All
I have a mixed reef 120 gallons. Tank is populated by 7 fish at this time. One of my main objectives with this reef was to have a pair of Maroon Clowns hosted by a BTA. I am very very far from my "LFS"...136 miles one way. It is decent shop of mostly fresh water tanks, some birds and reptiles. Maybe 5 tanks salt water. A good owner but livestock is fairly expensive with limited selection.
I ordered a mated pair of Maroon Clowns and a GBT Anemone from a California Mail Order operation. Got a medium sized female and a small male. They were beautiful specimens and appeared healthy. I acclimated them to a small QT,gave them a fresh water dip and placed them in the tank. The pair, shipped in separate bags, immediately reunited. They were truly a mated pair. Both ate immediately and all was good for two days. I kept my chemistry within acceptable parameters with daily small water changes. Temps btw 77-78f Ammonia, NO2 showing a trace, no NO3. SP 1.024-1.025. Very low light. Moderate current from a HOB filter and a small powerhead. PVC for hiding. Bare bottom and no other tankmates.
After 3 days I planned to use Paraguard treatment for 7 days but had not started when I noticed in the evening of the 3rd day the larger female was not well with a couple of spots of a white film- mucus? on the body. Fins clamped. I did a 30 minute dip bath with paraguard and returned her to the QT tank. The smaller male showed no signs of trouble. The female seems to feel better. Before work the next day I did another paraguard dip and went to work. I added an airstone to the QT. I also did a water change and lowered SP to 1.020 and then added Paraquard to the QT at Seachem's dosage instructions.
I have some experience with velvet and ich and it didn't look like either. There also some redness on the female's body along with more mucus patches. I ordered cooper, antibiotics and a couple of other remedies. I suspected Brook and knew the male would soon develop the same symptoms.
I had to go on a business trip for 2 days. That night my wife called and said the female had passed away the male still looked fine. She did a 50% water change and renewed the paraguard. The retailer promptly credited my card with 1/2 of the mated pair price. I don't know what killed this fish. If it had been Brook, I am sure the male would have contracted it as well
The male survived and flourished the next 4 weeks in QT. I also treated him serially with Prazi and a fresh dip. He is now in the DT and is hosted by the GBT Anemone purchased at the same time.
Here is my question. Sorry for such a long winded explanation. The little male is already showing some growth. I still want a pair of Clowns hosted by an anemone. As I see it my choices are:
1. Purchase a medium size replacement hoping its a female and hope for the best. Can I be certain a medium sized Maroon is a female? How long will it take to my little male to turn?
2. Purchase a small Maroon hoping it is a male and let the fish sort out the sexual maturity thing. Same questions as above.
3. Sell/ give the little male to that "local" LFS 136 miles away. They would probably take him but then I would feel pushed to purchase a pair ordered by the LFS and would have to take whatever came into the store. I could stay strong and just order another pair from the online retailer. They have already offered to keep the next pair in a observation tank and watch the pair for a couple of weeks before shipping.
4. Get another pair and another BT- possibly red this time and hope everyone gets along....yeah right....I have a 120 not a 1200 gallon set up. The small single male could go into the refugium until I found a home for him. I do not know any serious reefers in this oil boom town.
I have read several threads regarding clown pairing especially the part how difficult Maroon Clowns can be. So I am asking for help expecially from anyone
with experience with Maroon pairs.
Thanks
RJ Allen
I have a mixed reef 120 gallons. Tank is populated by 7 fish at this time. One of my main objectives with this reef was to have a pair of Maroon Clowns hosted by a BTA. I am very very far from my "LFS"...136 miles one way. It is decent shop of mostly fresh water tanks, some birds and reptiles. Maybe 5 tanks salt water. A good owner but livestock is fairly expensive with limited selection.
I ordered a mated pair of Maroon Clowns and a GBT Anemone from a California Mail Order operation. Got a medium sized female and a small male. They were beautiful specimens and appeared healthy. I acclimated them to a small QT,gave them a fresh water dip and placed them in the tank. The pair, shipped in separate bags, immediately reunited. They were truly a mated pair. Both ate immediately and all was good for two days. I kept my chemistry within acceptable parameters with daily small water changes. Temps btw 77-78f Ammonia, NO2 showing a trace, no NO3. SP 1.024-1.025. Very low light. Moderate current from a HOB filter and a small powerhead. PVC for hiding. Bare bottom and no other tankmates.
After 3 days I planned to use Paraguard treatment for 7 days but had not started when I noticed in the evening of the 3rd day the larger female was not well with a couple of spots of a white film- mucus? on the body. Fins clamped. I did a 30 minute dip bath with paraguard and returned her to the QT tank. The smaller male showed no signs of trouble. The female seems to feel better. Before work the next day I did another paraguard dip and went to work. I added an airstone to the QT. I also did a water change and lowered SP to 1.020 and then added Paraquard to the QT at Seachem's dosage instructions.
I have some experience with velvet and ich and it didn't look like either. There also some redness on the female's body along with more mucus patches. I ordered cooper, antibiotics and a couple of other remedies. I suspected Brook and knew the male would soon develop the same symptoms.
I had to go on a business trip for 2 days. That night my wife called and said the female had passed away the male still looked fine. She did a 50% water change and renewed the paraguard. The retailer promptly credited my card with 1/2 of the mated pair price. I don't know what killed this fish. If it had been Brook, I am sure the male would have contracted it as well
The male survived and flourished the next 4 weeks in QT. I also treated him serially with Prazi and a fresh dip. He is now in the DT and is hosted by the GBT Anemone purchased at the same time.
Here is my question. Sorry for such a long winded explanation. The little male is already showing some growth. I still want a pair of Clowns hosted by an anemone. As I see it my choices are:
1. Purchase a medium size replacement hoping its a female and hope for the best. Can I be certain a medium sized Maroon is a female? How long will it take to my little male to turn?
2. Purchase a small Maroon hoping it is a male and let the fish sort out the sexual maturity thing. Same questions as above.
3. Sell/ give the little male to that "local" LFS 136 miles away. They would probably take him but then I would feel pushed to purchase a pair ordered by the LFS and would have to take whatever came into the store. I could stay strong and just order another pair from the online retailer. They have already offered to keep the next pair in a observation tank and watch the pair for a couple of weeks before shipping.
4. Get another pair and another BT- possibly red this time and hope everyone gets along....yeah right....I have a 120 not a 1200 gallon set up. The small single male could go into the refugium until I found a home for him. I do not know any serious reefers in this oil boom town.
I have read several threads regarding clown pairing especially the part how difficult Maroon Clowns can be. So I am asking for help expecially from anyone
with experience with Maroon pairs.
Thanks
RJ Allen
