I already feel bad

[mr.maroonsalty]

My maroon clown "Salty" has been a HUGE pita. I just fished her out with #7 tippet and a #20 nymph hook baited with the slightest smidgen of shrimp, and tossed her in the sump. A little back ground: this fish came to me as the only fish in my original purchase of a complete nano system back in 03. I always thought it would be a very sad day when I this fish passed, but over the last year this fish has become the reason for much profanity by its choosing a coral to be its whipping boy and not leaving it alone no matter where I move it. I don't buy coral very often and try to never pay more than $40 for a piece (most are $15 or $20 frags) well I splurged buying a few polyps of magicians, and she made them the source of whatever frustration she is having. Now I don't know if I've done the right thing. The polyps have taken a real beating; when the rock the polyps are on is wedged so she can't flip it she takes to them with her teeth, but this clown has been through everything with me and I would feel awful if she jumped from the very small fuge she's in. I know about the only lesson I can teach a fish is how to become hook shy.

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

She's back in the mt; I couldn't live with myself the 30 min she was suffering in the sump. Eight years is worth more than a $50 coral. Now to decide what to do; I have an option, but its not one I wanted exploring.

 

[aquadonkey]

This thread makes me smile - I'm glad you put her back in
You can always put your fancy coral in a different tank!

 

[toddmh]

maybe get her a male to beat up on My maroons never leave each others side and never leave their rbta..My male puts up with a lot from her lol,but they love each other..

 

[Conesus_Kid]

If you do decide to get her a male, be very careful! Make sure you acquire the absolute smallest specimen possible so that the established female won't see it as a threat. If you get one that's too close in size, she'll kill him post haste.

***Disclaimer: Even purchasing a teeny tiny little maroon is not a guarantee that she'll accept him. Pairing an established Premnas biaculeatus is sticky business; not like any of the Amphiprion species.

Good luck!

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

That has been a thought; I know how tough they are suppose to be to get to pair up. I do have a local source for a captive bred baby, and have a good idea how to try acclimating them together. What has kept me from going that route is I'm told that she will likely become very territorial, and that might not be the best thing in my small space.

 

[amazo]

what a cool looking clown

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

That has been a thought; I know how tough they are suppose to be to get to pair up. I do have a local source for a captive bred baby, and have a good idea how to try acclimating them together. What has kept me from going that route is I'm told that she will likely become very territorial, and that might not be the best thing in my small space.

Any time in the past when I've been trying to pair an aggressive established female clown with a new mate, I've put the new clown in a large clear plastic deli container with lots of holes drilled in it. This keeps the fish physically separated but still allows you to judge their attitude towards each other. And it makes removal of the new clown easy if it turns out they don't like each other.

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

That's how I would do it.

I have other options:

This tank has been in this state for nearly two years! It sits where I sooo want a 250dd. I can't get myself to kill off or sell the awesome show size pieces of rock in it. There are a few pieces of higher end used equipment around at garage sale prices that could really put this tank on track. I could make this an anemone tank, or move my corals into it; in a year I'll outgrow my 40. The problem is now I have a tank where my grail tank needs to go, but worst I'm again taking care of two tanks something I learned I don't like doing unless I could plumb them together. Having kept fish most my life there are other tanks to choose from. One is a beautiful acrylic 40.

 

[superkat]

I like that Salty has an owner that puts this much heart into her well being.