Baby Onyx clowns

[Kimberly63]

I just got 2 baby onyx clowns - about 1/4" long - and when i put them in my tank they went right for my hammer but when the lights went out, the one slept in between the branches and the other went into the top corner of my tank. Now the one that was sleeping in the branches won't let the other one near the hammer. It keeps chasing the other one off if it gets too close.

Is this normal?

 

[jkrentz2515]

Perfectly normal. The one in the hammer is the female.

 

[hyperboy]

those clowns seem to be awfully small. i hope you didn't get those from a breeder (seems really irresponsible on the breeders part)

 

[Kimberly63]

they are from a breeder

 

[hyperboy]

wow, i can't believe they sent you percs that small/young....did you ask for them to be that young

 

[LadyEquinox]

Where did you get them? Also those are not old enough to be males,much less female.They are juvinal at that age.Those clowns are less than 3 months old.

 

[Kimberly63]

I won't disclose where i got them because I don't want to get into a debate about them. I wanted the fish this young and my request was granted. I have the necessary means to take care of them and my breeder sells onyx & picasso clowns and has very satisfied customers - a lot of which I know personally and he does have a good reputation. They are the only fish in my tank and get a lot of personalized attention.

I know they are still juvenile and it's not the first time I've dealt with juvenile clownfish, but this is the first time I've had a pair and was curious on the meaning of their behavior. They seem to be picking on each other.

 

[BS]

Reminds me of my little clowns.. they were finger nail sized when I got them.... and the plate is home... they've grown a lot since then.. The dominate one is now the female and if you can keep track of which is which my bet is the one in the hammer will become the female in time...... enjoy

 

[Kimberly63]

Wow BS! aren't you ever scared that the plate will eat them? I've heard so many horror stories! Do your clowns pick on each other?

 

[BS]

They are a lot bigger now..and so is the plate... but I don't think the plate could eat them..... I know before I added the clowns it would deflate from time to time... but they seem to stimulate it and it stays pretty well inflated all the time.. they even bring food to it... and they do have their moments with each other and the dominate one is about 5 time bigger but overall they are very close... I suspect once a hieracy is established yours will settle down some

 

[BS]

a newer pic..... but they have grown more since this shot... and the plate has too but as you can see they grow faster.... the plate is at least twice as big now

 

[BS]

not trying to hijack your thread but I think this is the earliest pic I have of them

 

[Kimberly63]

that's okay! they are very cute! How old do you think they were - a few months or so?

 

[BS]

not sure how old but they were from a local breeder that deals with my friends LFS...... and he had a 40 breeder tank full.... and I kept saying I want that one... not that one ..... that one....not that one.... any way I ended up with two..... and they would both have fit on my thumb nail...

 

[Robgixxer]

pretty cool! I have four clowns in my tank. And used to have a ritteri that the older two hung out in. But then he decided to climb up the rock work and when I got home he was half way over the overflow grate and got partially sucked through and the rest of his body was getting blasted by the return line which in turn put a hole in him.

 

[Robgixxer]

here was the ritteri.

 

[rkelman]

Yes that's totally normal. They may bond in time and the other will be allowed in. They look great. I don't sell fish that small but seeing as they are the only fish in your tank I'm sure they are going to be fine.

 

[Lmecher]

Oh, Those clown babies are just too cute and cuddly. I want some.
: )

 

[Loganeri]

Here's my babies. 3.5 months old. They chase each other but it seems more like they are playing rather than trying to inflict pain. Because they are so small, the carpet is like a mansion. One often hides on one side of the anem for minutes before the other can find him. Hope the pic comes out.

 

[hyperboy]

those are good looking clowns in that carpet.....at least they are old enough to see that they are going to have middle stripes/patterns!!!!!