help with true percs please

[m3nac3]

well my tank has been up and running since september.

I had a smaller true perc that i bought from the lfs. He was the only clown in the tank for the first little while then about a month ago i bought a larger true perc from benf. It was a male..

i introduced the bigger true perc to the tank and they seemed to pick at each other the first night then they were fine. they generally stay togeather where ever they are but just yesterday i started to see the larger clown start chasing the smaller all around the tank trying to bite at him but never making contact.


then he goes up by the smaller clown and tilts and shakes beside him.


just wondering what your thought is on this.

this morning they look like they are getting along again.

is this normal? i really hope they can become a mated pair.


thanks for all your help

 

[mflamb]

When a clown "tilts and shakes" beside another clown, it is showing submission.
Lots of good articles in the clownfish forum on RC.

 

[Warnberg]

It sounds to me like they are establishing dominance, completely normal.

Good Luck

 

[m3nac3]

thanks..


but why would the one doing the chasing be showing dominance by shaking?

 

[Warnberg]

They are establishing who is dominant one and who is the submissive one. The dominant fish will turn female and the other will turn male... it will take some time for them to sort this all out. In the mean time there will be chasing, biting, shaking, etc until they get it all sorted out.

 

[m3nac3]

Thanks Dave. I just want to make sure they are happy. It would be awesome to have them spawn at some point.

 

[GSMguy]

paitence it can take 3 years for clows to spawn

 

[Warnberg]

Yes, patients.... mine have been in the tank 2 years and a handful of months... still doing the mating dance all the time but no eggs yet.

Mine have even started cleaning the nest site and late evenings do the egg laying thing (she rubs across it then he rubs across it) but no eggs.

 

[m3nac3]

thanks guys for all the help.. they are pretty much leaving each other alone today and keeping to their self