pairing fire clownfish

I need advice on pairing.
I have a 2.5" fire clownfish that I kept alone for 2 1/2 weeks in a 45gal.
I decided to buy another one from the same vendor hoping to create a pair. It arrived today and it is 1.5 -2". It is smaller than the first. It did'nt take long before the first clown started darting, chasing, and bullying the new one into a corner.

After much reading, I see this could be a good sign. They are not locking lips (jaw-fighting) so I am pretty confident they are not both female? Info on the web is conflicting on this species though, some say it is semi-aggressive while others say it's very aggressive. I am praying they are not nearly impossible to pair like Premna's?

I figure I'd give it another 24 hours (48 total) of watching the new arrival getting beat up then make a egg crate box to shelter the new one in while they get used to each other? How long should I let the bullying go on before seperating them for good?

 

I would turn my lights off fore a while until they calm down. Bullying is never a good sign IMO. I don't know if fish do change their minds about each other as we do about people, but all the bullies I've had, stayed bullies and went back to the fish store. The ones I had were tomato clowns and they were packed with aggressive behavior towards other fish. But they didn't fight between each other. I did get them at the same time, though.

Try this first:

Turn your lights off, and then change your rockwork, specially on the area where the bigger clown has already establish territory. Then after a few hours, turn the lights back on. This will force the oldest clown to re-establish territory again in the newly changed environment and will give a chance to the new comer to do the same.

Let us know how that went and if they calmed down a bit after that.

- Mag.

 

Sadly that is the first thing I tried after about 4 hours. I re-did the rock work and within 2 hours roughly the older clown went right back to her den, which happens to be at the back of the tank near the heater. The lights have also been off since the new one arrived.

I thought the bullying behaviour (darting) was a show of establishing dominance and a good sign they'll pair? I don't really want to take them to LFS since they are from ORA. They are the only clownfish I plan to ever keep so hoping to pair these as smooth as possible. Any other tips?

 

If all else has failed and you have a sump you should remove the larger one for a day or two.

You can try the old mirror taped to the outside of the tank as well.

If the larger clown is not allowing the smaller one to eat and the smaller one is hiding, has torn fins, or breathing heavy you may have to remove one or the other.

A beautiful clownfish.

If you try again, a smaller clownfish is a good idea as they usually have not reached sexual maturity.

 

Unfortuneately I don't use a sump. It has been 24 hours since the new one got here. Will placing one inside a eggcrate inside the tank help any or am I chasing after fools gold?

I am seeing the twitching thing thankfully and the new one does'nt fight back at all but yeah is forced to stay in a corner at the surface. She charges but does'nt seem to be doing any damage. At the moment she seems to be kissing it's side tenderly but then charged it again violently afterwards. Im confused.

also, at times they take a break and go to thier respective territory across from each other. I guess being shoved near the powerheads is'nt really "territory" but she does'nt constantly harass it. Is this a good sign?

 

Sounds like the best sign so far. Good luck and keep up posted. Sure hope it works out. Do not hesitate to remove him though if she starts biting his fins and inflicting injury. I have never had a good out come once the female decided she was not going to accept the new clown. Just me though.

 

Night #3

Well after much research I have come to the conclusion they are both mature (adults). Measurements indicate the first clown is probably already female. Very colorful, dominate, and nearing 3". The newest one is also 2.5" so size is a huge problem being they are so similar however the newest one is faded in color, and I am praying it is not a female already.

No locked lip fighting has been going on, but the slightly larger one is still keeping it in a corner. Today has been a sigh of relief though as they have hardly fought at all. No spearing or charging etc,. The newest one found a spot next to a breeder net and it has literally stopped all fighting/charging from the presumed female.

I wish there was a way I could know for certain the other is not female.
They really don't show any signs of twitching sadly, but they are swimming near each other alittle without discord. The newest one seems healthy, no damage, breathing fine, it's even allowed to eat and come out away from the breeder without too much penalty but yeah, it is still not allowed to roam the tank. On a bright note, it has encouraged the older clown to actually come out of hiding after 3 weeks and she is even showing interest in a torch coral that's been waiting on her.

Will take some shots tomorrow, tank lights are still off after 3 days and plan to cut them on tomorrow. The saga continues ..

 

Two adult female clowns will kill each other.

Although reported VERY rarely (female to male, I have my doubts ) once a clown becomes a dominate female she remains so. Only a male has the ability to change.

Great they are getting along.

Keep us posted and I would love to see a picture of your clowns.

Joyce Wilkerson wrote a wonderful book that covers all things clownfish, it is an excellent book.

 

Day/Night #5

There were times when I thought this just is'nt going to work. Not because of the fighting, but the opposite actually. Because the new guy likes to stay next to the breeder net the queenB (she is now named) cannot charge or hurt it. Since they still stay away from each other, I feel like it's slowing down the dominate/submissive bonding thing.

I have also seen practically zero twitching still or even an ounce of interest until tonight ..

Once the halides went off (they had 3 days of no light) they started kinda playing, charging again. Not hurtful, both fish are very healthy atm. QueenB charged in and then they paused next to each other and gyrated.

Queen B - looks smaller than she actually is about 3".


Queen B too..


New guy


My camera literally died after I took these so sorry for the quality.

I am still not convinced these 2 will make it. Gonna give them some time but if after a week or so, just going to take the new guy out, wait a month to make sure queenB is a queen, then try a juvenile.

 

Really beautiful clownfish. Just love the color.

I am glad she is tolerating him, it may indeed work out.;D