How do you tell if your clownfish is pregnant?

[DuffyGeos]

Ok - besides the basic, I get the concept.

 

I have a mated pair (what I was told) of Black/White Ocellaris Clownfish that I have had for about a year. They hang out with one other male (I think it is a male since he is smaller, about the same size as the B/W clown male) which I believe is a true Percula.

 

The larger female is getting larger right in back of the pectoral fins. She seems to hang out now with the male true Percula more then the male B/W.

 

Do those two varieties interbreed?

 

What else should I look for?

 

Should I do anything?

 

Thanks,

Ken

[L8 2 RISE]

I find the relationship you describe very interesting. Are you sure the fish you believe is a true perc isn't a juvi b/w occi? They're orange when they're young.

 

Do the fish "host "anything? Anemone/coral? Or even a certain patch of rock or side of the tank? I have never seen them breed without hosting "something" (one pair really liked a patch on the overflow).

 

Clownfish don't really show pregnancy (at least I've never noticed it) because they lay their eggs so small. The things to look for are the fish "polishing" a piece of rock to serve as a place for their eggs, and then one day you'll see eggs on the rock. No need to do anything unless the clowns are polishing a piece of coral. In which case you can place a tile next to whatever they are hosting and they will switch over to that pretty quickly

[DuffyGeos]

I find the relationship you describe very interesting. Are you sure the fish you believe is a true perc isn't a juvi b/w occi? They're orange when they're young.

 

Do the fish "host "anything? Anemone/coral? Or even a certain patch of rock or side of the tank? I have never seen them breed without hosting "something" (one pair really liked a patch on the overflow).

 

Clownfish don't really show pregnancy (at least I've never noticed it) because they lay their eggs so small. The things to look for are the fish "polishing" a piece of rock to serve as a place for their eggs, and then one day you'll see eggs on the rock. No need to do anything unless the clowns are polishing a piece of coral. In which case you can place a tile next to whatever they are hosting and they will switch over to that pretty quickly

 

I don't thing he is a juvi since I have also had the True Perc for a bout one year (unless I was misled- which I don't think is the case.

 

Thye are in a tank I don't really have any coral in, it is more of a QT holding tank, I now have PVC pipe, and some rock, but very little. All three hang out next to each other in the corner and  the perc and the B/W sleep in the same pipe. I have a tile in there just in case, but have not seen them do anything with it. Have not seen them polish any rock either. Maybe she is just fat and happy?

[L8 2 RISE]

Sounds like she is just fat and happy!  IME a qt type set up like that (a very artificial environment) often makes fish behave differently than they would in their usual habitat.  I would bet that if they were put into a reef tank with coral, other fish, etc their relationship towards one another would change but then again maybe not.  

 

 

............On searching- maybe this isn't so unusual: 

[DuffyGeos]

So I think that these two are polishing the inside of a 4" piece of PVC. They go up to it and wiggle really fast in the same spot. They are both doing it. Then the smaller male mouths at the spot on the PVC sometimes. I don't have a real clear view of the spot, so I don't want to move anything.

 

Anything I am suppose to do or not do?

[Mattiejay6]

If the female is going to lay eggs You will see the ovipositor. Looks like a white tube coming out of her belly.

 

Just leave them be happy

[DuffyGeos]

Thanks.

 

I know nothing about breeding fish, and was not trying to get them to breed, but nature maybe is having her way, which I guess means they are happy

 

 I should try to read up on the basics if this happens.

[Mattiejay6]

Sweet..

 

If they do happen to lay eggs nornally they will eat the first few clutches until they get the hang of things.

[DuffyGeos]

Sweet..

 

If they do happen to lay eggs nornally they will eat the first few clutches until they get the hang of things.

Ok thanks.

 

As you can tell by the title, I guess I really did not remember that they lay eggs since my question revolved around the female's large belly. I guess I need to watch the beginning of Nemo a few more times!