Is this mating behavior?

[frankpayne32]

I recently introduced a new clownfish to my tank that had a long term resident and this was the first meeting of the two. It really seems like courtship behavior to me but I have no experience pairing clownfish. In any event, after this initial display they now stick very close together and show no aggression. Please let me know what you think.

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[Paul B]

Yes it is but they seem too young. Eventually, if you feed them right, one will become male and one female. Then the female will develop eggs and they can spawn.
You should feed them meaty, oily foods if you want them to spawn like blackworms.

 

[frankpayne32]

Yes it is but they seem too young. Eventually, if you feed them right, one will become male and one female. Then the female will develop eggs and they can spawn.
You should feed them meaty, oily foods if you want them to spawn like blackworms.

Thanks for the reply Paul. I know the smaller one is still young but I assumed the larger was mature. I've never seen an occellaris larger and it is at least three years old. At what age would it be considered mature?

 

[jt_milstead]

To start you have an Occelaris, and a Percula.The bigger Occelaris is ****ed that there is another clown in his/her territory......

 

[frankpayne32]

To start you have an Occelaris, and a Percula.The bigger Occelaris is ****ed that there is another clown in his/her territory......

I am aware that the larger is an occelaris and the smaller is a percula. From what I understand they are known to hybridize. I've seen my occelaris act aggressively towards other new fish and that was not how it looked. But, again, I am no expert. Does anyone else believe this to be aggressive behavior? If my original clown was upset to begin with it certainly isn't now as they are inseparable.

 

[Paul B]

At 3 years it should be able to spawn but it is still young. It also does not look agressive to me, they can get very agressive especially towards clowns they feel are different and not breeding worthy.
When they get agressive they bite and chase each other away.

 

[April_Sherwood]

Looks like your original clown was just letting the other know that she's the boss and giving him his pecking order. Does he shake under her? That's his sign of showing her he's being submissive and that he sees her as the dominant one. All normal stuff. It's great that they are swimming around together and pairing up. I'm betting within the next 6 - 8 months you'll be seeing some eggs. : ) GL

 

[frankpayne32]

At 3 years it should be able to spawn but it is still young. It also does not look agressive to me, they can get very agressive especially towards clowns they feel are different and not breeding worthy.
When they get agressive they bite and chase each other away.

Thanks Paul that is what I thought.

 

[frankpayne32]

Looks like your original clown was just letting the other know that she's the boss and giving him his pecking order. Does he shake under her? That's his sign of showing her he's being submissive and that he sees her as the dominant one. All normal stuff. It's great that they are swimming around together and pairing up. I'm betting within the next 6 - 8 months you'll be seeing some eggs. : ) GL

Yes he did shake under her (it looked so to me). That is encouraging news, thanks!