Replacing Clownfish

[jeffltodd]

I have/had 2 Australian Black Clarkiis. The female just died (all water params tested and good).

When replacing a female, should I get larger than male, OR smaller than make with expectation that make will now assume female role, OR does it even matter?

Please advise - I have a very sad child that tells me if we don't get another clownfish, this one will die of a broken heart.

 

[Xavibear]

Get a smaller fish.

 

[SwampyBill]

+1 on getting smaller fish. Good luck getting them to become a bonded pair!

 

[jeffltodd]

Is that good luck like "good luck", or is it good luck like, "it's never gonna happen?"

 

[SwampyBill]

No shade here...absolutely meant good luck in the best sense. How big is the female?

 

[jeffltodd]

The female was about 3.5" and male about 1.5-2". I need to find time to make a run to my LFS to have them order.

I was really bummed. I've had them since January and they just started hosting my RBTA about 10 days ago. Like I said, water is good and everyone was happy - except Kole Tang who was looking kind of lonely since the female didn't want to "hang out" with him anymore and spent more time in and behind the RBTA. So in the last 3 days I added a cleaner shrimp and the Tang was really jazzed and hung out with the shrimp getting all primped.
When adding the shrimp, I was careful to acclimate and notice H2O.

I guess it's just one of those things. I've had losses, but usually you see them coming through behavior or appearance. This one threw me.

 

[jeffltodd]

*notice = not mix
Auto correction on an iphone

 

[jeffltodd]

Pic of my clowns a couple days before loss of female (left).

 

[SwampyBill]

DANG!! For some reason I can never see pix in tapatalk. I'd suggest you get the smallest juvie you can find--no more than an inch, preferably from a clutch all in one tank where there's more a chance it hasn't changed to female yet. Yea, it's rough losing these tiny animals in our care. I was a mess after losing my favorite 5 wrasses & blood shrimp pair after a stoopid mistake on my part.
On a different note, how do you like the Jebao wp25 wavemaker & Photon48? I'm thinking of getting those when my system's back online.

 

[Mark9]

DANG!! For some reason I can never see pix in tapatalk.

I can't either, UNLESS I click the "quote" button like I'm going to respond, then it magically appears.
Click back to get out of reply mode.

 

[jeffltodd]

DANG!! For some reason I can never see pix in tapatalk. I'd suggest you get the smallest juvie you can find--no more than an inch, preferably from a clutch all in one tank where there's more a chance it hasn't changed to female yet. Yea, it's rough losing these tiny animals in our care. I was a mess after losing my favorite 5 wrasses & blood shrimp pair after a stoopid mistake on my part.
On a different note, how do you like the Jebao wp25 wavemaker & Photon48? I'm thinking of getting those when my system's back online.

I love both. When I started up again I went with the Photons (replacing PCs), and then decided on a real wavemaker rather than a power head shoved in the corner. Both have been excellent!