lost my female Clarki clownfish

[Isernhagen]

I had a spawning pair of clarki clownfish. I have 29 of their offspring in a grow out tank at three months age. The female suddenly died two weeks ago from Popeye. My male is now alone in the anemone.

What is the best way to have him pair up with another fish. Should I put a large most likely female in with him ASAP or should I grow out one of the juvenile offspring and put it in the tank with him or should I put an older juvenile clarki clown from my local fish shop in the tank in the hopes that my large male will transform into a she and pair up with the juvenile which will become a male?

 

[JohnLeoKnight]

Probably put a large female, you don't want to inbreed then and he definitely won't turn female willingly ime

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Probably put a large female, you don't want to inbreed then and he definitely won't turn female willingly ime

Agree with this post.

 

[OrionN]

I would put a nice clown in there. If you put in a nice clown quickly then larger or smaller does not mater. If it is going to be a month or more then I would put a smaller Clarkii in there.
If one of the babies is really nice, I put him in there. These are fish. in breed (brother to sister) or line breed (offspring to parent) is not all that important.

 

[addictedreefer]

I disagree with the willingness to inbreed. Significantly increases risk of genetic defects. Espescially with a species as commonly available as clarki, it is not worth the risk. If you see a nice large clarki I would pull the trigger now. If not, you can also add a small juvenile and let your male turn female.

 

[santanzchild]

I would put a nice clown in there. If you put in a nice clown quickly then larger or smaller does not mater. If it is going to be a month or more then I would put a smaller Clarkii in there.
If one of the babies is really nice, I put him in there. These are fish. in breed (brother to sister) or line breed (offspring to parent) is not all that important.

Isnt this the reason there is such a high cull rate with tank breed clows?

Crooked spines under bites so sever they cant eat and the like.

 

[OrionN]

Isnt this the reason there is such a high cull rate with tank breed clows?

Crooked spines under bites so sever they cant eat and the like.

If you are a breeder than you want the very best brood stock. Most people are not breeders. Most breeders know that the deformities of the tank breed clown often not having to do with genetic but more due to poor growing condition.
I used wild caught clowns and designer clowns. The more attention I paid to maintainace the better by babies are. As a breeder, I do want the best clowns that I can affort.

 

[santanzchild]

I always heard it was inbreeding trying to get specific traits that caused such a high rate of deformities but I dont breed fish on purpose so I guess water quality issues makes as much sense as anything.