Adding second Maroon

[borderreef]

I asked this in another forum, but I'll ask it here. My Maroon lost it's mate when I stupidly added a diseased fish to my DT before my QT was set up. I want to add a second. I was thinking I would get a smaller one, QT it of course, then introduce it using a small hampster ball (anyone who has used this method will understand). Any thoughts?

 

[TL1000RSquid]

Sounds like a sound plan, I assume your current one is likely female now, so as long as you go with a younger smaller one you should be ok.

 

[MrTuskfish]

When the new fish is done with 6 weeks in the QT; I'd put him in the DT and the established female in the QT for a week or so. Female clowns, especially maroons, are extremely territorial and the time-out in the QT will make her the newcomer. Female maroons will often kill any other fish that comes near their territory; potential mate or not.

 

[srf11]

When the new fish is done with 6 weeks in the QT; I'd put him in the DT and the established female in the QT for a week or so. Female clowns, especially maroons, are extremely territorial and the time-out in the QT will make her the newcomer. Female maroons will often kill any other fish that comes near their territory; potential mate or not.

I think this is the best plan of attack.

If you dont take the dominant female out of the equation, she'll probably bully any potential mate to death out of sheer protectionism.

Let the small male acclimate/feed and then bring the female back in to her roost and see if it jives.

You'll know quickly if there's a true issue as the female will either kick his *** out or test the waters.

 

[b0bab0ey]

I recently gave my female Maroon a very small, young male. IME, they seem to be more easy going on a "child" - probably because they don't perceive it as a threat. I made sure to take precautions... I placed him in a fish box near her anemone so they could get acquainted. As soon as I let him out, he bolted for the anemone. She gently pushed him out and kept him out of the anemone for a day or so. Now they share the anemone, but otherwise ignore one another. That will probably change once he matures.