Reef Aquarium Fact #199 Clownfish parents will sometimes eat their own eggs that they have laid.

[revhtree]

We are going to continue discussing the reef aquarium facts submitted by our members. Do you agree or disagree? What are your thoughts?

Fact #199

Clownfish parents will sometimes eat their own eggs that they have laid.


True or False and what do you have to add to this subject? Please share your photos as well!

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[Troylee]

True... That's all I know haha

 

[BroncosZOA]

Eggs

It is thought they only eat eggs that are not viable or will not hatch.

 

[revhtree]

Hmm interesting. I wonder if it is true or not.

 

[Trex]

It is true, and it usually happens with the first 2 batches (( or so )), when they first start spawning. Most of the eggs won't get fertilized properly, so they start to decay -- hence the reason for eating them.

 

[bairdimusprime]

amazing .... at what age do they start spawning?

 

[Trex]

Not sure to be honest. I have never had a pair that I could track when they were born.

But, my spawning pairs have started spawning anywhere from 4 months to a couple of years from being in my care.

 

[ronnie]

I've had several pairs of clowns that laid eggs. They typically eat the first few for whatever reason.

 

[shred5]

Never seen them eat healthy eggs...
The male will mouth the eggs sometimes...
As far as age it depends on the species of clown fish, plus a whole lot of other things it seems...
...

 

[SalP]

I have a breeding pair of tomatoes' that has probably laid eggs over 2 dozen times or more and they eat them all after about 4 days or so.