Lightning Maroon Clowns aggression?

[Ignitros]

I just purchased a pair of lightning maroon clowns from the local LFS and they seemed fine together there in the tank and fine for the first 24 hours after introducing them to the quarantine tank. Now the larger one is randomly chasing the smaller one around the tank nipping at it. One is smaller by about 2/3 the size of the other. I assumed the larger is the female and smaller the male but I'm starting to think they are both female. The smaller fish doesn't fight back just tries to swim away. The bigger fish will leave the other alone for a few minutes then back at it for a few. I finally decided to separate them by putting the larger one in a breeding box.

My questions are...

1) Can I tell what the sexes are at all?
2) Would putting them both in a breeder box with a seperator be a better idea than putting one in the box leaving the other free to roam?
3) Which fish should I put in the box if not both?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sfin52]

My percs did that for a bit and than settles down. All start out as female. They change depending on what's needed. They bigger will stay female and the smaller will turn into the male. I'm not sure on when you should separate them. Somebody more knowledgeable will answer.

 

[Ignitros]

I went ahead and put them both in the breeding box with the separator between them for now.

 

[Amoo]

That info is just wrong, there's no nice way to say it. They go from male to female, not the other way around.

Can you post a picture of the size difference since you have them both in a breeder. I'd be shocked if they were both female and one wasn't already dead. Chasing is normal and clowns are hard to pair to begin with. If the aggression continues after breeder box time, put a mirror on the side of the tank. The female will worry more about the clown in the mirror.

 

[sfin52]

My bad @Amoo I had a senior moment.

 

[Amoo]

My bad @Amoo I had a senior moment.

No worries it happens. Clowns are a bit different as you would have been correct had we been talking Anthias :P

 

[davocean]

Pairing of any clowns often looks and is a little aggressive at first, probably just working it out, though it's not a bad idea to keep close but separated to be safe and get used to each other

Agree w/ Amoo on gender change, just adding actually they begin sexless, then male, then dom becomes female

 

[SneakyTortuga]

I had the same exact issue.. my lightning really messed up my gold nugget to the point that I had to remove the lightning for a little while.

I would just keep a close eye and if it gets to bad separate the fish. If it’s just the occasional nip let them work it out

 

[Ignitros]

Well... The larger of the two is semi getting along with the other now. They have staked out claim to either side of the Maxspect Gyre. If the smaller one leaves a close proximity to it's side of the Gyre the larger chases it back fast.

 

[Ignitros]

I've been told that the male is usually smaller and less/lighter color and the female is larger, darker and more bold color wise.