Clownfish needs your help!

[Yhee]

I felt badly for my Black Onyx as HIS mate died shortly after I got him.

Today I bought a similair size Oscellaris.

30secs after the Oscellaris entered the tank its been a chase-a-thon. The BO was biting his side and tail.

Previously the BO had a Yellow Tang and they were good buddies.

Currently the BO is trapped under a net against the side of the tank. He isnt the smartest fish I've had. This is allowing the OS to settle down a bit too.

Should I give them time (days) to settle down or is the BO destined to be single?

HELPPPPPPPP!!!!

 

[Mike 1911A1]

You could try moving your rocks around to throw the old fish off a bit. Truthfully, I have never had much luck trying to get two that don't like each other to get along. I just recently had a problem with my yellow tang chansing a newly added copper band relentlessly. I finally returned the copper band and replaced him with a 1" blue hippo and everybody's happy.

Mike

 

[Yhee]

UPDATE:

We're moved from chasing and biting to the BO kinda of slapping the other in the face with his tail fin.

The BO is allowing the OS to eat now and appear they will get along??

Will be a beautiful pair if they mate too.

 

[Yhee]

UPDATE:

BO continues to chase but isnt biting anymore??? Is he trying to establish he's alpha male?

 

[Mike 1911A1]

You have two different species. Not sure if they are compatible at all much less able to establish dominance.

Mike

 

[Yhee]

ohhhh thought they where the same family.

 

[Mike 1911A1]

They are both clowns. But i'm not sure the two types are compatible. They may be...I just don't know. I have heard that it's not recommended that you keep more than a pair of the same type as the dominate will kill the less dominant.

Mike

 

[ChunksInClemson]

In clownfish, the males are submissive and the females are dominant. Just thought I would let ya know that.

 

[Mike 1911A1]

Yes, that's true but what about different types of clown fish?

 

[yoboyjdizz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7367168#post7367168 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ChunksInClemson
In clownfish, the males are submissive and the females are dominant. Just thought I would let ya know that.

Correct, you could have a case of two females and they won't get along.. I would take it back and wait for a smaller clown so you know it hasent changed sex yet. Yes their is a possibility that these clowns can pair if one was female and one was male.

Was your clown that died bigger then the one that lived? That will let you know if it is female or male and how long has it been by itself? After a period of time the male being by itself and can change to a female, but i don't think it can change back to male.

 

[Mike 1911A1]

What about one being a Black Onyx and the other being an Oscellaris?

 

[Amphiprion]

They are indeed two separate species (both in the same family Pomacentridae and subfamily, Amphiprioninae). It is not entirely common, but occasionally, you will have two separate species pair up and even spawn. The young are viable and are unique hybrids. However, this does not happen incredibly often, and mixing the species most often results in the fighting and disputes you see--the lesser fish usually ends up sick or dead in such instances.

 

[yoboyjdizz]

It more common then say mixing a true perc and maroon, i say it can be done under the right cricumstances espically the tank bred clowns. Getting them very young and trying to pair them up that way would give you better chances.

 

[Yhee]

The BO was straight from Australia/New Zealand and was a wild caught.

The OS is tank raised

The BO is/was the male as the female was probably 3 times his size she was huge and had an extra set of fins on her under belly.

The BO also hasnt changed size since he's been alone for least a couple months. But he was hanging out with the yellow tang for a month or so.

 

[Amphiprion]

Those extra set of fins are pelvic fins and all clownfish should possess them.

 

[yoboyjdizz]

how many months? not totally sure might be better if you ask this in the clown fish forum but i think around 6 months it be safe to say a clownfish can turn female being alone that long?

 

[yoboyjdizz]

i will still get a a very small clown fish instead. Perhaps another onyx and the one you have now will then turn into a female and eventually they should pair up or never all. You just never know.

 

[Amphiprion]

This process generally takes under six weeks.

 

[impulse]

I have had good results with taping a mirror to the outside of front of my tank when introducing a new fish. Any aggressive residents will tackle their own reflection first, as it is one of their own kind. This gives the newcomer a chance to find a "safe" spot within the aquarium. It sounds like the BO's dislike is already abating, so if you really like the ocellaris, I would give it a little longer. They will sort out for themselves which is going to be male or female. And yes, it is possible that they will eventually mate. BTW, if you use the mirror trick, leave it there until the fish realizes that it isn't a threat.