Ok - I need some advice. I've had a cute 1 1/2 in. true perc in my 24 nano. It was fine, he was hosting in an anenome, everything was GREAT. Then, I thought I'd get it a mate. I found a beautiful 2 1/2 in. true perc so I bought it. Both percs liked each other. The little guy wanted to coax the bigger one into his anenome to share, but the big one didn't know anything about anenomes(being tank raised). But when he finally went in there, he won't come out AND NOW THE LITTLE ONE IS FORCED INTO A CORNER and won't come out except to feed. Any advice? I feel really bad for the little one - he seems so sad now. What should I do - if anything? Pls. help.
true percs - problem
- Thread starter YolaKola
- Start date
TOURKID
New member
How long did you have this 'little one' before you added a bigger one??
Lets say you had your lil one for 5 months. It was most likely a juvi or a male when you got it. After a clown is by itself for a period of time... they turn female. Once they are female, they will ALWAYS be female...
You added a larger clown. This larger clown will try and dominate the smaller one because it is bigger. Say this bigger one is male. It is still going to try and dominate your smaller fish and BECOME the female. But if your other fish is ALREADY female.. they will NEVER get along. and oviously wont pair up.
IF you have had this little one for a few weeks or less... It may still be a juvi or male. In this case... the larger one is showing the smaller one that its the boss, and is more dominate. Often beating up the smaller one a few times until it shows signs of submitting and letting the larger one know its ok she can be the female.
Let it ride and hopefully you'll see your smaller one submitting by doing convusion like shimmys and stuff. If they both fight n stuff... you need to take one of them back to the store and trade it in for a VERY VERY tiny juvi. ensuring that the one you have will be female and the tiny one will become male
Lets say you had your lil one for 5 months. It was most likely a juvi or a male when you got it. After a clown is by itself for a period of time... they turn female. Once they are female, they will ALWAYS be female...
You added a larger clown. This larger clown will try and dominate the smaller one because it is bigger. Say this bigger one is male. It is still going to try and dominate your smaller fish and BECOME the female. But if your other fish is ALREADY female.. they will NEVER get along. and oviously wont pair up.
IF you have had this little one for a few weeks or less... It may still be a juvi or male. In this case... the larger one is showing the smaller one that its the boss, and is more dominate. Often beating up the smaller one a few times until it shows signs of submitting and letting the larger one know its ok she can be the female.
Let it ride and hopefully you'll see your smaller one submitting by doing convusion like shimmys and stuff. If they both fight n stuff... you need to take one of them back to the store and trade it in for a VERY VERY tiny juvi. ensuring that the one you have will be female and the tiny one will become male
Yes, I've had the little one for about 6 months. So, even though they were doing "the dance" at the very beginning it took them awhile (3-4days) to figure out their sex? you think that I've got 2 females? Should I try to coax the little one out of the corner or let it be? Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll still get along eventually?
dantodd
New member
I don't think you have 2 females at this point.
It is completely normal for the dominant (bigger) fish to take over the prime realestate in the tank. Over the next few weeks/months you will probably see the small fish slowly trying to sneak back into the anemone. The bigger fish will likely keep pushing him out for a while but should eventually let him get a little closer and eventually share the anemone.
If the smaller fish is showing submissive behavior it is most likley just a matter of time before they are happily sharing a home.
It is completely normal for the dominant (bigger) fish to take over the prime realestate in the tank. Over the next few weeks/months you will probably see the small fish slowly trying to sneak back into the anemone. The bigger fish will likely keep pushing him out for a while but should eventually let him get a little closer and eventually share the anemone.
If the smaller fish is showing submissive behavior it is most likley just a matter of time before they are happily sharing a home.
catdoc
Premium Member
Are you saying that the little clown is forced into a corner of the tank and the other clown won't let it in the anemone? If they aren't fighting, I'd still think you've got a pair in the making and would watch closely.
I bought a maroon clown that had been in a tank at the LFS without another clown for 7 months. It "looked" male (it lacked the blocky, butchiness I've seen in my other females) and I have successfully paired this clown with my much larger female. They are laying viable eggs so I know for sure it's a male-female pair. I never was able to sort out why it hadn't progressed to a female after being alone for so long and nobody has been able to answer that question for me here. All I can say is that from my limited personal experience, a clown won't always become female in just a few weeks if left alone. I think that's the exception to the rule though.
I bought a maroon clown that had been in a tank at the LFS without another clown for 7 months. It "looked" male (it lacked the blocky, butchiness I've seen in my other females) and I have successfully paired this clown with my much larger female. They are laying viable eggs so I know for sure it's a male-female pair. I never was able to sort out why it hadn't progressed to a female after being alone for so long and nobody has been able to answer that question for me here. All I can say is that from my limited personal experience, a clown won't always become female in just a few weeks if left alone. I think that's the exception to the rule though.
dantodd
New member
The info I've heard suggests it takes about 6 months for a juvie to turn into a male in a natural environment. (I still can't get a copy of the thesis because it isn't published yet but Chris says I'll get a copy when it is) There must be some other time frame for the transition to female. So, assuming it was a total juvie when it went into the tank it would just barely be growing into a male right now. Based on the size I suspect that to be the case. I also don't believe (personal opinion only) that a lack of other clowns really speeds up the sex change.
Also, I would expect the fish to have a growth spurt when it becomes female which the fish in question doesn't appear to have done.
Finally he backed down from the new clown.
thanks everyone for your opinions.and shared thoughts. I kind of think that Dantodd might be onto something since the fish are not fighting, it simply looks like the little one is in "times-out" in his corner - it does come out to eat & swim occassionally. Sometimes the big one swims over to check him out if he's still there. So maybe, given time they'll be OK. Thanks everyone for sharing info, although I will be monitoring their behavior just in case.
cotter4601
New member
According to the clownfish FAQ once they sort out which one will be dominant they will go through a phase were the dominiant one will kick the other out. This is to make sure the submissive one, or male, know who's boss. Like everyone else said slowly the male will be 'allowed' back in. I have two clowns at home that are fairly young and they are just starting to pair up. Very interesting to see.
TOURKID
New member
Ok that makes sence. Please share the thesis when you get it
Ive always wanted to know the specific time frame of juvi to male, male to female.... actually.. Im DIEING to know. lol
Id definatly say feebee is female. But she never went thru a growth spurt. She did change color pretty rapidly after I added the juvi though.
cotter... its SUPER interesting my juvi is aloud in the nem, has been aloud since day three. but its funny to watch them. my female will randomly dart at the juvi and he'll start dancing and kissing her cheeks, then all is normal agian. its like shes just checking lol I see it alot at night too.
Ive always wanted to know the specific time frame of juvi to male, male to female.... actually.. Im DIEING to know. lol
Id definatly say feebee is female. But she never went thru a growth spurt. She did change color pretty rapidly after I added the juvi though.
cotter... its SUPER interesting
my juvi is aloud in the nem, has been aloud since day three. but its funny to watch them. my female will randomly dart at the juvi and he'll start dancing and kissing her cheeks, then all is normal agian. its like shes just checking lol I see it alot at night too.