sexing clownfish gone afrye

[bluefunelement]

So I read till my eyes bled on how to sex them and pair them - I bought a relatively mature pair from the same tank holding their own and looking kinda pair-ish from an LFS rather then pick from the small frye... one is a 2.25" Ocellaris and the other is 1.5-1.75" misbar Ocellaris or possibly a Perc (gotta get him/her to stay still long enough to count the dorsal spines)

So even though I went out of my way to print and tape to the glass the pairing article clearly they are too lazy (more latter) to read it and choose what they want to do - it's been just shy of a month and they've exhibited the following behavior since day one:
-sleeping side by side
-staying around the same host (the overflow slots)
-chasing each other in circles with the smaller one giving in usually
- the smaller more submissive in feeding (sneaking out to grab food when she's not looking)
-occasional front stand offs usually leading to the smaller one acting like he's been taser'd
-"Don't Taser Me, Dude!" - just had to slip that in
- and now for the first time I've seen the bigger one biting the pectoral fin of the smaller

Why have they not read the article, chosen a sex, and join forces against the tyranny of the Green Chromis instead of all this amphomorphic crap?

Oh and the smaller one (considered a male unless someone thinks I have 2 females) is sooo lazy.... how lazy you ask? - Well he's a zombie sleeper and just lays deadstill sucked against the overflow slots the whole night - can't even lift a fin since half of them are in the overflow - I gotta learn to sleep upside against the AC like that in summer

 

[Arati]

lol.

It sounds to me like you got exactly what you wanted. A new pair of clownfish. I cant think of a single person who met a girl started dating and went right to getting married without a fight. or some running around and a fight

It sounds to me like the fish haven't yet chosen a territory in the tank. There behavior is totaly normal although you have to watch the fin nipping doesnt get to bad. pectoral fins are the first to go, its not a great sign but a heck of alot better then jaws locked.

The shake the male does is him submitting. It may take awhile before he learns to submit to her standards. she may even show him a few times and shake herself. Some males become pro shakers I have one thinks he is James Brown..

Clowns are verry visual fish they will eventualy move down and choose a spot to call home. for now they are playin it safe staying near the door. dont think they dont know exactly how to get into that overflow. its instinctual....really. many of them will sleep stuck to an overflow or behind a powerhead.

That my friend is why they call em' Clownfish they are just wierd little fish...

Enjoy and good luck
Chris

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

The 'taser' dance sounds like a submissive move to me. Ive seen three pair of "almost pair" clowns do this. Two of those pairs formed up, the third never did and eventually fought constantly.

These fish really are like humans...

 

[bluefunelement]

Yeah - I have a hammer coral on their side of the tank with a you'd be home now sign on it - if they don't pair lesson learned and I'll trade out the larger female to a good home and let the smaller misbar grow into a female over several months then chance it with a ~1.5" smaller male from a community tank

And "Ash" - yeah the taser dance is my take on their submissive dance. Nice name - my favorite line - "Then let's head on down into that cellar and carve ourselves a witch."