clown suicide, now need advice on pairing

[ransomed4ever]

Well I just had the lovely experience of going down into my fish room and finding my roughly 2 year old, female black saddleback laying dried up on the floor. Had her in a hospital tank for the second time around for popeye in one eye. Was pretty much recovered and was going to reintroduce her to the display in a few days, and she goes all suicidal. Really dissapointed because she was my favorite, had the most personality and everything. On top of that I had them both since juvenile, and got to watch them mature, and I don't think it was going to be too much longer before her and her mate started to spawn.
So now I need advice from all you experts. I am now left with just the male in the display. I assume the correct course is to find a gender neutral fish that is smaller than the male so the male can now become the because I doubt a mature female will take kindly to him. Also, do I have to get a saddleback, or will saddlebacks pair with clowns?

 

[ransomed4ever]

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but if I can find a saddleback orange or black shouldn't matter right?

 

[ransomed4ever]

a lot of views but now knows?

 

[Arati]

Saddle back clown A.Polymnus of either color var. will work just fine.

I belive the only other clown I have heard of people pairing with A.polymnus is A.Latezonatus. This is a verry Rare and verry expensive fish.(finding a juvy or male Latz is even more rare)

I would give your male about a month or so and then add a small as possible 2nd saddle back. Other with more experiance may want to chime in if there is something ive missed, or messed up.

Sorry for you loss, and best of luck.

 

[ransomed4ever]

Thanks Arati. I figured I'd have to get another saddleback, just thought it would be interesting with a mixed pair. Went to the LFS that I got the original pair from and he said he might be able to get something in on Friday. A month would end up being about perfect timing then to introduce the newbie after the QT period.