Need ocellaris experts help

[MMM33732]

So Ive had an ocellaris for about 4-5 months. Its been hosting a BTA for a while now and all is good. I wanted to add a second, so I bought another ocellaris today. Sadly they both ended up being the exact same size once I put them next to each other. The tank they are in is only a 55, so the first one is being pretty aggressive and territorial towards the newbie. I expected a little aggressiveness, but he kept trying to bite his tail fin. So I decided to take the new one out and put it in the fuge for now until I figure out a way to make the pair better. I was thinking perhaps Id take the old one out and put him in the fuge as well to let them both mingle together in a new environment where this is no territory yet?? Or maybe put the old one in the fuge for a few days and the new one in the main tank then put them together in the main tank. I dont know. Advise please....

 

[MMM33732]

Anybody?

 

[Titus77]

Just move the rocks around in your showtank completely. Thats all you need to do. Move the rocks around. If your anemone is happy where he is currently at, leave it there, but if it moves often, move it too. Just never pull an anemone off of anything because it destroys their foot. Hope this helps!

 

[MMM33732]

So you're saying re-aquascape to make the clowns pair? Why would I move the anemone exactly? To make take away the old clowns territory?

 

[Titus77]

This makes the clowns (or any fish for that matter) get confused of where it is, so it makes a new territory "somewhere else". Then, it is just like putting both clowns into the refugium, except you dont have to even touch the fish. It should calm down the aggressiveness of the original clown too.

 

[MMM33732]

Good stuff. I actually just put them both into the fuge a little while ago. I'll move the anemone (its on a piece thats very easy to move) to the other side of the tank. I figure I'll leave them both in the fuge for a few hours then put them both back into the display.

 

[Titus77]

Yah...thats a good idea. Keep me posted on how it goes!

 

[MMM33732]

Do you think I should add them back to the display together at the same time or the new one first for a little while, followed by the older one a few min later to a half hour?

 

[Titus77]

I would try the newer one first, then the old one.

 

[MMM33732]

About how long apart you think? New guy is in now. I was thinking I'd wait 'til he found the BTA or a half hour... what ever came first...

 

[Titus77]

Now is good.

 

[MMM33732]

And in he goes...

 

[Titus77]

How are they?

 

[MMM33732]

Old guy started beating up new guy again pretty bad. I ended up taking old guy back out and leaving new guy in. I'll put old guy back in tomorrow morning once new guy has had some time to adjust more.

 

[Titus77]

Alright. And if the old guy doesnt leave the newer one alone, return the old one and get a new, smaller one.

 

[reefman13]

I have to say this is the same kind of behavior that my W/C true perc female gave to a small unsexed male that I added, and she nearly dragged him around the whole tank backwards, or at least until I stopped her (BTW this can if done very consistently will suffocate a fish).

It is a behavioral thing, some do it more than others, and some species more than others. IME I have had an opposite experiance then the books and DFS say, my Ocellaris was the most docile character filled fish I have ever owned, and all that my true perc is, is a big fat meanie that likes to just bite me.

 

[MMM33732]

So you think I should return the old one and get another new one? I'd have to talk to the LFS owner since the new one is misbanded and the old one has normal stripes. The old one is still in the fuge for now. I'll put him in later today and see how it goes this time. The new guy still hasn't touched the BTA even thought he's the only clown in there.

 

[Seadogs]

I read an artical once that stated that the female in a pair had gotten really aggressive towards the male. So, he separated them for awhile and kept the male with the anemone. After a while, he re-introduced them and the male took the place of the female and the female became the male and both were calm. It was in a Marine and Reef magazine.
I don't know if this helps, but I thought I'd share.

 

[MMM33732]

Odd, I didn't know females could switch back to male. Any suggestions on how long I should keep them apart?

 

[Seadogs]

I can check the article and see how long he had them apart. Actually, part of the main point of the article was that the female did switch back. I would imagine that if nature causes them to change from male to female in case of the female's demise, that it would also make it to where they can change back should the need arise.