Clownfish pairing issue

[rojees]

Hi reefers,

So this has been discussed before but I haven’t found a case to be like mine so wondering if anyone else has had or heard of similar cases.

Basically long story short, I have two clownfish. Let’s call them A and B.

Clownfish A is perhaps a Picasso designer, not too big, maybe 3.5cm or thereabouts.

Clownfish B is a smaller panda, probably 2.5 cm, again thereabouts.

Clownfish B was added to the tank 2
Months ago because the previous clown (clown C) died.

As a result, Clown A was alone for couple of weeks and so to ensure (or at least minimise) the risk of getting a new female, I picked a small panda (clown B).

Both A and B got on ok but didn’t pair.
Now for about a month, A has been chasing B all the tank, asserting its dominance so I assume A is the female for sure. She twitches after chasing. Clownfish B swims out of the way, darting all over the tank (15gallon tank with no other fish) but never twitches back.

To the point where B hides in the rocks to avoid A. A tries to find B in the rocks.

When B does come out for feeding, they both eat well. The chasing happens again but B never submits to A. I never see B twitching. In fact even clown A lately doesn’t twitch anymore.

Two days ago they are out swimming in the open for a good 20-30minutes with no attacking or chasing. I thought maybe they’re pairing up?? But after a while, B hides again.

They don’t sleep together at all.

So I’m wondering what the heck is going on. Clearly they haven’t paired.
B just doesn’t like A? B needs more time to mature from juvie to male? Does it take this long?

Any thoughts?

 

[Tahoe61]

They are really young fish. Clownfish change so much as they mature. I would not really expect them to show pairing behavior at this age. It's any body's guess how the will act in a month.
You did do the right thing though in getting a notably smaller fish.
It takes months for a clown to transition.