Maroon pairing

[LegendaryCG]

Hi guys and gals,
Looking for some advice on pairing some Maroon's I picked up for my frag tank. My tank is a 20g long with hob power filter and skimmer and rubble, a PVC pipe and a frag rack. I have a lightning maroon and a GoldXLightning cross both about 2 inches. I introduced them both into the tank at the same time with the lights off and it quickly became apparent they *HATE* each other. I ended up needing to separate them as I was very worried the GoldX was going to be killed. Since then I gave the GoldX a BTA who is hosting him and he has mostly healed back up. It's been about 2 weeks since I've separated them and they can still see each other and both still are acting very aggressive toward the other. I'd like to try and get them to pair up so what should my next steps be?

 

[myinvalidname]

They are too close in size and will have to work out which is dominate. They’ll fight until one is dominate and becomes the female. That is assuming that they both aren’t female already. It’s easier to pair them when they are different sizes.

 

[Hugh Mann]

From what I have read about the subject, as I plan to do the same, is you have to keep them separate, and feed one more than the other so it grows bigger, and faster. But at 2", there is a good chance they've both become female, in which case, at best they will end up living on opposite ends of the tank and never get along.

 

[pcon]

Maroons require more care in pairing than the other clowns. It is generally recommended to start with one maroon, allow it to mature to female sizes 3"+ before introducing a tiny male via a social acclimation box.

 

[TriggersAmuck]

I had two pairs of Maroons over time. In both instances I made sure the introduction was done when both were smallish, and there was a clear difference in size at the time of introduction, with the larger one being the established one in the tank so that there was no question of dominance.

 

[Tahoe61]

I doubt you will be to reintroduce the Maroons again.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Maroons are harder to pair the other clowns but I think them being the same size doesn’t help either. 2” is too close to possibly both being female IMO.