False Percula Clownfish pairing

[L98-Z]

Here's the story...

I originally bought two clownfish from LiveAquaria. I asked for a medium size and a small. I placed them both in the aquarium at the same time, and they instantly bonded. They never separated. I took this to be a pair since the shared the same frogspawn coral.

Sadly, the little male died. He managed to get into the overflow...to the sump...and sadly into the return pump.

I went off to find a new clownfish, small as possible in hopes to pair the now lonely female with another.

Today I placed the new clownfish in with the original female clown. I bought the smallest of the LFS supply, but they are still somewhat near the same size. Probably a little over an inch or inch and a half.

The new one quickly swam to the original, but the original instantly attacked. The new one tried multiple times to come near, only to be attacked over and over.

Is it safe to say the pairing isn't going to happen? The tank is a 180 so they're on the other sides of the take currently, not fighting. But I don't want the new clown to be attacked... I'll remove the clown from this take if there's no chance of pairing occurring.

 

[rkelman]

What they are doing is completely normal. Usually they will be ok as long as they don't injure each other. A good sign is jaw locking. If they are jaw locking you will have to remove one.

ps. You did QT this new fish right?

 

[L98-Z]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14803918#post14803918 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rkelman
What they are doing is completely normal. Usually they will be ok as long as they don't injure each other. A good sign is jaw locking. If they are jaw locking you will have to remove one.

ps. You did QT this new fish right?

Yes.

It's completely normal for them to fight?

 

[rkelman]

Yup. Trust me I have over 2000 in the basement and they fight.

 

[L98-Z]

Could you explain why that occurs to me? I'm assuming to prove who is the dominate one, and which most become the male or female.

What if the new clown was already female? Wouldn't that present an issue if they were both females? Is that where the jaw-locking issue would show itself?

 

[rkelman]

Your right. Its to establish pecking order. The most dominant becomes female. If the new clown was already female they will fight to the death. That's typically when you see jaw locking. Sometimes its just because they hate each other for no apparent reason

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14804800#post14804800 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rkelman
Your right. Its to establish pecking order. The most dominant becomes female. If the new clown was already female they will fight to the death. That's typically when you see jaw locking.

Sometimes its just because they hate each other for no apparent reason

That sounds about right

Its not often that will happen though if you did pick out the smallest at the lfs.

 

[L98-Z]

Just thought I'd make an update.

rkelman, you were 100% correct. It only took a few days though. Now they're they best of friends sharing the same frogspawn.

 

[rkelman]

That's awesome. Thanks for updating us. Congratulations.