How do you know if a pair of clowns are ready to mate?

[cbrennan4]

I recently was able to a second black ocellaris clownfish to my 72gal and the two are now inseparable. It seems like they do a little dance here and there and I was wondering if anyone knew of any of the courtship behaviors to look for? I notice a dance here and there and there doesn't seem to be any aggression involved.

Thanks in advance

 

[cbrennan4]

**Add a second

 

[Woogiekids]

The big clues for mine were:

1) Rapid change in size differential (may not be the same if they're both already large)
2) Rock cleaning for several months before spawn
3) Fat female, and you can see the ovipositor starting to stick out a bit a few days prior to spawn.

That being said, I was super excited when my snowflake pair started rock cleaning, but it took them about 4 months to get around to it. My Picassos just started the same behavior, so I'm hoping for a clutch by Christmas.

The twitching, although necessary, isn't really a precursor to immediate spawning. Just to "pairing" in my experience.

 

[cbrennan4]

Great info and much appreciated. I was sure to get a clown that was smaller than my original. I had put the new clown in a little quarantine mesh holder that goes inside the tank at night and when I came out the next morning he was gone. But to my surprise and relief I found him swimming with my original clown. I heard introducing clowns can be rough and I think I def got lucky haha.

 

[Whip316]

its hard to add a clown into the mix when they both are still a year or so old and not yet 100% into their sexes yet. if you put a juvi in with a full female, then its much easier to pair them. if they are both close to the same size and age and the sex is not 100% determined, then fighting will ensue. i have moved males around in my breeding pairs and never had a real fight.

 

[cbrennan4]

If they were to fight would oli see it right off the bat or could it happen later. They have been together now about a month