mated or not mated pair

[khoaadams]

hello.
I bought (3) percula clown fish about 8 months ago. they were all very small (1"). They are all housed in one tank. one has grown to about 3 inch, the second one is about 2 inch and the third is only about 1 1/2 inch (this one has the best coloration). I am assuming the largest one turned female and the smallest one is a male. What about the third one?
Also am i to assume the largest and smallest ones are a pair now? and are they mated? If so can i remove the mid-size one because i am trying to make room for a different fish. You know what assuming makes me in this hobby so i decided to ask someone who knows.
thank you

 

[patriots81]

i think that the 2 smaller ones are males. the biggest one is most probably a female. they are most probably not a mated pair. you can remove the mid-size one

 

[Amazon4]

If they have not started spawning I would not classify any of them as a mated pair at this point.

We obtained our tank raised perculas at roughly the same size (one was a little larger to help establish one being female). It took close to two years before they became mature enough to start spawning.

You got these 8 months ago, so I think they're too young to spawn any way.

Keep the small male you prefer and you're probably going to be fine. Sounds like you have one that's turned female all ready and you should not have any dominance issues.

Just curious - do either of the smaller males shake for the female yet? That's a good sign

Good luck!

 

[Toddrtrex]

Unless they have spawned, and you have seen the eggs, they aren't a mated pair.

Generally, the largest is the female, the second larges a "sexed" male, and the smallest being an unsexed male. If it was my tank I would remove the smallest one while I can. Odds are good that once the pair starts to spawn, the smallest one will be killed. I have watched it before.

 

[khoaadams]

i have seen both of the smaller fish shake at the largest one but from lack of experience i thought it was a territorial dispute (behavior). Can you give me more info about this and i will pay more attention to them.
thank you

 

[WaffleWalffle22]

They do that when they are submissive. Also, they are definitely not a mated pair. If you think about it, the term mated pair means MATED pair and yours might not even be a bonded pair yet.

 

[tufacody]

This is largely semantics. However, I do consider a "bonded pair" a pair that WILL mate once they are mature and other environmental conditions are correct. It is very evident to see bonded pairs among clowns, however rarely do hobbyists present the ideal spawning environment. If you have an adult bonded pair that has not spawned, the better bet is that the environment is not ideal, not that they aren't a "mated" pair.

 

[khoaadams]

would a Barry White cd and red wine do the trick? thank you guys
So at this point it won't matter which of the (2) smaller ones I remove.

 

[davocean]

I would keep the smallest one you seem to like most, and the largest.