Pairing up Clown Fish

[tikireefer]

Ok.....let me just start by saying that I have done a bunch of reading on this before I sat down to ask the forum this question. I have a yellow striped maroon clown fish that has been in my tank for about 2.5 - 3 years. She is the only fish in a 46gal. Reef tank and I would like to find a mate for her....but I realize that it might be very challenging. I was wondering if anyone as tried this and could give me some good pointers.

I did read the article about clownfish and anemones in the "new to the hobby forum" and I was thinking about starting with the authors suggestions which is:

Buy a small yellow striped clown before it has reached sexually maturity, put it in a container that will protect it but will allow water flow, introduce it to the tank.......and see how the female that I already have reacts to the new one.

Let me know if you have any ideas that could help me have success with the difficult challenge.

 

[pyroskennels]

All i can say is good luck. Also post on the clownfish forum. This is the hardest clown to pair off and the best way to do it is to get 2 babies or very young ones at the same time. I have a maroon and yellow and tried bying a little baby to pair up with her. It took one day and the baby was dead. Best of luck.

 

[HartfordWhalers]

Yeah, its best to buy them in pairs, but you can try and buy a small one that hasnt changed its sexuality yet. Try putting it in slowly let it go in slow. I was also told once to take out the other clownfish. Then rearrange the rock work. Put the new fish in let him find hidding spots give him an hour, then put back in the older clownfish into the new landsaping

 

[Louisb]

I have had a female percula in my tank for about 6 months. I went over to Rod's place and just had to get one of his Onyx clowns. I had talked to him about my percula because the one I have is one mean SOB. Every time I put my hand in the tank I get bit non stop and wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to lose a $50 fish. Rod and I both agreed that if I got one small enough that everything should be fine. Guess what, no issues what-so-ever. Introduced him into the tank and the baby Onyx went straight for the Anemone. The Percula went after him a couple of times, but nothing like it does to anything else that come near the Anemone. I knew right away that it was going to be fine. That was about a month ago and they have been paired ever since. I think the key is just to make sure you get a small enough one where there the resident clown isn't threatened.

 

[pyroskennels]

The only problem is the maroon and yellow is known to be the meanest clownfish. And known to be the hardest to pair up. Pls check the anenome and clownfish forum where the experts hang out.