Clowns spawning, what to do?

[Mugster]

Well folks here we go again. First it was my Seabae (or are they Clarkii) clowns spawning, now it's my Tomato clowns spawning. This is the first time they have spawned that I know of. I just happened to see them as I was passing by the tank. It's quite amazing how the eggs of each species have the same colours of the parent fish.

My question is this. What do I need to do to ensure the eggs survive long enough to hatch? In the past the eggs have never hatched as the clowns tend to eat the eggs after a few days. I've watched their development and they seem to reach the stage where I can see eyes developing but then "poof", they're gone the next morning.

My LFS suggested feeding spirolina flakes which they claim will replace the nutrients the clowns depleted during spawning, thus reducing the possibility of them eating the eggs.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

TIA,
Kev :thumbsup:

[ajx22]

Hopefully Dman will see this post....if not, send him a PM as he is involved in the breeding of Clowns - and I'm sure would have some great information for you.

:party1: Good luck and CONGRAT's!!!! :party2:

[mgamelin]

Mugster
The first 1-5 spawns are oftain duds. The female and male sex organs are not fully mature. these are just trial runs for what is going to be schedualled spawning events which occure every 8-12 days. After a spawn the male will fan the eggs and consume, as time go's by the eggs that are infertile or defective. This is natures way of selecting the strongest fish that are most likley to survive. Marc