Female from mated Percula Clownfish pair acting oddly

KarenLR75 · 06/05/2018, 06:26 PM

We bought these as a 'mated' pair from an LFS. They exhibited different signs of mated behavior in the year since we've had them but since they often hide out in the back/left side of the tank behind the rocks, we've never been able to see any eggs and even if they have done it, there is every chance that the eggs would be eaten by them or other fish.

We added some more rock work as we have a slightly territorial aggressive white tail bristletooth tang. He and our blue throat trigger would go at it (tang instigated) but the trigger would usually swim off and simply yield to him. The trigger got along with all of the other fish and seemed to turn the other cheek (no pun intended). As some of you know our trigger ended up mysteriously dead with no wounds whatsoever.

In preparation for POSSIBLY getting another trigger (a larger one), we added more rock work. The female of the mated percula clown has started hanging out apart from the male (she is SIGNIFICANTLY larger) but my husband said she also has a slight wound. If the male & female were closer in size, I'd wonder if the male was somehow...challenging her (i.e. wanting to do some sort of dominance challenge?)....

The tang isn't chasing her in any obvious way but has taken a pass or two at her....this tang was SUPPOSED to be the least aggressive out of the tang families.

Any thoughts on even if hurt by the tang, why the female clown is staying away from the male?

Anemone · 06/05/2018, 07:59 PM

They're allowed to spend time apart. SHe may have just decided she likes a different place to hang out (with the new/moved rockwork), and he hasn't decided to follow yet. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Kevin

Sugar Magnolia · 06/05/2018, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anemone

They're allowed to spend time apart. SHe may have just decided she likes a different place to hang out (with the new/moved rockwork), and he hasn't decided to follow yet. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Kevin

Yep, when you add new rock work it disrupts the established inhabitants behavior. Give it time, they'll find each other again.

06/05/2018, 06:26 PM	#1
KarenLR75 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 140	Female from mated Percula Clownfish pair acting oddly We bought these as a 'mated' pair from an LFS. They exhibited different signs of mated behavior in the year since we've had them but since they often hide out in the back/left side of the tank behind the rocks, we've never been able to see any eggs and even if they have done it, there is every chance that the eggs would be eaten by them or other fish. We added some more rock work as we have a slightly territorial aggressive white tail bristletooth tang. He and our blue throat trigger would go at it (tang instigated) but the trigger would usually swim off and simply yield to him. The trigger got along with all of the other fish and seemed to turn the other cheek (no pun intended). As some of you know our trigger ended up mysteriously dead with no wounds whatsoever. In preparation for POSSIBLY getting another trigger (a larger one), we added more rock work. The female of the mated percula clown has started hanging out apart from the male (she is SIGNIFICANTLY larger) but my husband said she also has a slight wound. If the male & female were closer in size, I'd wonder if the male was somehow...challenging her (i.e. wanting to do some sort of dominance challenge?).... The tang isn't chasing her in any obvious way but has taken a pass or two at her....this tang was SUPPOSED to be the least aggressive out of the tang families. Any thoughts on even if hurt by the tang, why the female clown is staying away from the male?

06/05/2018, 07:59 PM	#2
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	They're allowed to spend time apart. SHe may have just decided she likes a different place to hang out (with the new/moved rockwork), and he hasn't decided to follow yet. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s