Clownfish Pairing

[henryriesett]

Hello all. About a month ago, a bought a pair of clownfish from my lfs. One of the clowns, presumably the female, died from brook I believe to be. The other fish never had any other problems, so I monitored and bought a new clown two days ago, about a month after the original pair. I tried to get their smallest clown from the same species, and brought it home and put it in a breeding box for a couple hours. I released it, and the behavior has been like this video will show you. They swim together for a bit, then the older clown, hopefully female, will go after it, then they won’t swim together for a little. The process keeps repeating. Does anybody have any ideas on to if they will eventually pair?

Sorry about the blue light.

 

[TX_REEF]

most likely yes, just give them time.

 

[Dburr1014]

As long as you don't see biting, they should figure it out.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Basically, if they can learn to live together, they will pair. The more dominant of the two will move from sexless to male to female. The less dominant from sexless to male. This happens between 1 and 2 years. Once a sexless clown goes to male it cannot go back. From male, depending on environmental cues, it will turn female. Once female, it cannot go back to male. That's about it. Kinda cool, huh?

 

[henryriesett]

Basically, if they can learn to live together, they will pair. The more dominant of the two will move from sexless to male to female. The less dominant from sexless to male. This happens between 1 and 2 years. Once a sexless clown goes to male it cannot go back. From male, depending on environmental cues, it will turn female. Once female, it cannot go back to male. That's about it. Kinda cool, huh?

I had a decent idea on how it work, but thanks to you this clarified it. The new one definitely has no interest in fighting, but I really hope the new one is a male, and hadn’t become a female at the lfs.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Well, you'll know if both are female. They tend to be very aggressive towards each other.

 

[exnisstech]

Easiest way I've found to pair clowns is to keep a single one for 6 months to a year to be sure it has transitioned to female then adding the smallest male I can find. I've had 100% success pairing them that way, even maroons which can be difficult to pair. Adding two without being positive one is female is a crap shoot, you may win you may not. I lost when I tried it so I know longer do it. Most people don't have the patience and most lfs say just add two little ones and they'll figure it. Unfortunately them figuring it out can end up with one figuring out how to kill the other. JME

 

[henryriesett]

Basically, if they can learn to live together, they will pair. The more dominant of the two will move from sexless to male to female. The less dominant from sexless to male. This happens between 1 and 2 years. Once a sexless clown goes to male it cannot go back. From male, depending on environmental cues, it will turn female. Once female, it cannot go back to male. That's about it. Kinda cool, huh?

Update on the clowns: The aggression has really been little to none now, but they are still not together. They will swim together for a bit, then just separate to different sides of the tank. There is really no fighting though. Do you think they will eventually fully pair up?

 

[PharmrJohn]

Most likely. Seems like they already have. Or at least they have Friend Zoned one another. LOL, the bane of my early existence!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Update on the clowns: The aggression has really been little to none now, but they are still not together. They will swim together for a bit, then just separate to different sides of the tank. There is really no fighting though. Do you think they will eventually fully pair up?

They should pair up eventually. At least they are not fighting!

 

[NoLarvatusplease]

Basically, if they can learn to live together, they will pair. The more dominant of the two will move from sexless to male to female. The less dominant from sexless to male. This happens between 1 and 2 years. Once a sexless clown goes to male it cannot go back. From male, depending on environmental cues, it will turn female. Once female, it cannot go back to male. That's about it. Kinda cool, huh?

So amazing.The sex change.I always think of Ursula Leguins great novel The Left Hand Of Darkness when clowns are discussed.The inhabitants of the planet are male half a year and female the other half.

 

[PharmrJohn]

So amazing.The sex change.I always think of Ursula Leguins great novel The Left Hand Of Darkness when clowns are discussed.The inhabitants of the planet are male half a year and female the other half.

Didn't she write the Earthsea books? Those are from my childhood! I read those in the early to mid 70s I think......