Will the male grow?
- Thread starter SDguy
- Start date
Sorry, I should have provided more info
They were not purchased as juvi's. The female is large. The male was smallish, but continues to grow. I understand the usual dynamics of most clowns in captivity (my male perc remains 1/2 the size of the female, even though I've had them for several years, and they've been breeding for half of that time).If you've ever seen pairs of clarkii complex clowns pictured in the wild, they are usually relatively equal in size. I'm wondering if this will happen in captivity, eventually. They are wild caught clowns.
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davocean
Active member
I bet even the wild pairs there is a difference in size that would be more noticeable up close.
I've had 3 pair of clarki's over the years, but before I knew the difference between WC or tank bred, so I'm not sure what they were as that goes, but each one the female was always larger.
My sebae and LTA tank started w/ clarki's same size, female outgrew male.
This has been my exp w/ every type of clown I've had.
The only clowns I've had that stayed fairly close to same size were skunks, but even then the female was slightly larger.
I've had 3 pair of clarki's over the years, but before I knew the difference between WC or tank bred, so I'm not sure what they were as that goes, but each one the female was always larger.
My sebae and LTA tank started w/ clarki's same size, female outgrew male.
This has been my exp w/ every type of clown I've had.
The only clowns I've had that stayed fairly close to same size were skunks, but even then the female was slightly larger.
Did all start as juvi/evenly sized pairs, as the one you mentioned?
This is why I'm asking the question. I didn't go through the whole process of buying two babies, watch them fight and establish dominance, etc. I started with a pair (large 4" female, and smaller male). There was no establishing of dominance going on. Now the male is growing larger, so I'm wondering if it will continue....
Not at all. The male developed more black than the female, so that design is already out the window
I was just wondering if anyone had experience with long term pairs that were purchased as wild caught pairs (not sure if this is even a factor in what is going on). All my experience with clowns has been like yours, starting with two small, same sized individuals, and ending up with one growing larger (female). However, I've never experienced the male suddenly growing after a couple years together, hence the question.
davocean
Active member
My last maroon pair started w/ a very large female, and tiny male, but diff species, and I didn't have them more than 2 years.
Your tanks have seem to have those rare unusal exceptions though(you're still the only guy I know w/ 2 clown pairs long term) so who knows for sure?
Your tanks have seem to have those rare unusal exceptions though(you're still the only guy I know w/ 2 clown pairs long term) so who knows for sure?
jt_milstead
New member
Peter how many times a day do you feed?If i remember you fed a lot to keep up with your anthias. I wonder if that has anything to with being able to keep two different clown pairs long term....
The clarkiis are in their own tank.
But yes, JT I do feed a lot. The clarkiis came back from David M with the male super pinched in the forehead. So I've been feeding VERY heavy to get it back into tip top shape. I assumed, however, that more than just food intake played a factor in the size of the male... hmmm, maybe not? Interesting idea, JT.
But yes, JT I do feed a lot. The clarkiis came back from David M with the male super pinched in the forehead. So I've been feeding VERY heavy to get it back into tip top shape. I assumed, however, that more than just food intake played a factor in the size of the male... hmmm, maybe not? Interesting idea, JT.
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Costa reefing
New member
I have a similar case to your but with percs. I had a WC female then purchased a juvie captive bred picasso a couple of months ago. The female was about 3 times larger than the male when i initially purchased them. At first i didn't feed as often as i would have liked to because i was in the process of moving out of the country but once i settled down i was able to dedicate more time to them and feed home made food several times a day. The male started having a growth spurt and is now only about 1cm shorter than her, his growth has slowed down but still seems to be growing a little bit, im not really sure though. So although it may not get as large as your female i suppose its a possibility it may get somewhere near as big
Yes, correct. The skunks deserve their own thread... divorced for about a year :lol:
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
I had my pair for 10+ years, when I sold them the male was still pretty close to the size of the female -- there wasn't the size difference that I have seen with; pink skunks, GSM, saddlebacks and percs.
Not the best picture, but shows the size difference (( or lack there of )) male on the left.
Not the best picture, but shows the size difference (( or lack there of )) male on the left.
The percs continue to spawn regularly on the right side of the tank. The skunks live on the left side, but have yet to spawn. Apparently they reconciled
In all seriousness, I think most would agree that if two pairs of clowns are going to get along in the same tank, it'll probably be these two species.
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