Pairing a Clown

[FxdupCobra]

I have a maroon clown fish and I am to get my gf's as well. I wanted to know if I can tell which one is the a male or female clown? Are there any distinctions? The last thing I want is to put the little guy (2.5 inches) who has been in my gf tank for one year and my big maroon (4.5 - 5 inches) who has been in my tank for 2-3 years and have a disaster????

I also have a powder blue in the tank and a small porcupine puffer (I dont know if this will be a problem)?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[Random Aquarist]

I don't think it'll work. Chances are, both have been turned into females by being the dominant maroons in their tanks.

 

[FxdupCobra]

Thanks for the reply. What if she keeps her maroon and I get another small one. My only concern is if I get another small one (young) then he will be an inch in size where as mine is about 4.5 inches. Also, will that be a problem with my puffer would he eat the maroon. Possibilities?

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9635163#post9635163 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FxdupCobra
Thanks for the reply. What if she keeps her maroon and I get another small one. My only concern is if I get another small one (young) then he will be an inch in size where as mine is about 4.5 inches. Also, will that be a problem with my puffer would he eat the maroon. Possibilities?

cant speak for the puffer but i do reccomend getting a smaller maroon to pair it with

how to pair maroons

 

[FxdupCobra]

I went ahead and just picked up a small maroon (gold stripe) about 1-1.5 inches. Hopefully it willwork. He is in a Q-Tank right now for the next 6 weeks. Then the project begins!

 

[FxdupCobra]

I spoke with a couple of LFS's and they said that my new maroon about 1-1.5 inches is too small for my 4.5 inch maroon and that if I put him into my display she will kill him. Is this true? I was lead to believe the smaller the better because it has more of a chance of being a male.

Also, one LFS told me it might have a chance if I take my 4.5 inch maroon out of the tank for a couple of days and then introduce them together into the tank???

Any thoughts?

 

[Grunt]

I had problems with pairing maroons. I finally got a pair with a 5inch or so Female about a 2inch male. I introduced the female to the males tank. That was quite a long time ago though and I ended up losing the female, not sure why she died but it was a sad day.

I had a few other clowns both large and small which fought alot. I'd just watch them carefully. I ended up having to put the others in a breeder box to keep them seperate until I was able to find them a good home.

Cheers

 

[FxdupCobra]

Thanks for the info, any other thoughts?

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9656131#post9656131 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FxdupCobra
I spoke with a couple of LFS's and they said that my new maroon about 1-1.5 inches is too small for my 4.5 inch maroon and that if I put him into my display she will kill him. Is this true? I was lead to believe the smaller the better because it has more of a chance of being a male.

Also, one LFS told me it might have a chance if I take my 4.5 inch maroon out of the tank for a couple of days and then introduce them together into the tank???

Any thoughts?

all i can say s that there is broken logic in the response of the LFS they do not know much about pairing clowns i guress

the smaller the better for many reasons

 

[FxdupCobra]

Thanks, I will try. Do you think its better after the qtank process to take the female out of the display (if I can) and put her into the qtank and see if that will work or to put the little guy right into the display (as you recommended in your previous post?

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9661254#post9661254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FxdupCobra
Thanks, I will try. Do you think its better after the qtank process to take the female out of the display (if I can) and put her into the qtank and see if that will work or to put the little guy right into the display (as you recommended in your previous post?

i dont reccomend either actually my method employs a specimin container for them to get to know eachother. i reccomend putting the female in the specimin container for the last two days of the proccess. allowing the smaller clown to get used to the tank and letting the female watch him in the tank the whole trick is to get them used to eachother without getting close enought to fight.
hope this helps

-Nick

 

[lastresort]

GSMguy

GSMguy

I used GSMguys method and it could not have been easier.My 3" female has taken to the new 1 1/2" male.He has not even a torn fin or any signs of stress.This moring they are sharing the same anenome and following each other around the tank.
My LFS said it wouldn't work and one guy almost wouldn't sell the male to me.Sometimes you have to do the research your self and experience has alot more wieght with me than opinion.
Thanks again GSMguy.This message forum is the most valuable resourse I have found.

 

[FxdupCobra]

Ok, sounds good. I will try my best. Lets see what happens. I am just going to have a tough time catching my female

Thanks for all the info GSM & others.