First Successful Batch

That is terrific! . When I first started out raising clowns it took me awhile to get it down to have more larvae live then when I initially started. I still have quite a bit of loss so you just have to be patient and keep trying.

 The turkey baster method catching them may possibly be to stressful and therefore cause too much motion and maybe causing the death as well.
 Make sure they get plenty of rotifers? Are you using the green water method? Also, can you take a pic of the set up you decided to go with for the grow out?

  This is awesome! Congrats!

The way I did it when mine were laying, was simple someone would hold the light at the top near the water and when alot gathered I would dip a cup and catch them, it works really good I cought about 90% everytime

Edited by davser - September 10 2011 at 7:03pm

Try the cup thing it works keep it close to the light so that they will have less chance to scape and slowly submerge it, if you ever come to salt lake I can show you how I do it so yoy can get a better idea

Yep, we use a clear cup and scoop them out with the flashlight. Works like a charm!
 Pam
 

I was giving them to pam but they stoped laying although I think they might be laying behind the rock but I cant really tell

Edited by davser - September 11 2011 at 12:38pm

This is awesome! Yep, their cute little bellies are nice and silver when they are full of rotifers :). You should be very proud.

  Russ and Kathy had a crash and lost a lot of babies. They since have been so busy I don't believe they have been raising larvae lately.
 I was able to raise 8 baby maroons :). I know that sounds lame , but these little buggers were hard for me compared to my Mochas.

 I can't wait until my clowns start laying again.
 Pam

  I LOVE it!

Mark is going to be much more equipped to help you with your set up. From what I have seen of yours and his, they are very close to the same kind of set up. I raise my clowns in 10 gallon, bare bottom tanks. If I have a problem with the rotifers I can just vacuum the bottom of the tank to clear them. I can clearly see the free swimming rotifers and I keep my water much greener then yours.

  My basic set up is a sponge filter, heater, cheato and bubbler.. that's it. I don't use sand, rock or anything else. Once the babies get a little larger and go through meta I add a clay pot and maybe a piece of LR.

 Remember one they go through meta it is very difficult for them. You will also have loss there. I have found depending on the species it usually is between day 7 to 12. They will get kinked tales and mine usually are less active and hover on the bottom.

 As I have said before, the first few batches were very hard for me and a learning experience. In my first batch, I was only able to keep 1 alive. After time I was able to find what worked for me and tweaked things which in turn I had better success.

 What kind of filtration do you have?
 
 Pam

How do you clean the sand?
 Pam

Ahhhh ok. What about the lighting? Is it directly over the acclimation box? When mine first hatch I use a paper towel under my light so the light is not too bright, but bright enough for them to search for rotifers.
 What kind of lighting?

 Pam