finding a new mate for a clarkii

[firebirdcrzy]

She is almost 6" and was an Austrailin wild caught. She lost her mate a little over a month ago, and I would like to find her a new one. Any suggestions on finding her a new mate she wont try to kill, she is very territorial. Right now got she ia all alone in a 30gal.

 

[criccio]

I don't think you would have to much of a problem adding a small clarkii, especially considering her size.

 

[elegance coral]

Good luck with that. I have paired up, pretty much all the common species. I have had the same clarkii for somewhere around 6 years and haven't been able to pair her up with anybody. She's just a nasty fish. The only thing I can suggest, is try the smallest clarkii you can find, and good luck.

 

[firebirdcrzy]

my LFS had a clarkii that was between 1 and 2" but I was thinking that would be to small of a fish as she could almost fit it in her mouth. Looking at your recomendation, this would and ideal size to try? I just hate to give her a $20 snack.

 

[chitownclown]

Here is what I did to pair mine up, I bought a Small maybe 1.5 to 2 inch Clarki and a breeder box. I hung the breeder box in front of her nem for about a week before letting him go. Well the first time there was some aggression and chomping. So i waited til he was at the top and scooped him back into the breeders box. Tried it again a week later and the same thing. On the thrid week I kinda felt sorry for him as he has been living in a breeder box now for 3 weeks. So i let him go and he got chased and cornered and then started his twiching and dance, so she backed off but would still chomp him and chase the hell out of him when he wasn't doing it. So I caught him again and waited til i notice he was even doing in the breeder box. So i figure lets try it again but with the sneak attack. In the middle of the night I set the breeder box lower in the tank and removed the top, he stayed in it for about 3 hours like that til I went to bed and woke up the next morning with them in the nem together.

By the way she is almost 5 inches and he is about 2.5 now.

Heres the happy couple.