clown acting funny

[josh112990]

i recently aquired what was sold as a pair of maroon clowns but they are only about 1-2 inches long first question is if it is possible to sex them so small and if they need an adjustment period because they are both acting strange i was thinking about purchasing an anemone for them but i dont know what kind to get them or if i should be worried about the strange behavior at all

 

[Lmecher]

All clowns begin as males. Two juvinelle males placed together, dominant one will become female in time. One kept alone in time will become female. If however you have two females, they could fight to the death, maroons are known for not backing down even with the eminent threat of death.
What do you mean funny? Describe...

 

[josh112990]

they are both staying close to the bottom and at some points the smallerof the two will stop moving for a minute and then go back to hovering around the same spot, they eat very little, and the smaller one does the same thing that was described in another post meaning shaking randomly like it has a twitch

 

[josh112990]

[No message]

 

[Lmecher]

The twitching is the male's way of showing submission.. How long have you had them? It is very common for them to refuse food for several days to a week, they do not like change.

 

[Lmecher]

As far an getting them an anemone, your in luck, their natural host is the bta. Bta's require bright lighting but not as intense as some of the other hosting anemones. How long has your tank been set up and how many gallons? Have you kept anemones before? If you are unfamiliar with their care and requirements, I can give you some excellent links. : )

 

[josh112990]

i have had anemones before but new tips would be great right now they are in a 4.5 gallon refugium while the 55 cycles all the55 has in it is sand and LR but i dont know if i should put the clowns in first or not

 

[Lmecher]

If it is a newly cycled tank, you should wait for the tank to mature before adding an anemone. Many poeple make the mistake of adding anemones too soon and loose them due to instability of the tank.
Your clowns can be added once the tank has cycled and stabilized. I would however add your clean up crew first (that's how I have always done it) and again wait until your amonia and nitrite are at 0. You don't want to gamble with your maroons. From my experiences I have found it makes little difference which is added first/second as far as chance of hosting goes. good luck : )

 

[josh112990]

so another words i should not worry about any thing for now unless they keep refusing to eat? and what all should they be fed cause i have read so many things about their diet and they are all different

 

[Mike31154]

Once they start eating they'll generally take most types of food sold at your LFS, flake, mysis, brine shrimp, CycloPeeze granules. My first Maroon didn't eat for an entire week and I was quite worried. He swam back & forth along the glass the whole time, no idea where the energy came from to do that so long without eating. Out of the blue he started eating most anything. He is now a large She with a little mate. The male is more finicky and seems to eat only brine shrimp and CycloPeeze granules.

I added my GBTA about 3 months after introducing the first clownfish and it took a week or so for him to host. I may have added the BTA a little sooner than is advisable, but it survives to this day. Give yourself at least 4 to 5 months with your tank before adding the nem. Less chance of a mishap that way.

 

[josh112990]

thanks for the tips they are both eating now what a relief

 

[john rochon]

all clowns act funny, or they'd be out of a job