Help pairing Maroon clowns

[Tang Salad]

Hey all-

I currently have a 2-inch plus WSM. She hosts in one of three BTAs. I tried a month ago to introduce a smaller GSM, but the newcomer 'disapperead' after being released.

Two days ago I was lucky enough to find another small GSM, about one inch long. I put it in a specimen box, directly in front of the female's BTAs.

During the first day, the female was repeatedly attacking the box. The small guy was showing the submissive behavior: wiggling and turning on its side to show its belly. Yes!

On the second day, the postering continued, although the female was approaching the box less frequently and with less vigor. For both of these days I fed the little guy Selcon soaked Cyclopeeze, just to get him in tip-top shape.

Today I let the little guy out. He tried to go for the BTAs, but the female just chased him away, very aggressively. Now the little GSM is hiding on the other end of the tank (110g) and the female occasionally seeks him out to chase him.

I've dimmed the lights on the side of the tank with the BTAs.

Does this sound like it's going the way it should?
I kind of expected the litte GSM to try harder to stay near the BTAs.

Should I try anything differently?
Maybe catch the female and put her in the refugium for few days to let the little guy get adjusted?

Any opinions, questions or ideas are most welcome.
Thanks!

 

[ryan_reefer]

could you try put the WSm female in the box you had the male inso he can get to use to it or if that doesn't work in the refugium just to let him get some territory

 

[Tang Salad]

Thanks Ryan-

That's my backup plan. Right now they're still under observation.

My fear is that if i put the female in the box or refugium, she'll begin the attacks all over again when I reintroduce her.

 

[Princess Di]

IME, you can't force anything. Either she'll accept him or she won't. The behavior you describe is normal. I would leave them be. My GSM went thru 3 juvies before finally accepting one. It took almost 3 weeks before she would allow him in her host RBTA.

 

[heap]

doesn't sound too unusual - if she gets vicious, just return him to the little box for another couple of days, and give it another try.

you'll just need to keep a close eye on them and their behavior - best of luck