nemo clown died -- do I need to replace it??

pitmindi

New member
Hi, I had 2 clownfish (nemo) but a week or so ago one disappeared. The remaining one seems skittish, scarred to eat, staying on top, etc. I think it is getting somewhat bullied by my male anthias (I have a pair) and by the dwarf angel. I also have a wrasse and a mandarin (7 total) in my 90 gallon reef tank. What do you all think? Is it necessary to have 2? If so, should I get another tank bred and what size? Mine is about 10 months old and isnt full grown. I got the pair when they were the size of a nickel. Thanks for any help
 
The one you have will become female, I think, and any one you get next will become a male. Clowns do that. It's not necessary to have 2. They can get quite pushy, even percs, who are the gentlest clowns. They're quiet, not as likely to kill the next clown in [maroons are a real problem in that regard]. You could start a new one in quarantine, but does the one left have an anemone? They really need someplace to be, a 'nest' of sorts, be it a nem or a coral; and given the behavior of the anthias, I'm real suspicious about the fate of the other perc.
 
I dont have a anemone but the one who disappeared was very friendly with my elegance coral. I think that might be what happened...maybe it are my clownfish.. I have many frogspawn and hammers but the close is tank bred and not a 1st generation so he/she doesnt use a substitute anemone. Would a 2nd clown make him/her feel safer???
 
I'm sure this is covered here somewhere else , but my situation is somewhat similar. I have a Ocellaris clown that is about 4 years old. About two years ago it lost it's larger (female?) mate, she simply disappeared with no trace ever found. The two were originally bought young and were quite happy together.

The surviving fish has not grown much larger since it has been alone. If I understand the sex change thing, he is now a she?

Can I get a new smaller Ocellaris Clown? Would he / she appeciate the company? He is quite energetic and always eager to eat even if he is an old man.
 
Can I get a new smaller Ocellaris Clown? Would he / she appeciate the company? He is quite energetic and always eager to eat even if he is an old man.

Folks, were anthropomorphizing here. Can you pair your lone clown up by introducing a smaller companion? Yes. "Appreciate" the company? Who knows. A single clown can live quite well in our tanks.

Also, a 4 year old clown really isn't "old." Ten years is getting up there, but there are reposrts of clowns living close to twenty years in captivity.

Kevin
 
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