How to Breed False Percula Clownfish

Place an aquarium that can hold at least 30 gallons of water in a sturdy spot. When filled with water, the aquarium should not be too heavy for its location. Water weighs 8 1/2 lbs. per gallon. Place coral sand at the bottom of the aquarium. Mix water and marine salt as specified on the marine salt bag. Fill the aquarium with the marine salt-water combination, and then place live rock in the tank, creating caves and places of security for Ocellaris clownfish. Attach a filtration unit and protein skimmer to the tank as instructed on each product's packaging.

Introduce a pair of mated Ocellaris clownfish into the aquarium, and create a stress-free environment for them. Ocellaris clownfish donot lay eggs when under stress. Keep the chemistry of the aquarium water clean with weekly water changes. Turn on the aquarium tank's lighting for the same number of hours each day to create a regular cycle to which the clownfish will become accustomed. Feed the clownfish at the same time each day.

Observe the spawning cycle. It is important to know how the fish prepare for their young. The clownfish will prepare a site on the rock, clean it and deposit the female's eggs in that spot. The eggs will appear orange in color at first then fade to gray with silver eyes, and hatching occurs six to 15 days later, depending on the water temperature.

Prepare a 10-gallon hatching tank with lighting for the clownfish babies, which are known as fry. Do not use filtration within the hatching tank. Put one small air stone within the hatching tank for aeration. Siphon the fry out of the main aquarium using a turkey baster, and place them in the hatching tank.

If it is not too large, the rock on which the eggs were laid can be taken out of the main aquarium and placed in the hatching tank just before the eggs hatch -- when they are gray with silver eyes. Take care not to let the eggs out of water during the transfer.

Care for the clownfish fry. Keep the hatching tank water clean by changing 10 percent of its water twice each week. Keep the hatching tank well lit. Always keep live rotifers in the hatching tank, replenishing them often. Continue to rear the fry as they grow and undergo the metamorphosis stage into juvenile clownfish. Once juveniles, clownfish start to take on their parents' coloring. Transfer them out of the hatching tank at that time.