Pairing Ocellaris Clown with Percula Clown?

[Reef Breeder 2013]

In my 20 gallon tank I have a Platinum Clownfish and a Common Ocellaris (currently it has taken on the Mocha coloration). So, both are already a little over a year old, but despite the failed attempts of the male, the female does not want to accept the Ocellaris (The Ocellaris is the male and the Platinum is the female). Many will tell me that they will not be able to pair, but Platinum had previously paired with an Ocellaris that unfortunately died. Is there any advice you can give me?

 

[KrisReef]

Sometimes I too have tried to make a pair with the best looking clownfish I can find. I think that has never worked out for me as the pairs haven’t laid a single egg and most of those fishes have not lived long enough to find a mate they liked but decided to die rather than mate with the fish I picked.

I am not sure why this is, but I do recall my mother always had her eyes out for a daughter in law for me and I know she meant well but none of her jewels got a second look from me?

 

[D-Nak]

There are always curve balls when attempting to pair clownfish. Here are some potential problems and solutions:

1. Make sure that your male is actually a male. Sometimes, if the clownfish is left alone for a period of time, it may become a female. Once it's a female, it remains a female (unlike some other species of fish that can change sex, once a clownfish has become a female it cannot change back). Since your ocellaris is already over a year old, it might've transitioned to a female. One way to ensure that your fish is a male is to remove the male from an established pair, or find a juvenile. Of course, the drawback is that you may have to wait (possibly a couple of years!) for the juvenile to become old enough to breed.
   
   
2. Females, like many other animal species (such as Homo sapiens) are picky--and unpredictable! I have a female percula that killed two males, without warning. They just made her mad and she ended it. Try to introduce the male slowly--using a clear plastic container that allows the clownfish to see each other will help. If you can re-arrange the rockscape, that should help as well, since it will reduce any defensive tendencies with regards to territory. This includes moving the host anemone, just temporarily, if you have one.
   
   
3. Make sure that both fish are well fed. This will make them a bit more sluggish and less prone to being "grumpy."
   
   
4. Cross your fingers. Pray (if you're into that sort of thing). Anything will help.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[OrionN]

Cross species pairing are always a little harder since they don’t really have completely correct signals. Like communication in different languages so to speak. The male may signals that he capitulates but the females may see it as him been insolent.

 

[Reef Breeder 2013]

There are always curve balls when attempting to pair clownfish. Here are some potential problems and solutions:

1. Make sure that your male is actually a male. Sometimes, if the clownfish is left alone for a period of time, it may become a female. Once it's a female, it remains a female (unlike some other species of fish that can change sex, once a clownfish has become a female it cannot change back). Since your ocellaris is already over a year old, it might've transitioned to a female. One way to ensure that your fish is a male is to remove the male from an established pair, or find a juvenile. Of course, the drawback is that you may have to wait (possibly a couple of years!) for the juvenile to become old enough to breed.
   
   
2. Females, like many other animal species (such as **** sapiens) are picky--and unpredictable! I have a female percula that killed two males, without warning. They just made her mad and she ended it. Try to introduce the male slowly--using a clear plastic container that allows the clownfish to see each other will help. If you can re-arrange the rockscape, that should help as well, since it will reduce any defensive tendencies with regards to territory. This includes moving the host anemone, just temporarily, if you have one.
   
   
3. Make sure that both fish are well fed. This will make them a bit more sluggish and less prone to being "grumpy."
   
   
4. Cross your fingers. Pray (if you're into that sort of thing). Anything will help.

Good luck and keep us posted!

In fact I can be sure that one is female and the other male, let me explain that I had 3 Clowns, but one (the old female) died for no apparent reason. So the male paired with the old female (the Platinum) became the female, how do I know? Well, the Platinum is bigger and more aggressive. Now the Ocellaris does try to mate with the female (I've seen Clownfish mate before), but the female simply kicks him out of the anemones when the Ocellaris tries to get in.


I'm sorry if I made mistakes in the words, but I'm using the translator because I'm from Mexico and I find it easier to write with the translator.