How to add second clownfish?

[savager]

I bought 2 tomato clownfish about 5 months ago. They were very small so I was hoping they will become mate couple. However, one became very aggressive and one just died couple of weeks after. Anyway, so now I only have one tomato with BTA and she is very happy and fat right now. I was wondering if it's possible to reintroduce another tomato clownfish, very small one.

Do you think it's too dangerous? Do I need some kind of tricks to make them couple?

Thanks.

 

[besl]

Is it possible to remove the one remaining clown and add this one to the new one in a QT? Give them neutral territory as well as acclimation time together - then introduce both into the display simultaneously.

 

[savager]

I don't have QT

Without QT, do you think it's impossible to do this? I don't want to jeopardize new fish knowing high percentage of failing. Hate to kill good fish because of my viewing pleasure.

 

[TOURKID]

its totally possible. but i still recommend quarentining the new fish for a few weeks first in case it has a disease you dont want it to kill the fish you already have and infect your tank

 

[phishlet]

it can be done

it can be done

I don't have tomato clowns but I just did what you are thinking of doing with my rather large ocellaris that I've had for several years. It is quite aggressive and has killed other ocellaris (both orange and the black variety) that were of similar size in a matter of days.

But a couple days ago I added a very small ocellaris from a group of ORA clowns. At the LFS it was not being aggressive toward any other clown and no other clown was being aggressive toward it. So I thought I had a chance with it not being a female for sure.

And it worked! They seem to have paired off.

 

[jyoon951]

i've got the exact same issue. i've got a tomato around 3" or more. i talked to a guy at the lfs and he said sometimes it worked if you got a really small one and put him in there, but he still didn't recommend it. if you decide to try it, let us know how it goes. thanks.

 

[stykthyn]

add the smallest one you can find

 

[dantodd]

exactly as phishlet and tourkid suggested.

Add very small fish after proper QT and things should go well. If the new fish is too beaten up. Which means nearly dead gaping on the surface. Pull him out and let him recover in the QT and then reintorduce with a specimen container as in tourkid's active thread about maroon pairing.

Also, read the pairing document in the Clownfish & Anemone FAQ at the top of this forum.