Gold Dot Maroon, Finally Changing Colour, Time to Pair?

[Hugh Mann]

My lil' guy is getting all grown up. Doubled in size in the last year, and his stripes are changing colour! Part of the maturation process I know, but does this mean he has, or will soon be transitioning to female?

Fish shipments are really picking up, and I've been seeing tonnes of gorgeous maroons of the right size, so I am thinking it's the right time to try and pair. However, I am in the midst of upgrading to a new tank, and am wonder if I should try and pair before, during or after the move?

 

[mehaffydr]

I would add the new fish at the same time you move to the new tank. That way neither have established it as their home.

 

[Hugh Mann]

That's kind of what I was thinking. Though if there is aggression in the new tank, it will be somewhat difficult to come to the rescue, depending on where they are in the tank. 230 gallon.

I wonder, I'll be quarantining my current livestock between tanks in an attempt to eradicate my managed ich. Would that be a good time to try for a pair, since it would be easy to isolate the aggressor?

 

[mehaffydr]

That sounds like a good Idea but that will also put them in fairly close quarters. Kind of forcing them to be close instead of giving them time to get acquainted.

 

[Hugh Mann]

That is true, yeah. My QT is 40 gallons, but there'd be the other couple fish too. Probably best to run their QTs separately and introduce at the same time. Since the new clown will have to be treated for other potential problems that I know mine don't have.

Yeah, that's probably the better way to do it.