Clownfish Breeding Questions

[Gene]

I am a newbie to this forum but not to saltwater fish. I have had my aquarium successfully for 10-12 years. I would like to take a shot at breeding clowns. I tried to get yellow stripe maroons to mate up to a pair with no luck. I tried 2 smaller ones and one killed the other. I tried another smaller one and the same one killed it too. I then tried a bigger one thinking it would take on the roll as the female and it also got killed so I gave up. I still have that one and have for 5 years or so. I want to trade it in and get 2 to try again. My questions are many but will keep it as short as possible.

I have had a hard time finding a mated pair. I think I would like to take a run at true percula's and am having trouble finding those at any local stores. Everyone has the false ones. So I guess my questions are as follows. Will a Black Percula pair up with a False Percula, my local store has a couple of these types? If I could find a couple true percula's maybe online, of same size, would they fight and one kill the other? If they come from the same batch (brother/sister) will they breed? Is it best to buy a small one and a medium or large one? Is it best to buy 3 or 4 instead of just 2? With Percula's, what is the order in best to worst host anemone's, Carpet, Long Tentacle, Bubble, Seabae or maybe any of these are very good?

I am planning on having this run at breeding in a community tank, probably the meanest fish being a yellow tang. It is a 90 Gallon with a ton of live rock.

Any help is really appreciated!

Thanks, Gene

 

[Opcn]

Go with either true percs or false percs, if you hybridize the two species (which happens alot between the 40 some available species of clownfish) there willbbe higher infant mortality. Anyways the trick to pairing maroon clowns is to keep them together with a plexyglass barrior between them.

so, breeding percs and false percs, they are swiss watches, they lay on smoothe rocks or tiles near there host and the eggs hatch in about a week, once you see the first batch its too late to breed the rotifers and whatnot that you need to rear the planktonic larve, however do not depair they will probably breed again in 10-14 days. as for raising the rotifers google for supliers of materials and cultures.

good luck, HTH

 

[RoyalGrammaPrincessHannah]

could find a couple true percula's maybe online, of same size, would they fight and one kill the other? If they come from the same batch (brother/sister) will they breed? Is it best to buy a small one and a medium or large one? Is it best to buy 3 or 4 instead of just 2? With Percula's, what is the order in best to worst host anemone's, Carpet, Long Tentacle, Bubble, Seabae or maybe any of these are very good?
I think the closer in size, the less they fight because there isnt one of them that is more dominant.{by much anyway] And trying it out with 3-4 would definitely be the way to go. As far as anemones, carpet, ritteri, and sebae would be good choices. I dont know about the other 2 you mentioned.

 

[JJ1234567]

First things first.

If you can get 4-5 clowns, go for it. If you cant, buy the biggest one in the tank, then buy the smallest. Provide some cover for the smaller one to retreat too during the pairing process.

Second, get a small hunk of tile for the eggs.

Third, breed your own rotifers, or I have seen advertisements for frozen ( I havent tried them, but have heard good things).

fourth, but first, go buy Joyce D Wilkersons book "clownfishes" and read it cover to cover. It will tell you all you need to know.

 

[Gene]

I appreciate all the advice so far. I will be taking it all in and will get the book as well. Wouldn't a piece of slate rock work as well and I'm guessing standing upright, not laying flat. Is it best positioned next to the anemone. I believe that I should be ok breeding in a community tank, not having anything to aggressive. The adults protect the eggs and newborn is my understanding.