We lost one, doc.

[BHF]

So, my wife was kind enough to feed the fish before she went out to work today, but in her rush, she forgot to close the hood to the tank.

I think we all know where this is going, don't we?

So, my male false perc went carpet surfing, and is now swimming in the big reef in the sky.

After a few phone calls, I have one friend telling me that adding another (small) clown shouldn't be a major issue in my understocked 90gal, and another advising against that all together.

What the conventional wisdom here?

 

[reefman13]

You will be absolutely fine in this situation. I have a WC (surprisingly) really peaceful female clownfish, and when I bought a B&W as a mate for her, he died and I added another, and she accepted him like a new member of the family within seconds!

I say go ahead and get another!

 

[hexedagain]

I agree that you should be fine to add a smaller clown.
Just watch them for the first few days.

 

[ScubaDiver93]

Same thing happened to me today. My female took a walk on the wild side and died. I added a new one and they are barely fighting. Id say if your going to sooner rather than later so the other doesnt get territorial.

 

[ReefNeck]

Yes, You should have no trouble introducing another small false perc at all.

Sorry for your loss.

I had a very unusual experience 3 weeks ago with a large Female Gold Strip Maroon. I have had her for 2 years by herself and decided I wanted her to have a "friend". I have many clown pairs including GSM's and I know/have heard how difficult it can be to pair up GSM's without her killing the smaller one.

I bought an acrylic "breeder Box" with a lid on it and drilled it full of holes. I put the new guy inside and put it into the tank (After acclimating) right beside her and her anemone with a small rock on top. I figured she would be all upset and try biting the box to get to the little guy but she basically ignored the box and just looked at the newcomer like she wanted him to come out and play. I still waited. The next day since she still showed ZERO signs of aggression toward him I let him out. To my sheer and utter surprise he went straight into the anemone, She followed. They "wagged" at each other several times and to this day live happily together in their anemone as Fish & Wife with no fighting ever at all!

Boy was I surprised.

 

[ScubaDiver93]

That happened with the one i just added. They were "cuddling" when the new one was in the bag and the other was in the tank. I was SO happy!