Pregnant clownfish?

[Richie49]

I have 2 adult clownfish. One is a black and white ocellaris clownfish (female) and 1 orange ocallaris clownfish (male) I noticed that the female has started to get a little big right under her fins. Could she be pregnant? Also they both sometimes pick at my frogspawn coral and they also have a place in the tank where they are always swimming, day or night. Please help me thanks.

 

[gar732]

It's possible. If she is holding eggs they should be concentrating on one spot cleaning it constantly. My clowns were laying every 11-12 days so time will tell. Here is a pic of one of my females when she was holding eggs to give you an idea of what she should look like.

 

[Richie49]

She isn't that full, but she seems to be getting there compared to the male, and did you do anything /feed them anything to get them to breed?

 

[gar732]

Higher temps, lower salinity, longer light cycle, and frequent feedings will generally encourage breeding. They will sometimes be happy enough to breed in typical reef conditions though better feeding will produce stronger fry.

 

[Richie49]

My temps are at 82 degrees , salinity at 1.026 or 1.025, and I shorten light because of algae, and also I feed them a lot, so is this good so far?

 

[gar732]

It sounds ok so far but since you mention a frogspawn I imagine this is a reef tank and not something set up for them to breed? The heavy feeding is most important to get them to breed however it is probably the source of your algae problem. It's difficult thing to balance and clowns breeding in a reef is more of the exception than the rule. My broodstock tanks have a ton of algae because of how much I feed but I'm only trying to keep he clowns happy. Other than reducing your light cycle you might want to try another form of nutrient export like a turf scrubber, etc.

 

[Richie49]

Oh ok thanks for the info, and this morning I woke up and they made like a little den in the sand and they are both swimming in there close to each other, could this be like a sign?

 

[Richie49]

This area is where they made the den.

 

[Richie49]

Should I add a piece of pvc pipe in their "den?

 

[reefhobby]

Can you get a better picture?

 

[Richie49]

This is their own den, should I add a piece of pvc pipe for them to lay eggs in?

 

[reefhobby]

Put a small clay pot from Home Depot

 

[Richie49]

But will any pvc pipe work, and is the clay pot from home Depot fish safe?

 

[reefhobby]

Yes they are safe I have them in all three of my tanks. Breeders use them also

 

[Richie49]

And should I break it in half or just add the pot as a whole?

 

[reefhobby]

Whole

 

[Richie49]

Ok thank you, I'll keep everyone updated with what happens

 

[Richie49]

Just got this clay pot, it is in saltwater, should I add now or later?

 

[reefhobby]

Doesn't matter. But I would add now so your clownfish can get used to it quicker

 

[Richie49]

Ok I'm going to boil first and then add, I'm thinking on placing it where they dug their hole