Advice on pairing clowns!

[Hirbod]

Hey all,

I need some pointers on how to pair clownfish effectively!
My dream is to have a pair of clownfish that eventually reproduce.
I am debating going to the LFS and purchasing two clownfish and hoping they pair in my tank.

In my specific LFS, they have about 5-8 of the same type of clowns in a display tank for sale. Does it matter exactly what two I pick out?

Is it safer to just pay the extra 10-20 dollars to buy them already paired?

 

[bundybear1981]

I would buy the smallest 2 there, clowns can change sex so one will always become female (which then will become the larger of the two) All clowns are born male.

 

[WaReefer458]

I'd say get a bigger one and a smaller one. The bigger dominant one will become the female

 

[Mark9]

The first time I bought clowns, the guy scooped 2 out of a tank of 40 or so.
One became dominant and grew larger, 6-8 months later they laid eggs.
This tank, I bought a mated pair.
Took about 2 months for eggs.
If you have healthy fish and give them a stable environment, eggs will happen.

 

[e048]

As long as they are compatible species they will eventually pair off and one will submit in one tank I have a large orange occelaris (female) and a smaller black occelaris(male) they lay eggs every few weeks then the wrasses eat them

I'm my other thank I have two medium sized occelaris that still have not established who's the female they are both the same size but hang out with each other it's been about a year

 

[Neptune 555]

Maroon clowns are hard to pair. If oscellaris it is easier but not guaranteed. I would get two very small clowns and keep them together always.

Good luck

 

[hotelbravo]

no one mentioned yet do not buy two from the same parents. you will be inbreeding.

 

[JMorris271]

no one mentioned yet do not buy two from the same parents. you will be inbreeding.

How is that done?

 

[davocean]

no one mentioned yet do not buy two from the same parents. you will be inbreeding.

I was just about to say this, yes, a mistake many make if you really plan to breed, but most end up not breeding anyway when they realize how much work it really takes to do it properly.
Best advice, read Joyce Wilkersons book on clownfish and breeding, then decide if that is really what you want to do.
But it is nice just to have a breeding pair, even if you do not choose to go full tilt.
In that case, 2 very small, or one slightly bigger, and no, you normally do not have to pay for what will most likely be just a "bonded" pair, not a breeding pair, that would usually be a good bit more.
2 very small clowns will work it out if intro'd together about 99% of the time, intro to an existing female, that is a little trickier sometimes, especially w/ certain breeds, and yes maroons may top that list.

 

[davocean]

How is that done?

So a for instance, just in case, this time around I got a female picasso from Sustainable aquatics, she is a snowonyx.
I got my male from clownfishdepot(A good source IMO) and he is a Cquest/Donisreef cross.
I think this should be a good mix if I decide to actually breed them, otherwise eggs are always a great natural food source for all your other fish, many of us just let them go as such.

 

[thegrun]

I've found that dimming the lights and playing Barry White on the stereo helps!

 

[hotelbravo]

How is that done?

The easiest way to ensure they are not related is to get two different morphs like a black and white one and a regular orange one. Or two different designer types. Otherwise try to get two that come from different locations which might be hard since alot of lfs are loyal to one supplier. You could always grab one from one tank and the other from a different tank and hope they are not from the same parents but thats just rolling dice

 

[reefbroao]

I bought my clowns together with one being much larger and the other being very small. They get along extremely well and never leave each others side. Breeding them is much much harder than you'd think. It Took me 5 minutes of research to know that I don't want any part of it right now at least.

If they lay eggs, the goby will have a nice meal.