how long can I wait?

[Riona]

I've got one clown in my recycled tank. >.< I got her from petco last week after my nitrates/nitrites/ammonia readings were all at 0. She's one of their "percula clown "amphiron ocellaris" types(still dunno how that works out ). She's probably around an inch, and swims everywhere already, and has even started begging a wee bit. I've got a little perc on hold at my local store also. Pretty sure it'll be a male since the other clown in there is always bullying it. This one is a lot littler(a bit bigger than the current clowns body, inluding fins.), and has been at the store for a few weeks(so I know it is healthy). The guy at my store(though he doesn't know I've got one clown already) is suggesting I wait for close to another week to add a fish to the tank. If I wait that long will the clowns still be okay, or would they be really unlikely to chum up since the current one has been in there for a couple of extra weeks?

 

[Random Aquarist]

If you have the right conditions, I don't see why you can't add it yet, unless the LFS guy is still quarantining it.

Also, I'd try to figure out what type of clown you have now. They might pair up, even if you have an occelaris, but I'd still check just so you know if the babies'll be percs or hybrids.

 

[redvipe2010]

I recommend getting in the habit of using a quarantine of 30 days before you add anything to your main display. Doesn't have to be fancy.

 

[rogart]

If you have a quarantine tank any two clowns of the same species will pal up at first with a few acceptions when introduced to a new enviroment at the same time. Once one is established regardless of gender it will defend it (at least in most cases unless it is love at first sight). After a couple days in a QT tank you can put them back where one has had ownership, at least after they have determined their heirarchy. Then the gender role will carry precident.

 

[rogart]

Although best practice is to quarantine any new fish for at least a month.

 

[Riona]

Oh. That's why I was happy that they'd had this one there for a while. At least a few weeks before my tank went down, and it's been healthy the entire time. And in with no sick/new fish.

I can't seem to get a pic of the current clown(she's too excitable and starts to run about begging when I get close with my camera. And just got fed a 3rd time today as a result>_> spoiled rotten I tell you. . .), but I think she's an ocellaris. She's got the thin bands of black and has a black ring around her eyes. Versus the one at the store which has thick black lines and an orange rim around his eyes. I'll try again on pics later.