Spawn!

[redlion4]

Been watching our false perc's be quite agressive on/behind one spot of the GBTA. Sure enough, I caught a glimpse today of the load of eggs attached to the live rock behind the anemone.

No plans to rear them (or even attempt to), but it was cool anyway. We have had this pair of false percs for ~4 years now, after getting them from E.Meijer in the southwest metro. Always wondered if they would spawn.

The GBTA has been in the tank for ~3.5 years, and has never split! It was getting very large, approaching 12" across, on the old feeding schedule of 1-1.5 silversides every 3-4 days. Cut the feeding back to once every 1-2 months and it has held steady at about 10"...

Will try to get some pics posted...
Ryan.

[Goldpony75]

got pics?

[redlion4]

The GBTA was opening back up, but I got a few partials...all taken with our Olympus C-750.

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/sep2007/spawn1.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/sep2007/spawn2.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/sep2007/spawn3.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/sep2007/spawn4.jpg

Oh, and since it was on the camera...we have a family of hummingbirds living nearby. At least 3 of them are regulars in our tree and on our feeder. And by regular, I mean it is unusual to NOT see them within 15 minutes....!
http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/sep2007/humbird1.jpg

[storrisch]

you can see the eyes on the eggs already....they should silver up a bit today or tomorrow and will release that night.

[redlion4]

you can see the eyes on the eggs already....they should silver up a bit today or tomorrow and will release that night.
Sweet...now, explaining to the kids (age 6 and 3) why we won't have a bunch of little nemo's swimming around next week is the harder part.

[stuckey_t]

I think I am going to start giving a college try at rearing some marine fish. If you have a spawning pair of clowns we might have to discuss. If they spawn again and you're willing maybe we could give it a try?

[coralreefer]

Nice pics! Glad to hear of your success.

[spectrum]

shweet.. nice pics

[redlion4]

I'm believing that our two false percs above are "fairly regular" now. They have laid two more batches (in the same spot) since the original pictures in this thread. Problem is the GBTA is attached to that rock, and the part of the rock they are using for the eggs will be hard to get a ceramic tile to stay in place. I'm open to ideas - we can setup some time to have you stop by if you are really interested. Located in Lakeville and on the TCMAS member map.

Also, one thing you should know...in the next month we will be replacing the tank. The existing tank is >13 years old, scratched up, and the center brace is long gone - the tank visibly bows out when the canopy is removed. We purchased a new identical 55 gallon to swap it with at the Petco $1/gallon sale a couple months back. I would bet that this home swap may interrupt their spawning cycle, but you never know. The new tank arrangement will be setup as close to (identical) the existing one, so that will help, but I would still guess the trauma may throw the spawning cycle off for a while.

Ryan.

[stuckey_t]

I'm believing that our two false percs above are "fairly regular" now. They have laid two more batches (in the same spot) since the original pictures in this thread. Problem is the GBTA is attached to that rock, and the part of the rock they are using for the eggs will be hard to get a ceramic tile to stay in place. I'm open to ideas - we can setup some time to have you stop by if you are really interested. Located in Lakeville and on the TCMAS member map.

Also, one thing you should know...in the next month we will be replacing the tank. The existing tank is >13 years old, scratched up, and the center brace is long gone - the tank visibly bows out when the canopy is removed. We purchased a new identical 55 gallon to swap it with at the Petco $1/gallon sale a couple months back. I would bet that this home swap may interrupt their spawning cycle, but you never know. The new tank arrangement will be setup as close to (identical) the existing one, so that will help, but I would still guess the trauma may throw the spawning cycle off for a while.

Ryan.

I would definitely be interested:biglaugh2: Have you seen any fry swimming around after the eggs hatch? I imagine they get gobbled up by any other fish you might have. If they like that spot that is where they are going to continue to lay eggs. The strategy would be to get the fry out shortly after they hatch or bring the eggs into another tank once the eggs have eyes that turn silverish. They should hatch soon after in the new tank if the parameters are the same between tanks. Can you pm me your phone # so I can call you to discuss:biggthumpup:

[redlion4]

Stuckey - YGPM.

Most recent batch of eggs already hatched. We have never seen the fry swimming. Eggs one night and no trace the morning after hatching. Next (4th) spawn is due soon, in a week or two.

[redlion4]

Round four spawning event underway. Would expect the full batch to be laid tonight.

[stuckey_t]

Round four spawning event underway. Would expect the full batch to be laid tonight.

Once they lay eggs they should hatch in 7-8 days. On one of those nights the larvae will be ready for the catching:)

[redlion4]

Pics from last nights spawn activity -

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175207.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175208.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175209.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175210.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175211.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175212.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175213.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175214.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175215.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175216.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175217.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175218.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175219.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/redlion4/photos/fish/spawn_17-Oct-2007/PA175220.JPG

[Jenwen]

Those are awsome pics! Now my kids and I will have something to look forward to. We just got a pair of false Percs in Aug. It would be great if we could see some of the same some day...

[redlion4]

Took them a few months to re-adjust, after we swapped out the old 55 gallon to a new one, however our false percs (pictured above) have settled back into the spawn routine. Latest batch of eggs were laid on Wednesday...pretty cool.

When we started saltwater (fish only) 13 years ago, I never would have though we would ever get a fish to live in our aquarium more than 6-12 months, much less spawn. It is sweet to look back at the learning, and realize that these percs are approaching 5 years in our system, and were owned locally before that...its just neat :).

[mattb]

That is sweet! thanks for capturing with pics!

[BonesReef]

Awesome!