Rose Skunk Clown Pairing

[Mister_Palmer]

I added a rose skunk clown today to my 90G. I wanted to get 2, but the store only had 3, all the same size.

We tried combos at the store, and none of them really got along. None would submit to the other.

So I have 1... It's like 2.5 inches big maybe. My question is, if I wait like 3-4 months or it to grow a bit, could I try to add a smaller one down the road?

Is that kind of it? One needs to be smaller to take on the opposite sex role?
Just one clown seems lonely in there. I have 6-8 other fish, but no other clown.

On the same topic, would 3-4 months yield growth vs the size it is now?
I'll assume that the size it is today is the standard the store buys

 

[rssjsb]

You should be able to add another at any time as long as the second is significantly smaller than the one you have now.

If your current clown is not already female, it will be after growing and being alone in your tank for a while. I can't remember if the tiny ones are undifferentiated or start out male, but one way or the other, it will mature as a male. I think skunks are pretty mellow, so you shouldn't have any problem with them.

 

[Mister_Palmer]

Cool, thanks.
We also tried combos of Tomato Clowns in the store and they just kept locking jaws.

The Skunks weren't that bad, but you could tell it wasn't going to work

 

[rssjsb]

Tomatos are tough.

You shouldn't have much trouble finding another skunk that's a lot smaller than 2.5", I would imagine. Good luck.

 

[velvetelvis]

I think skunks are pretty mellow, so you shouldn't have any problem with them.

Rose skunks are actually very challenging to pair, in my experience. Mine were very territorial and aggressive, much more so than the pink skunks I've kept in the past. I would get a significantly smaller clown, and try using a breeder-type container to acclimate the female to the newcomer for a few days before releasing the new fish into the tank.

I would also quarantine the new clown at first, especially if it's wild-caught. WC rose skunks are poor shippers and you don't want to risk introducing disease and/or parasites into your display tank.

 

[rssjsb]

Interesting, and good to know.