Question about fish size/pairs

[SDguy]

Specifically, about clarkii type clowns. I've always seen wild pairs be VERY similar in size. I currently have a pair of allardi, where the female is growing by leaps and bounds, but the male is still tiny. So, how does this work? Does the female completely mature first, and then the male will slowly grow as well? My percs in my reef are several years old, and breed, but the male is less than half the size of the female. I'd prefer to not have this "look" with my allardi... but is there anything I can do?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Back when I had my Clarkii pair there was very little difference b/t the male and female -- as far as size goes. I had had them for 10+ years and they were pretty much always the same size. Did notice that the last 6-12 months that I had them the female was starting to be bigger. (( sold them because was sick of their digging, ticked off my anemone ))

Here is one of the last pictures I have of them --- the female is on the right.

 

[SDguy]

How big were they when you bought them?

 

[Toddrtrex]

How big were they when you bought them?

Oh man, that was a long time ago -- my memory isn't all that good anymore.

But, they were pretty small, maybe an inch and a half -- if that, there were/are tank raised.

 

[davocean]

This has been my exp w/ every clown pair I've had.
Even when you get them close to same size, the female is going to badger the male, and this seems to stunt their growth somehow, even though I swear they eat the same amount.
My picassos were hard to guess which was bigger at purchase they were so close, now the female is almost twice as big.
My clarks did the same.
The only clowns I've had that stayed similar were my skunks.

 

[SDguy]

My question isn't which will be bigger, or if the female will get bigger...

My question is if the male will also get close to the size of the female, after being tiny, comparatively?

 

[Toddrtrex]

My question isn't which will be bigger, or if the female will get bigger...

My question is if the male will also get close to the size of the female, after being tiny, comparatively?

Hmm, that I can't answer, since both of mine started off at the same size.

 

[davocean]

Yeah, that was my point as well, the male has always remained much smaller even years later, even though they were similar when young.
My exp the males usually don't get bigger than about 3/4 the size of the female.