My Tomato clowns surprised me with some eggs today, and I don't know what to do. Please Advise...

[Dom]

So my Tomato clown layed some eggs in their tank. I've been told they are there for a few days and are likely to hatch within the next 24-48 hours.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

Is there any post-hatch care that they offer the young ones?

Should I move the rock to another tank before the eggs hatch?

Wouldn't it be easier to move the clowns out of the tank and keep the eggs in the tank that they were layed in?

Please advise! I want them to have every chance of survival.

 

[Uncle99]

Without a 7 day fresh supply of rotifers, 0 chance of survival, sorry.

They will be fish food, maybe even the parents. Nasty.

If you wait to the eyes go silver, they will hatch about 1-3 hours after lights out.
Keep a tiny flashlight going to “draw” the fry to the light.
Use a small airline tube to siphon fry into a glass container.
Feed both rotifers enriched with phyto and selcon for 48 hours.
Transfer to fry tank, about 5 gallons. Continue to keep the water with rotifers for 7 more days, then slowly wean them off rotifers to pulverized flake.
At 21 days, transfer to grow out tank, say 20-30 gallons.
At say 35 days (but varies somewhat) they will commence metamorphosis, (some will die in this process] and turn into a mini copy.
Once your at this point, just normal care.
Some use baby brine nuplaii for food which are easily made.
I find the BBS is just to big of a food item at initial fry stage and many seem to die. The rotifer is 1/3rd the size and body is soft and easily digested by the fry.


You could remove both parents to a hatchery tank.

No rotifers, not going to happen.

D) Otherwise, they become “marine snow”.

 

[Dom]

Without a 7 day fresh supply of rotifers, 0 chance of survival, sorry.

They will be fish food, maybe even the parents. Nasty.

If you wait to the eyes go silver, they will hatch about 1-3 hours after lights out.
Keep a tiny flashlight going to “draw” the fry to the light.
Use a small airline tube to siphon fry into a glass container.
Feed both rotifers enriched with phyto and selcon for 48 hours.
Transfer to fry tank, about 5 gallons. Continue to keep the water with rotifers for 7 more days, then slowly wean them off rotifers to pulverized flake.
At 21 days, transfer to grow out tank, say 20-30 gallons.
At say 35 days (but varies somewhat) they will commence metamorphosis, (some will die in this process] and turn into a mini copy.
Once your at this point, just normal care.
Some use baby brine nuplaii for food which are easily made.
I find the BBS is just to big of a food item at initial fry stage and many seem to die. The rotifer is 1/3rd the size and body is soft and easily digested by the fry.


You could remove both parents to a hatchery tank.

No rotifers, not going to happen.

D) Otherwise, they become “marine snow”.

Yes, this was a total surprise. Totally unexpected and of course, unprepared.

 

[Dom]

Feed both rotifers enriched with phyto and selcon for 48 hours.

@Uncle99 Where do I purchase this stuff to have for the future? Also, since there is a zero chance of survival, I'm guessing it won't hurt to do my weekly water change in this tank?

 

[Paul B]

You don't have to do anything but be happy your clownfish are healthy. They will lay eggs every couple of weeks and if you want to raise them do what Uncle99 posted.

Good luck.