Will clowns eventually pair

D

dnguyen1

Will work for fish
I have two clowns that were bought when they were young I think one started to become female. But the female one now is getting crazy aggressive against the smaller clown. Chases it everytime the small one is in open space. Doesn't catch it but can tell from coloration the smaller one is stressed and hides.

The smaller one still eats voraciously when it's eating time... will this subside or will the small one eventually die??

Thanks guys


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Keep an eye on them. Just because there are two doesn't guarantee you they will pair up and when they start fighting, things can go from bad to worse very quickly. If you see any damage occurring to the smaller one, I'd suggest separating them immediately.

If you want a pair...it's best to add 3 small clowns at one time, wait for a pair to form and then remove the third one before the bonded pair kills it.
 
Mmm, I would not add 3 clowns...

Be patient, this is pretty typical of bonding process, as long as there is not excessive fin tearing, and both are eating, let it take it's course.
 
davocean said:
I understood, regardless not a very good way to pair clowns, one will most likely suffer this way.
Click to expand...

How is that any different than the one that is getting picked on right now?

That is why I said to remove the third one once he has an established pair. There is a better chance of a peaceful co-habitating pair when you start with three small clowns than there is with two.
 
j.falk said:
How is that any different than the one that is getting picked on right now?

That is why I said to remove the third one once he has an established pair. There is a better chance of a peaceful co-habitating pair when you start with three small clowns than there is with two.
Click to expand...

Well first off, like I said, it's pretty typical bonding behavior for the dominant clown to establish dominance in this manner, chasing, badgering the weaker till it submits, usually doing the twitch.

People do add more than a pair sometimes, usually a group from the same clutch for a harem, that can work, but even then there can be bickering, but the aggression is spread around.

3 is probably the worst number of clowns to add because 2 will most likely pair off and the 3rd wheel is going to be taking all the abuse that comes w/ that, and it could even be killed before you could catch it or pull it from tank.
 
davocean said:
3 is probably the worst number of clowns to add because 2 will most likely pair off and the 3rd wheel is going to be taking all the abuse that comes w/ that, and it could even be killed before you could catch it or pull it from tank.
Click to expand...

Then we'll have to agree to disagree because I've never had any issues building pairs out of groups of three. It's usually pretty obvious which two of the three will become a pair and once that is established I pull the third one out and take it back to the local fish store. Never had any fish losses doing it this way either...but to each their own. I was simply offering the OP a suggestion based on my experiences.
 
Well, you don't have to take my word, post this theory in the anemone forum where I and many other long time anemone keepers hang out reading the majority of experiences over the years.

Who buys fish planning to take one back, especially after getting beat on, knowing it's going to be beat on?

And who wants to jack up their tank chasing after and trying to catch that fish?

Sorry, it's just not a practical or responsible method, and I have to say that for any other new to hobby people that may be reading.
 
davocean said:
Who buys fish planning to take one back, especially after getting beat on, knowing it's going to be beat on?

And who wants to jack up their tank chasing after and trying to catch that fish?
Click to expand...

I do and I've never had any issues with the pair beating up the third clown. Why? Because I only keep them together long enough for them to pair up as they are raised together in a bare bottom quarantine tank. It's very easy to figure out which two are going to end up being the compatible pair if growing them up from babies.

Just because you have a certain way of doing something doesn't make other people's methods wrong if the end result is still the same.
 
davocean said:
Well first off, like I said, it's pretty typical bonding behavior for the dominant clown to establish dominance in this manner, chasing, badgering the weaker till it submits, usually doing the twitch.
Click to expand...

Not to fuel this bickering but I agree with this.

From my experience, 3 clowns results in 1 usually dying.
 
Oh so many ways to do this and no guarantee they pair, unless you buy an existing pair, then no guarantee one is not kicked out way down the road, but this is not the rule of course.

When I do get a request for a pair, I try to reduce the risk of my fish of not pairing by
-adding 1, 1/2" to 3/4" male or sexually immature of the same species and colouration
To a known female, which has been on its own for about 10-12 weeks, and is in the 1-1/2-2" range.
-this Allows for a good chance of immediate pairing, but if not, separate and introduce in 48 hours, wait, separate one more time, otherwise returned to the LFS, for another.
-I have done three before, one loses out always, but in the end does work. Should take long to know....

Just let them sort it out, they will!

P.S. An clown that's not female will turn female if it's the only clown after a few months.
 
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