True vs False Percula Clowns

[scubasteve06]

Wow Mcosta I'm sorry to inform you, but all your posts completely contradict one another I am not going to even begin to dissect them and point out where you are wrong, and I'm sure the other regulars around here do too and don't feel like arguing with you about it and neither do I.

But to the OP's original question I have a False Perc and A. Occelaris in my tank that paired up within seconds of 'meeting' each other. They get along perfectly fine. Do not introduce two same sized clowns as they will fight until a dominance is established. Get one that it smaller than your perc you have now. Since your Perc is already the sole clown in your tank it is dominant. By adding a smaller clown it will pretty much automatically go submissive. Try to get a clown that is a lot smaller than your perc, and one that isn't already in a pair unless it is the submissive male in the pair. You could go with a black perc, false perc, true perc, A. Occelaris, or picasso clown. Basically any of the Percula or Occelaris species or sub species. Clarki's, Maroon's, and tomato's would be out of the question as they are pretty aggressive even in their own species, and especially to another species of clown. Which is the only thing mcosta posted that is true and the reason he had such problems with his perc pair and clarki in the same tank.

 

[davocean]

To answer your question and be safe, yes, absolutely you can pair an occ w/ a perc(BTW, we have no need for true or false, occs are occs, percs...)
The safest bet is to get a juvy of whatever you choose, let the one you have remain or change to female.
Intro in a floating breeder box to be safe, and it could take a couple days even for existing clown to get used to or accept new clown.
This should be done no matter if same or mixing occ or percs, and all other clowns, maroons, clarks, whatever can deny their own species, even if male/female is certain, just sometimes the female refuses certain males.

 

[davocean]

you can have 30 true percs in a tank together if it is big enough

This may be possible if clowns are from same clutch, raised together, but even then it is a gamble, and there may still be aggression issues and some losses, no matter what size tank.

 

[scubasteve06]

To answer your question and be safe, yes, absolutely you can pair an occ w/ a perc(BTW, we have no need for true or false, occs are occs, percs...)
The safest bet is to get a juvy of whatever you choose, let the one you have remain or change to female.
Intro in a floating breeder box to be safe, and it could take a couple days even for existing clown to get used to or accept new clown.
This should be done no matter if same or mixing occ or percs, and all other clowns, maroons, clarks, whatever can deny their own species, even if male/female is certain, just sometimes the female refuses certain males.

Well put, a breeder box is the best scenario for introducing any new fish especially one that will be trying to pair with another of the same species as these first interactions can sometimes become violent. I use to breed SA/CA cichlids when I first got into the fish hobby and their courtships can be downright viscous. So the little bit of shaking and twitching exhibited by my clowns when they first met was nothing IMO. There was no fighting or tail slapping or any actual physical interaction. Just posturing and shaking. Now they do it very sensually back and forth with each other as the gently rub one another. Although a breeder box is ideal, it is not completely necessary IMHO. If you see any type of real aggressive behavior after more than several hours the aggressor should be removed. IME I haven't seen the initial courtship between clowns last more than 15 minutes before they were swimming next to each other calmly and peacefully. I have only paired two sets of clowns so my experience isn't vast, but I can speak from it in my cases.

 

[Ethan_W]

don't do it, stick with the false perc.. they will fight even when they are the same species let alone a different one. You need to get a very small false perc for that one

imo you should get a male that is similar in size but slightly smaller. ive seen small clowns just get bullied a lot by bigger females

 

[scubasteve06]

imo you should get a male that is similar in size but slightly smaller. ive seen small clowns just get bullied a lot by bigger females

Yea out of the two males I have paired with my female occelaris the first A. Occelaris I got was about 1/4"-1/2" smaller than my 2" female. Now she is close to 3" and she has a 1 1/2"-1 3/4" male. The size difference is definitely noticeable, but not like a giant and an ant together.

 

[RcToners]

Food for thought,

Here is my true perc and false perc, they never fight, they love my carpet nem and are very happy.

 

[davocean]

imo you should get a male that is similar in size but slightly smaller. ive seen small clowns just get bullied a lot by bigger females

Well, this depends on the size of existing clown.
A juvy is the only way to be sure to get a male, so should be about an inch and a quarter to inch and a half, anything bigger has a risk of being female.
Like I said earlier, all males have a risk of being bullied, that is reason for breeder box intro, and male or not, it might not even accept it still, but at least in breeder box you can see safely and pull it.

 

[davocean]

This is what you want, these floating breeder boxes are like $4-5.
You can see the female checking out the male curiously, rather than attacking trying to kill it.
Male may even twitch in submission while in breeder box.
These were my maroon pair(one of the more difficult to pair up) and dime shows size difference, my female was pretty large, male as small as I've seen.

 

[scubasteve06]

Food for thought,

Here is my true perc and false perc, they never fight, they love my carpet nem and are very happy.

Yes they do look very happy RC! Lovely clowns, and even more lovely anemone! Hope they stay in love forever lol!

 

[scubasteve06]

Davocean- Are the reason that the Maroon's are so hard to pair is because they are notoriously more aggressive?