Clownfish question

[Tanksalot91]

I added two percula clownfish to my 90 gal. tank at the same time, both fish were very small when added. Both fish got along just fine for about the first week, but since then one of the clowns grew dramatically and started beating the living snot out of the other fish. The other clown will not come out of the rockwork when the lights are off.

Now for the strange part maybe someone here can help me figure out what is happening. As soon as the lights on the tank go off (and I mean the second the lights go off) out comes the beat up clown and both fish hang out and swim together all night, they are the best of friends until the lights come back on then the big clown beats the snot out of the other one. Any ideas why they get along when the lights are off but not when the lights are on?

 

[ocellaris123]

The larger clown is asserting her dominance over the smaller clown. The larger clown will become a female, while the smaller clown will become the male if she doesn't end up killing him. The fact that they are sharing a common sleeping area is a good sign and quite normal in pair formation.

 

[Tanksalot91]

Thanks for the reply, how long does this courtship usually last?

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15199496#post15199496 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tanksalot91
Thanks for the reply, how long does this courtship usually last?

It can take days, weeks, months.... really depends on the individual fish.

 

[Tanksalot91]

it looks like this courtship will take months, thanks for the replies