Clownfish Breeding: Simple and Captivating
| Breeding Clownfish and raising the young in a saltwater marine tank environment is relatively easy. With the right equipment and know-how, you will have a brood of baby Clownfish swimming in your tank in no time at all.
First and foremost is to buy either an already established pair or better yet, a group of juveniles that have been raised together. The reason for this is that interestingly, all Clownfish are born males. When adults, the largest fish in the group will change to a female and the second largest becomes the breeding male. All the other Clownfish in the group remain gender neutral. Therefore, a successful breeding pair should already be established or raised from a group of juveniles. Furnish a 200-liter tank with necessary fish items such as the usual layer of sand, bright lighting, good filtration apparatus and important to this particular species, a vertical pile of rocks among other items. A Clownfish’s diet usually consists of raw seafood mixed with fresh vegetables, fed at consistent intervals. Once the pair becomes acclimated and comfortable in their new environment, spawning usually starts anytime within a year after settling in. The male will start to perform sexual displays by bouncing up and down in a rhythmic motion until he catches the female’s interest. Within several hours, the spawning is complete. The male takes over attending to the eggs while the female acts as guardian of the eggs and her mate. Hatching usually occurs between 1 to 2 weeks. Once hatched, the larvae is at a critical and venerable stage during the first 10 days and great care needs to be taken during this period to ensure a prosperous and healthy pool of young Clownfish. |