Also pairing clowns

ken55 · 02/27/2012, 05:30 PM

Reading the other thread raised some questions of my own but I didn't want to highjack their thread.

How can you tell a male from female while they are at lfs. I was thinking about getting two for my setup. Once in the past I purchased two from the same tank at lfs and everything fine for about a month. Then one suddenly beat the other to death. I asked lfs about it and they told me about the juvenile to adult sex changes and about the dominate female issues.

This go around I was hoping to get two adults so I wouldn't have to worry about this so much but that still leaves the issue of accidently picking out two females.

I was thinking about Maroon clowns. The yellow bands indicate an older mature fish, correct? I may be wrong about that.

Thanks, Ken.

P.s. 55g (when it's ready)

Agu · 02/27/2012, 06:28 PM

Most common clowns are captive propagated and available as immature males. When the sex change happens there's aggression but the female killing the male isn't common. Most LFS won't have mature pairs, and if they do you'll pay a premium, and even that option is questionable.

I'd suggest checking for a local club forum or Craigslist for someone getting out of the hobby to get a truly mated pair.

ken55 · 02/27/2012, 06:43 PM

Umm, not quite sure if "mated pair" is exactly what I'm after. I have no intentions of trying to breed them. I would just like two that get along (as well as can be expected).

I have heard (not on RC) that the maroons are more agressive than some of the other Clowns but I can't seem to resist that color pattern. Would it be better if I just got one large one and left it at that? I think I just answered my own question :-)

Babybrown1249 · 02/27/2012, 06:55 PM

You can definately get a pair of them just get them young and make sure to feed them well and there should not be too much of an aggression issue. I know I will get someone who yells at me but I have 5 clowns in the same tank 2 pairs and a single juvie and they will only show aggression if they have not been fed in a while.

captrad · 02/27/2012, 09:31 PM

maroons are alot different then most other clowns. from what i have read it is get one leave in tank it will turn female then try smaller fish and attempt to find a pairing. being ready to pull and return the males that she can not get along with.

Ron Reefman · 02/28/2012, 06:25 AM

Maroons, like tomato and cinnamon clowns are more agressive. If you want 2 in your tank, they are going to end up being a mated pair or they will be 1 alive and 1 dead (if you start with 2 females). I have 3 clowns in my nem tank. A cinnamon female and a tomato male that have mated up and are living in one anemone. I had 2 immature clowns (cinnamon and tomato) but they were getting harassed by the female and in time the tomato ended up trying it's hand at tile surfing and died. The juvenile cinnamon stays in a different anemone and has survived quite well with the mated pair for over a year now. They even all eat together when I feed. So it can work, but it's a crap shoot. BTW, the juvenile has stayed considerably smaller than even the male of the mated pair.

OodleyBoodely · 02/28/2012, 06:44 AM

If you want to attempt to pair up two buy a large one about 3" or more and a very small one about 1". Add to your tank together or add the small one first. Make sure there are lots of hiding places so the little one can get away from the larger one. There will be some squabbling at first, but, as long as the small one can retreat to safty, it should not last too long before they getting along.

jeff@zina.com · 02/28/2012, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken55

How can you tell a male from female while they are at lfs.

The female lays the eggs, the male fertilizes them. There is not outward sexual dimophism (identification) that you can spot. Ask the LFS for a pair.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken55

I was thinking about Maroon clowns. The yellow bands indicate an older mature fish, correct?

The yellow bands indicate that the band is yellow, that's all. Older fish will generally be bigger. But that's not a guarantee either.

Jeff

02/27/2012, 05:30 PM	#1
ken55 A wing and a prayer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SoChes Posts: 635	Also pairing clowns Reading the other thread raised some questions of my own but I didn't want to highjack their thread. How can you tell a male from female while they are at lfs. I was thinking about getting two for my setup. Once in the past I purchased two from the same tank at lfs and everything fine for about a month. Then one suddenly beat the other to death. I asked lfs about it and they told me about the juvenile to adult sex changes and about the dominate female issues. This go around I was hoping to get two adults so I wouldn't have to worry about this so much but that still leaves the issue of accidently picking out two females. I was thinking about Maroon clowns. The yellow bands indicate an older mature fish, correct? I may be wrong about that. Thanks, Ken. P.s. 55g (when it's ready)

02/27/2012, 06:28 PM	#2
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Most common clowns are captive propagated and available as immature males. When the sex change happens there's aggression but the female killing the male isn't common. Most LFS won't have mature pairs, and if they do you'll pay a premium, and even that option is questionable. I'd suggest checking for a local club forum or Craigslist for someone getting out of the hobby to get a truly mated pair. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

02/28/2012, 06:25 AM	#6
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Maroons, like tomato and cinnamon clowns are more agressive. If you want 2 in your tank, they are going to end up being a mated pair or they will be 1 alive and 1 dead (if you start with 2 females). I have 3 clowns in my nem tank. A cinnamon female and a tomato male that have mated up and are living in one anemone. I had 2 immature clowns (cinnamon and tomato) but they were getting harassed by the female and in time the tomato ended up trying it's hand at tile surfing and died. The juvenile cinnamon stays in a different anemone and has survived quite well with the mated pair for over a year now. They even all eat together when I feed. So it can work, but it's a crap shoot. BTW, the juvenile has stayed considerably smaller than even the male of the mated pair. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

02/28/2012, 06:44 AM	#7
OodleyBoodely Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Azle, Tx Posts: 754	If you want to attempt to pair up two buy a large one about 3" or more and a very small one about 1". Add to your tank together or add the small one first. Make sure there are lots of hiding places so the little one can get away from the larger one. There will be some squabbling at first, but, as long as the small one can retreat to safty, it should not last too long before they getting along. __________________ 37gal w/LED lighting with cement/oystershell/perlite background, DSB, 20l sump with 30lbs lr, biopellets in reactor, Reef Octo skimmer, 1 pajama cardinal No corals at this time. -

02/27/2012, 06:43 PM	#3
ken55 A wing and a prayer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SoChes Posts: 635	Umm, not quite sure if "mated pair" is exactly what I'm after. I have no intentions of trying to breed them. I would just like two that get along (as well as can be expected). I have heard (not on RC) that the maroons are more agressive than some of the other Clowns but I can't seem to resist that color pattern. Would it be better if I just got one large one and left it at that? I think I just answered my own question :-)

02/27/2012, 06:55 PM	#4
Babybrown1249 USAF Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Guam Posts: 217	You can definately get a pair of them just get them young and make sure to feed them well and there should not be too much of an aggression issue. I know I will get someone who yells at me but I have 5 clowns in the same tank 2 pairs and a single juvie and they will only show aggression if they have not been fed in a while.

02/27/2012, 09:31 PM	#5
captrad Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: irwin, PA Posts: 63	maroons are alot different then most other clowns. from what i have read it is get one leave in tank it will turn female then try smaller fish and attempt to find a pairing. being ready to pull and return the males that she can not get along with.