Clowns don't hangout?

Saltine · Aug 11, 2016

I have 2 Mandarin clowns that don't swim or really hang out together at all. I bought a "bonded" pair initially and one of them killed the other. I then just had one clown (very large female now)for about 3 -4 months then I bought a replacement mandarin about 4-5 months ago. They pay each other no attention really, I've just noticed all other clowns I see in tanks are together....

Thanks!
Salt

Saltine · Aug 12, 2016

Nothin? Or is this a stupid question!

Amoo · Aug 13, 2016

How big was the second clown when you bought it and how large is your tank?

Saltine · Aug 13, 2016

Amoo said:
How big was the second clown when you bought it and how large is your tank?

Second clown was small much smaller than the other. Tanks is a reefer 250 so about 52 gallons.

dbl · Aug 13, 2016

If in fact it was a bonded pair when you bought them, is the original male or female the one remaining? If it's the female, your new smaller clown will have to eventually "submit" to her. You may see some aggression between the two and the smaller one should eventually show signs of submission. When, or should I say if, that happens is unclear. It may never actually happen.

If the male of the original pair is the remaining clown, then it being larger than the new addition, should eventually morph in to the female. Again, no defined timeframe.

I would just give them some time and keep an eye on them. Lastly, I will say this...clowns are weird!!!

Amoo · Aug 13, 2016

any chance you can get a picture of the two of them close to each other? I'm really curious to see the current size difference after this long. 4-5 months seems unusually long for them to not even try to pair up.

Saltine · Aug 15, 2016

Amoo said:
any chance you can get a picture of the two of them close to each other? I'm really curious to see the current size difference after this long. 4-5 months seems unusually long for them to not even try to pair up.

Well re-did my aquascape this weekend, tried to take a few pictures of them together, but the stars never aligned..... I'll keep trying. I'd say the female is about twice the size of the male, the female has hosted my torch, the male never gets near it.

Saltine · Aug 15, 2016

dbl said:
If in fact it was a bonded pair when you bought them, is the original male or female the one remaining? If it's the female, your new smaller clown will have to eventually "submit" to her. You may see some aggression between the two and the smaller one should eventually show signs of submission. When, or should I say if, that happens is unclear. It may never actually happen.

If the male of the original pair is the remaining clown, then it being larger than the new addition, should eventually morph in to the female. Again, no defined timeframe.

I would just give them some time and keep an eye on them. Lastly, I will say this...clowns are weird!!!

Thanks! Yes the bonded pair were both the same size, after she chased the other one out of the tank I waited months before adding another. The weird thing is it's been several months.... at least 6 now that I think about it, and they never fight, never are together....

Things may get interesting soon, I plan to add a nem...

Salt

Saltine · Aug 17, 2016

Amoo said:
any chance you can get a picture of the two of them close to each other? I'm really curious to see the current size difference after this long. 4-5 months seems unusually long for them to not even try to pair up.

Best I could get

SantaMonicaHelp · Aug 17, 2016

I've never heard of a Mandarin Clownfish... what are they exactly? I expected your fish to look more like a Mandarin Dragonet than a Clownfish. Kind of like this picture:

- C. Smith

Saltine · Aug 17, 2016

SantaMonicaHelp said:
I've never heard of a Mandarin Clownfish... what are they exactly? I expected your fish to look more like a Mandarin Dragonet than a Clownfish. Kind of like this picture:

- C. Smith

From what I'm told it's a maroon crossed with an is oscelaris.

Saltine · Aug 17, 2016

Saltine said:
From what I'm told it's a maroon crossed with an is oscelaris.

Saltine · Aug 17, 2016

AwildcatsZ · Aug 17, 2016

Saltine said:
I have 2 Mandarin clowns that don't swim or really hang out together at all. I bought a "bonded" pair initially and one of them killed the other. I then just had one clown (very large female now)for about 3 -4 months then I bought a replacement mandarin about 4-5 months ago. They pay each other no attention really, I've just noticed all other clowns I see in tanks are together....

Thanks!
Salt

I have something similar happening.

I purchased 2 juvenile clowns, one around 1.5" and the other around 1", about 5 months ago. At first they never seemed to leave each other's side. They then fought until one established dominance (the larger of the two). Its been about a month since the aggression seemed to subside. The problem is they no longer tend to hang out near each other and even sleep at opposite ends of the tank now...

Could this be something as silly as they are just taking some time apart due to hurt feelings? Or do they just not have interest in each other all together?

Definitely following to see if I can learn anything! Hopefully both our clowns mend broken hearts and hurt feelings!