Clowns pairing?

[Jimbob.]

Hi all,

I bought a pair of Clarkii Clowns recently, one just a tiny bigger than the other, out of the pair this one has been the aggressor.

I have had them 3 weeks and in this time, i have noticed very strange behaviour, at the beginning, they were huddled together, then together, then spent most of the time on opposite ends of the tank, the bigger of the two periodically stirs up the sand, whilst chasing the other, just now however, one of them started shaking violently, and they are now very close and circling each other.

They spend time together at night, laying on the sand bed.

I just wondered if this was normal? They were not a mated pair.

 

[Jimbob.]

Nobody?

Clowns spending a lot more time together today, the bigger one looks to have gotten noticeable bigger now and when she (he) goes off on a wander, the other is not far behind.

Is it safe to assume they have paired? Or are in the pairing process?

 

[Toddrtrex]

I would say in the pairing process. IMO, it is too soon to say that they are paired, if they are tolerating each other in a month I would say paired. 6 months I would say a bonded pair.

 

[SkullV]

I would say in the pairing process. IMO, it is too soon to say that they are paired, if they are tolerating each other in a month I would say paired. 6 months I would say a bonded pair.

I didn't realize that people thought of a pair and a bonded pair as 2 separate things. Good to know for the future.

 

[Toomnymods]

Fish shaking is part of the courting process fish go thru.. my African cichlids and clowns both do this before and during spawning.. the bigger clown is the female. The smaller clown could be a female also but left together with the the other clown the smaller one will always change into a male

 

[Toddrtrex]

I do at least.

A pair could just me 2 fish that were put together hours ago.

 

[DeathWish302]

I didn't realize that people thought of a pair and a bonded pair as 2 separate things. Good to know for the future.

Truly you have a 'pair', 'bonded pair' & most everyone hopes for a 'mated pair'.

Big differences when purchasing fish in not only availability but the price tag.

 

[SwampyBill]

The smaller clown could be a female also but left together with the the other clown the smaller one will always change into a male

All clownfish start as asexual juveniles, then become males; with dominant one becoming female. The smaller is probably still an asexual juvenile or in the process of changing to a male. Very rarely can a female clownfish turn back to male.

 

[Jimbob.]

Thanks for the replies, some interesting information there.