New Massive Maroon Clown and Pairing Success!

[FishyMel]

Today I go to my LFS and there is a massive, beautiful, 4.5 inch gold stripe misbar maroon for $40! With a price like that I couldn't let that fish go so I immediately had him bagged up and brought him home. Well, I already have a 2 inch maroon clown and I bought the new fish with the intent of selling the old one to a friend or on craigslist. I've tried on multiple occasions mixing maroons to attempt a pairing and had failed every time with the end result being 2 very beat up maroons. Well today I thought I might as well try again and today must've been my lucky day because all I can say is that right now I have two very happy gsms sleeping in an elephant ear mushroom anemone together! How unusual is this in you guys' experience to have a successful large gsm pair? From what I've heard it is pretty hard to induce pairing and my previous experience reflects that. I will post pics!

This is the largest gsm I've seen or had. My next biggest was probably 3.5 inches. This girl (im assuming this sex because she is dark and huge) is large, bulky, mean, and personable. She reminds me of an oscar. When I saw her at the lfs she was attacking and biting the reflection of herself and she would attack my hands when I held her in the bag. She is gentle with the men though She is definitely a keeper! What are the odds now that she will mate with my little boy?

 

[SidCat]

That's wonderful that they paired up!

Do you have any pictures you could share?

 

[FishyMel]

My beautiful female:
How about the goldstripes on my female? In person they are bright yellow too. It is unreal.

And my little male:

They've been building a cave all week and the female is very protective of the cave. I think they might lay eggs soon. They are very happy considering they have a a 75 for just the two of them. A copperband butterfly might be joining them soon though. I also want to buy them an anemone. Right now they are using mushrooms.

 

[FishyMel]

If I purchase a bta, how easily will they host in it? Are offspring more likely in a bta than a mushroom? Can any offspring survive if I just keep them with the parents and feed rodifers and brine shrimp? (there are no other fish besides the clowns)

 

[sixshot00]

Cool looking pair.
I had a pair of GSMs and they spawned like crazy hosting on my RBTA. Good luck.

 

[FishyMel]

Thanks! I've kept gsm's before but this is my first pair and they are in a reef instead of a FOWLR. I am pretty sure they are going to mate but I am not sure yet if I am going to be able to raise the fry. I still need to read up! It is looking like the fry can't live unless in a separate small tank. I am not so sure if I can make those accommodations.

 

[SidCat]

They are gorgeous! Thank you for posting the pictures.

 

[Jamie1210]

wow, that is a beautiful female! i've never seen gold stripes as yellow as that!

what do you mean by they're building a cave?

 

[FishyMel]

They took out all the sand from under their elephant mushroom rocks. During the day they play in the mushrooms and during the night they sleep under the mushrooms in the cave they dug out.

I am still amazed at how quickly they bonded. The were sleeping together within the first 5 minutes of adding the female and haven't split up since.