how to pair maroons?
- Thread starter Mel-E-Mel
- Start date
90% of what I've read says to add one that's significantly smaller. Maroons from what I understand are the hardest clowns to pair. I know there's a good article somewhere. Check out the stickies in this forum. I'm having my LFS hold a juvenile maroon for me, so I'm going to be trying the same thing next week. Here's a synopsis of what I read says about pairing maroons:
Like I said, the second maroon should be significantly smaller. I can't remember how much smaller, but I'd say about half the size of the one you have now. That's to make it less likely that the newcomer will submit to the established clown sooner. Next, you'll want to keep the two fish separated, but in a way they can see each other. There are probably a couple ways you can do this. If you can put your quarantine tank up next to your main tank, that may work and have the added bonus of getting the two fish used to each other and accomplishing the quarantine in one fell swoop. My plan is to put the new guy in a hang in breeder tank I made for just the occasion. It'll be pretty close to the female's anemone, so they'll get plenty of exposure to each other. After a couple weeks of this, release the smaller fish into the main tank. You can probably expect some fighting still, but if the smaller fish starts getting hurt too badly, put him back in the breeder/QT. I couldn't tell you for certain exactly how badly is too badly, but from what I've heard, you can expect some minor fin damage. These guys heal pretty quickly. If all goes well, great. If not, try it a couple more times, separating them for another 1-2 weeks each time. If they're still not getting along, you're probably out of luck.
Hope that helps a little. I'm sure there are plenty of people with actual experience who can talk about what they did. There are all sorts of different methods, but this one sounds to me like it would have the greatest chance of success.
Like I said, the second maroon should be significantly smaller. I can't remember how much smaller, but I'd say about half the size of the one you have now. That's to make it less likely that the newcomer will submit to the established clown sooner. Next, you'll want to keep the two fish separated, but in a way they can see each other. There are probably a couple ways you can do this. If you can put your quarantine tank up next to your main tank, that may work and have the added bonus of getting the two fish used to each other and accomplishing the quarantine in one fell swoop. My plan is to put the new guy in a hang in breeder tank I made for just the occasion. It'll be pretty close to the female's anemone, so they'll get plenty of exposure to each other. After a couple weeks of this, release the smaller fish into the main tank. You can probably expect some fighting still, but if the smaller fish starts getting hurt too badly, put him back in the breeder/QT. I couldn't tell you for certain exactly how badly is too badly, but from what I've heard, you can expect some minor fin damage. These guys heal pretty quickly. If all goes well, great. If not, try it a couple more times, separating them for another 1-2 weeks each time. If they're still not getting along, you're probably out of luck.
Hope that helps a little. I'm sure there are plenty of people with actual experience who can talk about what they did. There are all sorts of different methods, but this one sounds to me like it would have the greatest chance of success.
Mel-E-Mel
Active member
islandcrow, good info! i was gonna go about it the same way but i was gonna put the smaller clown in a specimen container fairly close to the bigger clown for a couple days so they can see each other.
(no way i can put quarintine tank near display)
i understand clowns have the ability to change sex.......my question is are they only able to change from female to male or vice versa? if the larger one i have now is a male and i get a smaller male will the larger of the 2 change to a female?
(no way i can put quarintine tank near display)
i understand clowns have the ability to change sex.......my question is are they only able to change from female to male or vice versa? if the larger one i have now is a male and i get a smaller male will the larger of the 2 change to a female?
dantodd
New member
Only male to female. If you add a new clown approx. 1" or so it should quickly submit to your existing fish. Once this happens (if they haven't already) they will start to become sexually mature. The larger/dominant one will ultimately become female and the smaller on will become the submissive male.
Maroon's are the hardest clowns to pair because the smaller clown will often not submit, this is why you want as much size difference as possible. The great size difference the more likely the little one is to submit.
There is a great FAQ on pairing premnas at the top of this forum.
Maroon's are the hardest clowns to pair because the smaller clown will often not submit, this is why you want as much size difference as possible. The great size difference the more likely the little one is to submit.
There is a great FAQ on pairing premnas at the top of this forum.
