jjjimmy
Premium Member
Sorry this is so late but I thought that I would tell the story to date.
A little history first.
At the end of October my female black polymnus clownfish had acquired pop eye. Being the stubborn beotch that she was she refused to jump into my net or trap to be treated. At that point I reserved myself to the fact that she was going to die and all that I could do was wait it out.
On or around the second week in November, fate finally fell upon her and she sank to a watery grave (i.e. toilet). After a night of mourning (i.e. sleep) the search began to find a mate for the remaining clownfish which was on his way to becoming a her.
And now our short story begins.......
11/22/06
I finally picked up another black polynmus clown from aquatic reef in East Dundee. When I got home, I put it through the normal acclimation period and to my surprise there was absolutely no aggression towards the new clown in the floating bag from the male clown already in the tank. I then netted the fish and put him in the tank and he went straight for the anemone (which is good). Within minutes there were a few little chases around the anemone. Then some facing each other and twitching. Then it happened, they locked mouths and went at it for about 2 minutes. At that point I decided to go for a fresh beer and when I got back to the tank the new clownfish was hiding a bit way on the other side of the tank. It would seem as though dominance has been established.
Now the question is will the new clown survive alone over there long enough for the clownfish with tenure to morph over to female and then go and take his place and role as the subservient male? Time will tell.
12/1/06
The new clownfish seems to have set up shop at the other end of the tank. They still get within close proximity of each other without aggression but it doesn't seem as though they are getting along well enough to share the carpet yet.
I am beginning to wonder if the new clownfish is a female already and the older one has started to morph over. Or maybe I have the first pair of transsexual clownfish.
Wait a minute....
FS RARE black Polymnus transsexual clownfish $10,000 ea. Local pickup only.
12/7/06
Well, it would seem as if love is in the air (or water). Finally after about 3 weeks my two clownfish are starting to play with each other. It was very fun to watch all of last evening. The original clownfish started chasing the new one around playfully and the new fish was finally making its way over to the anemone. It is really neat to see the courtship between the two fish as I was really beginning to wonder if they were going to stay separated.
I am not sure how many hobbyists have tried to "pair up" clownfish because I usually see them sold already in pairs. However if any of you get the chance I would highly recommend trying to pair them up yourselves to see first hand how the relationship develops. No dating, no expensive dinners, no dressing up and putting up false fronts, no meeting the parents, kind of like the old caveman days (I hit you on the head and you are mine, now shut up and clean the anemone *****) except with role reversal.
I will see if I can find some time this weekend to get some pics if they settle down and stay still long enough for one.
Well that is all for now. I will try to update as the relationship progresses.
Jimmy
A little history first.
At the end of October my female black polymnus clownfish had acquired pop eye. Being the stubborn beotch that she was she refused to jump into my net or trap to be treated. At that point I reserved myself to the fact that she was going to die and all that I could do was wait it out.
On or around the second week in November, fate finally fell upon her and she sank to a watery grave (i.e. toilet). After a night of mourning (i.e. sleep) the search began to find a mate for the remaining clownfish which was on his way to becoming a her.
And now our short story begins.......
11/22/06
I finally picked up another black polynmus clown from aquatic reef in East Dundee. When I got home, I put it through the normal acclimation period and to my surprise there was absolutely no aggression towards the new clown in the floating bag from the male clown already in the tank. I then netted the fish and put him in the tank and he went straight for the anemone (which is good). Within minutes there were a few little chases around the anemone. Then some facing each other and twitching. Then it happened, they locked mouths and went at it for about 2 minutes. At that point I decided to go for a fresh beer and when I got back to the tank the new clownfish was hiding a bit way on the other side of the tank. It would seem as though dominance has been established.
Now the question is will the new clown survive alone over there long enough for the clownfish with tenure to morph over to female and then go and take his place and role as the subservient male? Time will tell.
12/1/06
The new clownfish seems to have set up shop at the other end of the tank. They still get within close proximity of each other without aggression but it doesn't seem as though they are getting along well enough to share the carpet yet.
I am beginning to wonder if the new clownfish is a female already and the older one has started to morph over. Or maybe I have the first pair of transsexual clownfish.
Wait a minute....
FS RARE black Polymnus transsexual clownfish $10,000 ea. Local pickup only.
12/7/06
Well, it would seem as if love is in the air (or water). Finally after about 3 weeks my two clownfish are starting to play with each other. It was very fun to watch all of last evening. The original clownfish started chasing the new one around playfully and the new fish was finally making its way over to the anemone. It is really neat to see the courtship between the two fish as I was really beginning to wonder if they were going to stay separated.
I am not sure how many hobbyists have tried to "pair up" clownfish because I usually see them sold already in pairs. However if any of you get the chance I would highly recommend trying to pair them up yourselves to see first hand how the relationship develops. No dating, no expensive dinners, no dressing up and putting up false fronts, no meeting the parents, kind of like the old caveman days (I hit you on the head and you are mine, now shut up and clean the anemone *****) except with role reversal.
I will see if I can find some time this weekend to get some pics if they settle down and stay still long enough for one.
Well that is all for now. I will try to update as the relationship progresses.
Jimmy
