can I replace male maroon ?

[boszwjm]

I lost 3 fish during a major water change. One loss was the male of a paired maroon clowns. They were purchased together as juveniles(3 years ago?). The female is approx. 4" long. It is in a 55 gallon tank with a hippo tang & a marine betta.

My issues are : Will female accept a new juvenile maroon as a replacement ?

Will marine betta(comet) eat a small juvenile maroon ?


Thanks

 

[NirvanaFan]

You should be fine adding a small maroon clown. Make sure you provide some cover for the clown to get/hide in to seek cover from the female. The female can be really mean and beat the new guy up. He needs to be able to get away from the female a bit.

 

[boszwjm]

what about part 2 ? The marine betta is may eat a juvenile maroon

 

[NirvanaFan]

How large is the marine betta?

 

[boszwjm]

Approx. 7", ate a clown goby for a snack, left a bi colored dottyback alone(1 3/4")

 

[NirvanaFan]

I'd try to get a maroon that is between 1 1/2" and 2" from a group of them at a LFS. If you can, try to get one from a group at the store. Make sure to get one of the "submissive" ones that are in a group and not the one or two by themselves in the tank.

 

[boszwjm]

Thanks, I will separate the newbie in a container & observe behaviors.

 

[NirvanaFan]

You can make/buy acrylic containers that go in the tank for the male clown. Or, possibly better yet, make a temporary one out of light diffuser that will let the male clown go in, but not the other larger aggressive fish.