Inter-species clownfish pairing in captivity

[Navyblue]

We know that in the wild sometimes it happens when their distribution overlaps.

I wonder how many of you have inter-species clownfish pairing in captivity? I don't hang out here much so I don't really know the latest "trend". I Googled it and there isn't seem to be much discussion on this.

I think I might have paired an ocellaris with an perideraion.

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I didn't plan to do this. I had the ocellaris for almost 10 years. Its mate died recently, and I replace it with another. At the same time I got a pair of perideraion. Unfortunately, I didn't seem to have good specimens. The larger perideraion and the new ocellaris died soon after purchase (they initially ate, but stopped eating and wasted away, I prazied the later but it was too late). So rather than seek replacement, I thought I might as well give it a shot. I have way too many orange fishes any way.

I intended the perideraion for my 120G, I introduced it into the 18G where the ocellaris is. Initial reaction of the ocellaris is ambivalence. The perideraion would hang out outside the ocellaris' cave and follow it around. After a while I suppose the ocellaris had too much and would chase the perideraion away when it got too close, but there is never any damage done. It took a while, it seems that they now sleep together, but not in the ocellaris' cave. Though throughout the process I've never seen the perideraion did the submission dance.

I don't know if this is related, but before they sleep together. The perideraion did this when light is off. It looks like it had ich or something, but not quite that kind of flashing.

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Of course it is still too early to tell if they would get along, and long term success remains to be seen. I would like to hear more experience/anecdotes on this.

 

[shifty51008]

you mean like all these?

http://www.ibluewater.com/clownfish-pairs-haute-couture-pairings.html

 

[Navyblue]

Something like that.

But that is a commercial entity specializing in "rare stuffs". Why isn't this discussed or done at home more often? I imagine this isn't as hard as getting a moorish idol to eat prepared food or keeping dendronepthya alive, yet there are discussion on those. Of course, there may be discussion that I am not aware of, which is why I am asking.

 

[phender]

Here is a thread that starts out talking about inter-species pairs. It starts to deviate near the end of the first page, but is still an interesting read.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2147292&highlight=mixed+pairs

My experiences are covered in that thread, so I won't bother posting them here.

Edit: Here are the results of a search I did. Some of these will be helpful and some won't.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/search.php?searchid=9649179

 

[Navyblue]

Thanks Phil, interesting read regarding the thielei and the leucokranos.

On the second link it says: "Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms". What is the keyword that you searched?

Thanks.

 

[dalilgriffith]

A. Theillei is thought to be a mix of occelaris & an orange skunk. So, I'd love to see the hybrid.

 

[phender]

Thanks Phil, interesting read regarding the thielei and the leucokranos.

On the second link it says: "Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms". What is the keyword that you searched?

Thanks.

Sorry, I went to the advanced search function and used "mixed pairs" in the keyword slot and "phender" in the user name slot.

I used my name because I usually comment on most the mixed pairs threads and I thought it would make the search results more manageable.

 

[Navyblue]

Thanks Phender.

Now my almost 10 year old ocellaris, is for some reason, keeps hiding in its cave and not eating. That is how its mate perished about a month ago. The perideraion is in the cave full time too, but seems a little more willing to get out and eat.

It would be a tragedy if I lose the occelaris. There is otherwise no other external signs of anomaly. This isn't seem to be mating related behavior. Other fishes in the same system (but not in the same tank) are fine. What is going on here?