The Lightning Maroon Clownfish has not spawned. While the image above (and video below) shows the Lightning Maroon and her mate tending a nest of eggs on a tile, those are NOT their eggs. This technique has been called by some (including Mitch May, possibly the technique’s originator) as a “Double Down”. The premise – take a reluctant pair of clownfish who are clearly bonded and interested in mating, but not actually doing anything, and add in a nest of eggs from another pair of clownfish. You either wind up with the nest being eaten (and lots of good nutrition being dumped into your reluctant breeders) or you get the pair tending their own eggs next.
Since the Lightning Maroon pair has been cleaning a nest site since September 2011, and the male is a proven fertile spawner, we are all waiting to see what happens next. Initially, it’s looking promising.
Still, some of you may think we’re pulling a belated April Fool’s prank on you all. So, first, a look at the Percula nest being laid late on 4-20-2012:
That same nest, 48 hours later, being tended by the Lightning Maroon and her mate:
