How long can I expect this aggression to last?

[fambrough]

I got two baby Clarkii three months ago, these were local tank raised and very small, about half an inch. They have grown quite a bit and are now at about one and a half inches. One, as expected, has become much larger and dominant over the other. I am hoping, naturally, for a pair bond. The aggression has escalated, but seems still to be without any real threat to the smaller one. How long before these fish reach sexual maturity? How long before I see some pair bonding? And, what should I expect that to look like?

Thanks in advance!
Ben

 

[allen00se]

without hijacking I would also like to hear an answer for this thread. I have a pair of maroons that have been in the same tank for two weeks. Sometime they swim together, other times the bigger of the two chases the smaller away. Recently I have noticed both of their fins are frayed, is this from stress or nipping, and when is it bad enough that they should be seperated?

 

[allen00se]

anyone have experience on this subject

 

[davocean]

I had two small clarkis that started the same size. After a little
scrappy period, one did become dominant. Not real mean, but always kept the other in check.
I never saw tattered fins.
They did however become mean with other fish as they got bigger
I ended up trading them for a small maroon.
I've been told that many maroons seem to like it solo.
I would buy a mated pair if that was your plan.
Allen might think about a second anemone if you have room

 

[fambrough]

Thanks for the bump, Allen.

No one has answered the question yet, however. So, does anyone have an idea about how long it takes Clarkii clowns to mature and bond as a pair?

Thanks,
Ben

 

[gfk]

i dont have an answer about clarkii's but i can add some insight about my percs.

ive had my percs for almost a year.

when i got them, they were tiny, and the same size approximately. i bought one a little bit bigger so it'd become the female. A year later that one did in fact become the female. she is moderatly aggressive to the smaller male. i purchased an anenome ohh id say 6 or 7 months ago, and at first he hosted it. she then kicked him out, and wouldnt let him in it with her. now at about 10 months of them being in the tank together, she lets him in the anenome at night, and once in a while during the day.

so not that this helps you too much, but my experience that at about 10 months they still havent truely paired up, unless he is just going to be her doormat for his whole life

 

[fambrough]

Thanks gfk!

I would guess maturation is similar across the genus. I figured I (they) had some time to go. Doormat! Ha, that was funny.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[traveller7]

Check out the FAQs at the top of this forum, in this case: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=215098

 

[fambrough]

Thanks traveller7,

I did read the FAQs. Unless the answer to my question is buried somewhere on page xx of the sticky, it isn't specifically addressed there. This is no big deal. I was just wondering about the maturation/bonding time frame. Maybe I just overlooked the information. In any event, I am not worried about the aggression. I see it as a sure sign of the maturation and pair bonding process. Still, I am curious. Anyone know what the average time for this might be in Clarkii clowns?

Cheers,
Ben

Love your avatar, BTW. My clowns look exactly like that.

 

[traveller7]

Hi Ben,

Most timeframes with clowns have quite a few variables tossed in, diet, conditions, progression through the juv to Female, juv to Male transition, etc.

Best case call it 120days, worst case but still successful, 18months. I have had some never become a good pair, but most have been breeding within the first 2 years when kept in breeding condition.

All the best.

PS: I hope yours turn out to match the one in my avatar, it is a juvenile A. chrysogaster ;>)

 

[DMK]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6592936#post6592936 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by allen00se
without hijacking I would also like to hear an answer for this thread. I have a pair of maroons that have been in the same tank for two weeks. Sometime they swim together, other times the bigger of the two chases the smaller away. Recently I have noticed both of their fins are frayed, is this from stress or nipping, and when is it bad enough that they should be seperated?

- i also notice the nipped fins w/ my smaller maroon. they are in tank for about 10 days, they both within a day went right in RBTA and seemed paired up. even thought they both sleep in the RBTA at night, during day i notice only bigger 1 in RBTA now. the smaller, presumably male, has a couple nipped fins, i'm sure from bigger 1.
is this normal when clowns are in process of pairing up and 1 becoming dominant? i see bigger 1 sometimes chasing smaller 1, but nothing drastic. the nipped fins surprised me, and there's nothing else in tank which can be nipping it. kinda ****es me of.:mad2:

 

[fambrough]

Thanks again, traveller7. I really do appreciated the voice of experience here. I am optimistic about the pairing, but time will tell. The only difference I can see between my clowns are your avatar is that the last white band has a thin extension of white that rims the top of the tail and the middle white band similarly has a thin extension topping the rear dorsal (?) fin. These were sold to me as Sebae, but pronounced Clarkii by all here (I think, by yourself as well). The storeowner, a very good guy for knowledge and customer service, said he considered the names Clarkii and Sebae nearly interchangeable depending on what part of the world the fish originated. Doh! For average retail purposes, this may be fair however wrong. My clowns are still juveniles, so we'll see in a few months or so. The do fit the typical juvenile patterning for clarkii.

clarkii

 

[traveller7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6613451#post6613451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DMK
is this normal when clowns are in process of pairing up and 1 becoming dominant?

Yes. Expect little reminders to be given to the subordinate for many months, even many years. It varies by fish and species, but is a "normal" behavior.

 

[DMK]

so a nipped fin here and there on smaller maroon is normal? large 1 is flawleess.

 

[traveller7]

Until a pair becomes "pair bonded" yes, and even on occasion later when the female "believes" it is necessary. This is fairly common in multiple clown species, not just maroons.