Pairing an aggresive picasso clown

[mushy coral]

Im having a picasso clown that I think its a female now. For the past 1 year its been paired with 3 male (2 ocelaris and 1 picasso). Everytime ended up the same, she was fine with them for 1 or 2 months then turned to chase and bite the male. The 2 ocelaris i sold to other reefer and the male picasso got beaten to death as i got home from work. Now shes alone in a breeder box with a BTA that shes hosting. Im planning to move her with the nem to a new cycled tank so i think it might be a good time to pair her again. This time should i get a bigger one to force her back to male or i still buy a smaller one and hope he make it? My LFS got lots of new percula clowns at many sizes. Also if they paired will they host the same nem? Im getting my first cultured goniopora next week so i dont want any clown to accidently host it.

 

[exnisstech]

I'm pretty sure you can't force her back to male tho some fish have that ability. Adding another female is going to end up with a dead fish IMO. No help really but I've not had any trouble with clown pairs other than during the initial pairing. Once paired mine have always gotten along.
As far as sharing the nem some females will allow the male in the nem but I did have a pair that the female wouldn't allow the male in so he hung out next to the nem.

 

[mushy coral]

I'm pretty sure you can't force her back to male tho some fish have that ability. Adding another female is going to end up with a dead fish IMO. No help really but I've not had any trouble with clown pairs other than during the initial pairing. Once paired mine have always gotten along.
As far as sharing the nem some females will allow the male in the nem but I did have a pair that the female wouldn't allow the male in so he hung out next to the nem.

If then i have to get a smaller percular. Which one should i add first? The bigger one or smaller one or the nem?

 

[exnisstech]

I've always added the female first or added a single male and wait until it transitions then I add the smallest one I can find so I'm confident it is still male and introduce it in an acclimation box for a week or two.
But it sounds like you have had a pair and the female kills off the male which is something I've never experienced. Hopefully someone who has experienced this can offer better suggestions.

 

[Largeangels]

Add the smaller first, then the female.

Or add them both at the same time.

 

[mushy coral]

I've always added the female first or added a single male and wait until it transitions then I add the smallest one I can find so I'm confident it is still male and introduce it in an acclimation box for a week or two.
But it sounds like you have had a pair and the female kills off the male which is something I've never experienced. Hopefully someone who has experienced this can offer better suggestions.

The killing part is more of an acident. I left them both in the acclimation box when move to temporary tank with the nems as they paired but didnt expect her to change behavior and chase him down. When i notice i seperated him to a different box but he died hours later.

 

[mushy coral]

Add the smaller first, then the female.

Or add them both at the same time.

How long should i wait after adding the smaller one? If i add at the same time would the female regconize her nems and host it then chase away the male?

 

[Largeangels]

When you put them in a new environment they are more likely to bond for safety. Like when you get two clowns and put them together in QT together. Or two separately QT’d fish you out together in the DT.

I would QT the new fish, let it recuperate, get its strength back and put on some weight. Then let the male establish itself for about a week then move female in.

 

[mushy coral]

T

When you put them in a new environment they are more likely to bond for safety. Like when you get two clowns and put them together in QT together. Or two separately QT’d fish you out together in the DT.

I would QT the new fish, let it recuperate, get its strength back and put on some weight. Then let the male establish itself for about a week then move female in.

Thanks!