Clownfish pairing

[mushy coral]

Im getting 2 clownfishs from 2 diferent place: an (asuming) ocellaris from my friend and a picasso from LFS. Both of them are around 1,5-2 inches with the ocelaris slightly smaller.
My question is will the ocellaris my friend kept individually for few months turned into a female? Cause im affraid that if i add both these 2 clowns in, the suspecting female ocellaris will be smaller than the male picasso (the picasso was kept in a schooling of 4 other at LFS).

 

[Tahoe61]

The odds are that the clown left alone has began to mature as a female. The clown in the group is still gender neutral. But that is just pure speculation. Many environmental variables go into gender determination.

 

[mushy coral]

The odds are that the clown left alone has began to mature as a female. The clown in the group is still gender neutral. But that is just pure speculation. Many environmental variables go into gender determination.

Thats what im concerning. Is there anything i can do to raise the chance they become a pair?

 

[winxp_man]

I don’t really thing a lone clown will become a female. It’s needs a reason. And that reason is usually another clown. Dominance fight starts when others are in the tank. In nature it’s the same. The female dies the next one in line takes its place. The dominance fight is what makes them turn. Check out a clown that is by itself. It doesn’t fight for dominance and territory as it does when other clowns are around. You can put them together in a smaller tank for a week or so and see how they interact. There will be some bickering. But eventually one gives in. My brother has a pair of Ocy’s that are paired. And the female only about 1.5-1.74” long. So super small. And a Maroon that is 3-3.125” long. And it does even look at them. If it were a female it would have killed the female ocy and taken the male possibly. But no aggression at all towards the paired Ocy’s from the Maroon.

 

[mushy coral]

I don’t really thing a lone clown will become a female. It’s needs a reason. And that reason is usually another clown. Dominance fight starts when others are in the tank. In nature it’s the same. The female dies the next one in line takes its place. The dominance fight is what makes them turn. Check out a clown that is by itself. It doesn’t fight for dominance and territory as it does when other clowns are around. You can put them together in a smaller tank for a week or so and see how they interact. There will be some bickering. But eventually one gives in. My brother has a pair of Ocy’s that are paired. And the female only about 1.5-1.74” long. So super small. And a Maroon that is 3-3.125” long. And it does even look at them. If it were a female it would have killed the female ocy and taken the male possibly. But no aggression at all towards the paired Ocy’s from the Maroon.

Thanks! I just got the picasso from lfs and will pick up the small ocellaris few hours later when my friend is at home. Imma try put the bigger one in tank first and the smaller one 5 minutes after to see will it work out. Fingers crossed!

 

[Largeangels]

I'd acclimate them both together. It always seems that if they go through some new event like acclimation together and being put into a new system they bond easier.

 

[mushy coral]

I'd acclimate them both together. It always seems that if they go through some new event like acclimation together and being put into a new system they bond easier.

I got them both in and swim together like this. They did nibble a bit but seem to be fine.

 

[winxp_man]

Nice. Yes just keep an eye out on them, and also on fins and tails. If the aggression gets big, you will see it right away in clowns. The biting of fins and tails will show up fast. Does not mean you have to separate right away. But if it gets bad it’s a good idea to do so. My brothers Ocy’s did have some visible damage but not to the brink of death.

So yes keep and eye out on them.

 

[winxp_man]

Thanks! I just got the picasso from lfs and will pick up the small ocellaris few hours later when my friend is at home. Imma try put the bigger one in tank first and the smaller one 5 minutes after to see will it work out. Fingers crossed!

One other thing to keep in mind is to put them in together during the night. That sometimes helps.

 

[mushy coral]

One other thing to keep in mind is to put them in together during the night. That sometimes helps.

They swam together but they sleep seperately. I just checked on them and the bigger one was at few inches below the smaller one. Will they get together tomorrow when the lights on?

 

[DrkNMighty]

That sounds normal. When the pair I have sleep sometimes it’s close to each other times it’s a bit apart in different nems. It will vary from fish to fish and clowns are weird so who really knows. Just keep watch for too much aggression as others have mentioned.

 

[mushy coral]

That sounds normal. When the pair I have sleep sometimes it’s close to each other times it’s a bit apart in different nems. It will vary from fish to fish and clowns are weird so who really knows. Just keep watch for too much aggression as others have mentioned.

Thanks! Will keep my eyes on them

 

[mushy coral]

I dont really want to bring this thread up but im here to update on the clonw pair. So i had them paired up for the last few months since i asked you guys on how to pair them. The problem is now they somehow not a pair anymore. I notice recently theyre not swim or sleep together and the female been chasing and even bit the male several times. The only change ive made these days is i dosed fluconazole to treat the algae and i dont think it have anything to do with the clowns behaviors. Any thought on this? And could i help them pair again and how? Thanks alot!