sexing Pink Skunks

[jmack]

I have had a Pink Skunk in my 120 for 2 years...it's really large now so I assume it's a female?? I just got another Pink Skunk..very young so will this one turn into a male? Or will it stay sexless? They have their own anemones and don't associate that much but they're not aggressive to each other either. I was trying to get a mate for the first clown but I'm wondering if I waited too late?

 

[heap]

i don't think you waited too long - if the second clown is substantially smaller than the 2 year old, it's your best chance for getting a mated pair.

there's no guarantees..but i've had a 100% batting average by taking a large female and a juvenile at least half her size and putting them in a 10g tank for a few months. they may well take to each other in the larger tank, but at least by my experience, if you limit them to a smaller area, they're more likely to take to each other quickly.

 

[RightWinger210]

I think clownfish turn into females even if there isn't any clownfish around, it must the be the dominance thing. By adding a smaller, younger pink skunk, the big one will def. turn into a female and the small one into a male, if they pair up, which should be very likely.

 

[Slakker]

Clownfish are kept male/ungendered by the presence of a female. In the absence of a female, the lone clown will become female to fill the void. Adding a smaller male or ungendered juvenile is the ONLY way to get a pair in this case.

Also, IMO it's not a great idea to put them into a smaller tank. If any severe fighting breaks out, there's not enough space for the victim to have any chance of fleeing, and its death will come quick.

Edit: Forgot to say just give it time. They'll start pairing up sooner or later. They each know the other is there, so just be patient and wait it out for a while

 

[adtravels]

male pink skunks often have an whitish orange edge to their tail (top and bottom)and the base of the dorsalfin (soft part).

 

[phender]

If your female will not accept the new clown (sometimes defending their territory wins out over finding a mate), putting them both in the QT tank will usually cause them to form a bond. If the territory is new to both of them, they tend to cling together for comfort and then form a bond that will continue when they are put back in the display.

 

[jmack]

The little guy was trying to share the anemone last night but the big girl was rebuffing him..not reallly chasing just nudging him off..it was kind of cute.

 

[Slakker]

Phil - Affording that they're not fastened down in some way and that you wouldn't have any corals to harm by trying, wouldn't rearranging some of the rock near her territory have a similar affect?

 

[phender]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9804454#post9804454 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Slakker
Phil - Affording that they're not fastened down in some way and that you wouldn't have any corals to harm by trying, wouldn't rearranging some of the rock near her territory have a similar affect?

Sure, it could. I'm not a real fan of rearranging my rock though once I have them the way I like it.
I have also caught the female and floated her in the sump for a week while the male got used to the anemone and the tank. I'm about 75% with that technique.