neonstingray
New member
Hey guys,
I know there are always forum posts about pairing clownfish and I've searched and read a bunch, but sometimes you feel better with asking people about your own specific situation. I have a 20g display tank with 10g sump. I bought a juvenile pair of picasso clowns from a breeder, and they were getting along fine - hanging out together, sleeping with each other. There wasn't a clear size difference but one became aggressive towards the other, and the submissive one would do the sideways twitch and the other would stop. All expected I thought. The chasing started to happen more often, but I still figured it was normal pairing behavior. The submissive showed no obvious signs of stress - swimming normally, no heavy breathing, no hiding or lingering on the bottom. Then I didn't see him one day and the next day nearly had a heart attack when I saw him pale and dead on the bottom of the tank. The breeder said that sometimes the dominant gets too aggressive in the pairing and the submissive can die from stress. He said that it helps to sometimes separate them to give the submissive a break.
So I bought another picasso from a different breeder. Since the previous dominant one had grown a bit in the couple months I've had it, well 'her' I suppose now, the new one is noticeably smaller. I kept the smaller one in a clear plastic specimen box with holes, hanging inside the tank so he was separated and wouldn't be picked on while acclimating. After a week in there I had to move the whole tank down the street since I was moving apartments. They spent a week together in a temporary tank and got along well. Now that they're back in the main tank the bigger has started chasing the new smaller guy. He doesn't seem to be bothered but since I'm fearful after the last happening, I've now put the bigger in the specimen box to give the little a break.
While she's in the box, the smaller still hangs out next to her. Do I alternate between letting them be in the tank together for a couple days and then putting her back in the box every now and then to help ease the stress on the smaller?
Thanks for any comments or advice,
Austin
I know there are always forum posts about pairing clownfish and I've searched and read a bunch, but sometimes you feel better with asking people about your own specific situation. I have a 20g display tank with 10g sump. I bought a juvenile pair of picasso clowns from a breeder, and they were getting along fine - hanging out together, sleeping with each other. There wasn't a clear size difference but one became aggressive towards the other, and the submissive one would do the sideways twitch and the other would stop. All expected I thought. The chasing started to happen more often, but I still figured it was normal pairing behavior. The submissive showed no obvious signs of stress - swimming normally, no heavy breathing, no hiding or lingering on the bottom. Then I didn't see him one day and the next day nearly had a heart attack when I saw him pale and dead on the bottom of the tank. The breeder said that sometimes the dominant gets too aggressive in the pairing and the submissive can die from stress. He said that it helps to sometimes separate them to give the submissive a break.
So I bought another picasso from a different breeder. Since the previous dominant one had grown a bit in the couple months I've had it, well 'her' I suppose now, the new one is noticeably smaller. I kept the smaller one in a clear plastic specimen box with holes, hanging inside the tank so he was separated and wouldn't be picked on while acclimating. After a week in there I had to move the whole tank down the street since I was moving apartments. They spent a week together in a temporary tank and got along well. Now that they're back in the main tank the bigger has started chasing the new smaller guy. He doesn't seem to be bothered but since I'm fearful after the last happening, I've now put the bigger in the specimen box to give the little a break.
While she's in the box, the smaller still hangs out next to her. Do I alternate between letting them be in the tank together for a couple days and then putting her back in the box every now and then to help ease the stress on the smaller?
Thanks for any comments or advice,
Austin
