Percula Pairing help

[redwingrob40]

I just recently added a juvi perc to my tank, to replace an occelaris that I had to get rid of because she and my picasso perc were not getting along. I picked up little guy up six weeks ago and after his QT, I added him to the DT two days ago. The DT is a standard 55.

The problem I am having is that the existing picasso perc who is hosting an RBTA and the new little guy spend all of their time at opposite ends of the tank when the lights are on. When the lights are out the little guy sleeps next to the overflow right above the RBTA. The picasso who has been in the tank for a year and a half and is approx 2-2.5 inches has explored to the small guys part of the tank a few times and has chased after him pretty aggressively. But other than that they dont have very much interaction and needless to say they stay on their respective sides of the tank.

Is there any way (safe) to get these guys together and see if they are compatible? QT is set up so I could move them over to that, it's a 20 gallon long with some pvc and that's it?

Or I could give them some more time and see what happens?

Or I could try and get little guy in a specimen container or similar and put near the RBTA?

Please any thoughts or advice from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation would be appreciated.

 

[sparky45]

I would give them some more time. If you put them in the your qt tank make sure you watch them close and have a net ready to save the little guy if the female gets to aggressive.

 

[c2g174]

i agree with the last comment, only time will tell my clowns are a mated pair and the female pushes the male out of the nem everynight so the male sleep above the nem.

 

[redwingrob40]

I would give them some more time. If you put them in the your qt tank make sure you watch them close and have a net ready to save the little guy if the female gets to aggressive.

Thanks that is what I was thinking if I do to that route. Was thinking maybe I would try the specimen container near the rbta first.... It just seems if they are 4 ft apart they will never get together....

 

[rssjsb]

Just leave them alone. The new guy has only been in your tank for two days. He's still scoping things out. What are you thinking of doing with the specimen container?

 

[redwingrob40]

Put the little guy in the specimen container near the host nem.
I had read that that is a way to pair clowns so that the existing clown can get used to the new fish, but cannot do damage by actually being able to get at him...

 

[BlueFyre]

I worry a bit that the new clown was by himself in QT for 6 weeks, he could be on his way to turning female himself.

 

[FTDelta]

I just recently added a juvi perc to my tank, to replace an occelaris that I had to get rid of because she and my picasso perc were not getting along.

Here's the problem most folks tend to overlook. You say you added a juvi perc to replace an OCELLERIS that you had to get rid of because she and your picasso PERC were not getting along.

You mixed 2 different species of clownfish in same tank. That's why your picasso perc didn't get along with your ocelleris clown. Never mix clownfish species in same tank.

 

[redwingrob40]

I worry a bit that the new clown was by himself in QT for 6 weeks, he could be on his way to turning female himself.

Do you really think that they change that quickly? I know if they are left alone they will turn female, but I thought (and I could be wrong) they turn when they are sexually mature which is around the 12 month point.

Here's the problem most folks tend to overlook. You say you added a juvi perc to replace an OCELLERIS that you had to get rid of because she and your picasso PERC were not getting along.

You mixed 2 different species of clownfish in same tank. That's why your picasso perc didn't get along with your ocelleris clown. Never mix clownfish species in same tank.

I believe (and I could be wrong again), that occelaris and percula are the exception to this rule. I know I have read there are a lot of people that have mixed perc/occy pairs.