this batch, at least you'll know exactly which day to be ready the next round. Or ... if you get a few on this one, you can get some more on the next batch and then combine the batches after they're weaned to flake. If you can get them to start laying on a tile you've got it made. Then you can just pull the tile on the hatch night and put it in a tank with an airstone and get them all. Do you have any pieces of that starboard that you could lay there and fake them out?

GOOD LUCK!!! We'll be crossing our fingers that you get at least a few.

Cathy

[Rendos]

I still have hopes to save a few of these, but if not, I will put a small piece of starboard in there to see if they will lay on it. Otherwise, I have everything else ready to go. 10 gallon tank, air pump, air stones, valves, heater, rotifers should be here today or tomorrow, and brine shrimp hatchery all ready to go. Thanks for all the help Cathy.

[willember]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7078271#post7078271 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crpeck
Papa Shiznit

Maybe Granpapa Shiznit

[wjhuie]

It is a ritteri anemone I have had it for 3 years.

[cateyes]

aren't they one of the "harder to keep" anemones?

[wjhuie]

That is what I have heard. In july I will have had it for four years.
When my tank crashed it litterily climbed out of my tank, off his rock up the glass and on top of the center brace.I took him to richards and as you can see he is doing great.

[crpeck]

Hi Richard,
My nest hatched last night and into this morning. Do yours look like they're getting close?

It was weird here. I haven't paid attention for months and last night decided to see if I could catch them hatching. I thought they were and shined the flashlight on the nest a couple of times only to find that all the eggs were still there. Also, I accidentally left a light on in the next room I don't normally leave on.

I don't know if my babies' routine has changed or whether I messed them up by shining the flashlight, but a some of the egss didn't even hatch until late this morning. I know that has NEVER happened before.

In the Wilkerson book, she warns that ANY light before they hatch will slow them down big time. I didn't believe her before but I think I do now. If tonight is your hatch night, be sure to give them plenty of time in total darkness to hatch before you shine the light in there. Otherwise, you'll be up all night waiting on them. About an hour after dark seems to be about right.
Don't forget to cut the pumps when you turn out all the lights.

Good Luck!
Cathy

p.s. Adult clowns are immune to the anemone and the eggs are too, but the larvae are not. Do you know any tricks to get the anemone to pucker up tonight?

[Rendos]

All eggs are gone today. I guess I will try again, but all babies/eggs are gone. : (

[crpeck]

I'm sorry Richard!!

Better luck next time. You might try a tile just for fun. The pro is that if they lay on the tile, you don't have to be so precise about the hatch day. The con is that they may not like it an lay somewhere else where you can't get to or find the eggs.

The thing in your favor is that they haven't really established a habit yet and are more likely to accept it. I know if I put a tile in my tank for Mama, she'd push it off her rock and get rid of it.

I'll bet they'll lay again. Start looking in 3 or 4 days.

Good luck!
Cathy

[crpeck]

Any more eggs, Richard?

[Rendos]

Walker has his clowns and anemone back at his house. I didn't have them long enough to see if they would lay again. Maybe mine will get frisky and lay some.

[crpeck]

Are you keeping the rotifer culture going? That's too bad you bought all that for no babies.

I can start another batch here if you want to raise them out.

[nam2212]

My Clarkii pair laid for the first time today. I watched as it happened. It was really neat to see it happen.