Dead fish - lessons learned

[droidus]

For a while, my one fish has been picking on the other. I placed the aggressive one in a separate container for a few days, and I've also tried turning off the lights, but after allowing them to be together again, she would go right back to being aggressive again.

How can I avoid this in the future, if it should happen again? What should I have done differently? Would it be a bad idea to get another clown fish, and add it to my tank?

 

[Taylor t]

Most likely you have 2 females. They will not live together. One will kill the other. If you try in the future buy the smallest clown you can find. Pairing in such a small tank can be a challenge, but can be done. If one kills the other, assume it’s female. Only way to pair after confirmed female is to buy a very small clown before it turns female. They go from undetermined, to make, to female, environment dependent. You want to get a new clown that hasn’t determined what it is yet. It will be small.

 

[chadfish]

Most likely you have 2 females. They will not live together. One will kill the other. If you try in the future buy the smallest clown you can find. Pairing in such a small tank can be a challenge, but can be done. If one kills the other, assume it’s female. Only way to pair after confirmed female is to buy a very small clown before it turns female. They go from undetermined, to make, to female, environment dependent. You want to get a new clown that hasn’t determined what it is yet. It will be small.

This is the right answer. They are born without gender and the biggest turn female and a bit aggressive. The smaller ones turn into beta males and stay smaller.

 

[droidus]

When I bought them online, they just came as a pair, so I didn't get a say in their sex. But they were really small! Should I avoid buying them online in the future, or is there a way to mention what kind I want?
If I do want to add another one, how do I make sure it would be compatible with mine? Just make sure it is smaller? Is this possible?

to make

What do you mean by this? Or to "mate"?

 

[Jekyl]

Must be fun cleaning that tank

 

[droidus]

Must be fun cleaning that tank

What do you mean?

 

[Zionas]

What about buying 2 smaller juveniles and letting them sort it out?

 

[droidus]

Is it a good idea to have more than 2 in my tank?

 

[Arabyps]

Going forward you might consider buying a bonded pair from Divers Den. That's what I've done. Never any issues and they have a large selection from which to choose.

LiveAquaria® - Amphiprion percula

www.liveaquaria.com

 

[Jekyl]

What do you mean?

My clown used to attack me every time I put my hand in the tank

 

[dedragon]

let the clownfish grow a bit then in a month try to introduce a small juvenile in the acclimation box again. If yours is currently really small you could just add a very large clownfish and she will most likely put that one in its place and it will become the male.

 

[Thespammailaccount]

If you add another clown add one much smaller than the one you have

 

[droidus]

Can they go from female to male?
I've been thinking about buying a small one.

 

[chadfish]

Yes. The smaller one will have to learn to be submissive to the bigger. Then the bigger will become female and the smaller will become male. I believe they can switch gender, but they are born a blank slate, so it’s easier to work with them.