Trying to pair clarkii's

[chillaxr6]

Ive had a clarkii in my tank for 2 weeks and has happily assimilated to life in my tank. I bought a clarkii on the weekend and added it straight to the tank which i know i shouldnt but i did. For the past 3 days the original clarkii has been terrorising the newbie. The original is maybe 3 inches long and the newbie is 1.5 inches. Silly me believed my LFS when they said it was still a juvi . . . I didnt know of using a glass container or holder for the newbie would be the way to go. Ive moved the LR around and still the original clarkii is very territorial with everything in my tank . . . it seems she opened a can of muscle up clown . . .

How long should it take for this pairing to happen???
Are clarkii's hard to pair up???
Are both clowns female and any way to test this theory???

Just noticed today that instead of being hunted totally the little one does a brief wiggle dance after the bigger one. Everything is picking on my little one atm so i hope it doesnt die from stress . . .

 

[stykthyn]

How is the pair doing now, it has been a week since the post? If the smaller one hasn't been laid to waste already things should be off to a good start. IMHO Clark's are easy to pair, at least I have never had a problem as long as the two were added around the same time. A single large female will often be very hostile towards any newcomer.

 

[graveyardworm]

I have a pair of clarkiis, both juvi's added at the same time, and the female now almost 8 months is still aggressive towards the male. Although now its more like a lover's quarrel he does his "okay dear" dance and everythings good for a minute or two. Does the smaller one of yours do a submission dance? Do you have an anemone for them to host in?

 

[chillaxr6]

sorry guys . . . i had felt too bad for the little clarkii . . . I caught them last friday night while they were sleeping at opposite ends of the 6ft tank and took them to the best LFS ive found in sydney and swapped them for a pair of cinnamon clowns. The female cinnamon now is hosting in my anemone that the big clarkii was so protective of and the little one plays around her whenever she is out of the anemone . . . The little cinnamon dude hasnt bought her chocolates or flowers so she wont let him in the anemone just yet . . . all going well but not fighting at all like the clarkii's . . .

 

[fischcrazy]

what is the submission dance?

 

[graveyardworm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6750549#post6750549 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fischcrazy
what is the submission dance?

The male swims up to the female kinda with his belly towards her, as he swims by he shakes.

 

[chillaxr6]

sometimes it looks alot like an epilectic fit on the behave of the smaller clown. Mine would shake for like 2 or 3 secs but the big clarkii wouldnt accept it . . . i waited a week and a half before i changed pairs and got my cinnamons . . . funnily enough they accept each other but i havent noticed the little juvi doing a dance yet . . . maybe he hasnt danced his way into the anemone yet . . . oh well time will tell . . . but the female has certainly made herself at home . . .