Clown Pair Laying Eggs now!!!!

I am lucky enough to manage the 430 gallon tank we have in our office and we have had a pair of clownfish for almost 2 years now.
They have never laid eggs (that we have noticed) but now all of a sudden it seems like a common occurance.

On Saturday I was in the office and noticed the pair was tending to a clutch of eggs that had to be a few days old because you could actually see development inside the eggs. Sadly when I came in this morning, they were all gone.

I noticed later this morning that the male and female were festidiously cleaning the same egg site they had just been tending.

And now, a few moments ago we noticed the female laying eggs again with the male right behind her fertilizing!!!

What an amazing process of life, huh!?!?!?

Now for the discussion part of this.

The pair has seemingly not done this in 2 years. There have been no changes to the maintenance regiment or any other parameter in that time.

Is it just one of those situations where it just eventually happens when things are right? Or are we just lucky?

 

I would say yes to all of your questions, congrats hopefully some will survive.

 

Really!? I have them all figured for tank food.

I thought you needed to isolate them and feed them rotifers?

It is a rather large (430 Gallon) tank that is only lightly stocked . . .will that increase survivability?

Thanks for the reply

 

While I think you are correct on the isolation, anything is possible. The lightly stocked tank is a help. Hopefully there is a large pod population.

 

OK Great!!!

Here's to hoping!!!

 

Congrats on the clowns! You should take some pics of your work tank if possible. I bet it's pretty amazing at that size.

 

How fun!! I hope some survive! Good luck!

 

Here are some tank pics.

The first one is when the tank was re-setup (for the third time - had three different leaks -- long, drawn out story for another post, another day) in late January of 2010. We have been up and running with this setup for almost 10 months now.

The second two are from this weekend - I had JUST changed out the old bulbs -
Put in 3 new 250W Pheonix 14Ks (beautiful, btw) and 4 96 Watt 454nM actinics as well. What a difference!!!!!

 

Awesome tank, and congrats on the clowns, keep us informed on how they are doing.

 

It's definately nice to have this big tank, consider it my own because I have designed it and shopped everything out, but then when the moment comes, have the boss foot the bill!!!!

Can't complain . . . only if we could do the same for my 120DT in my apartment . . . .