clown fish

heathlindner25 · 07/03/2012, 09:35 AM

okay so I have 1 clownfish and I just added another 1 this week, will they pair up or do they have to pick their mate? basically if I put together will they naturally pair? any advice would be great ps. the clown I add it only has 1 eye would that matter in the selection process

thegrun · 07/03/2012, 09:43 AM

They need to pick their mate. It helps if the newer fish is smaller than the first (which may be a female or in the process of becoming one), but there is certainly no guarantee that any two fish will mate. Depending upon the size of your tank they may fight, possibly to the death.

thegrun · 07/03/2012, 09:44 AM

I've tried dimming the lights and playing Barry White music in the past with limited success.

heathlindner25 · 07/03/2012, 10:00 AM

funny, the new clown was just a hair bigger than the original. I didn't even notice he had 1 eye until I got homeI

Sport507 · 07/03/2012, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

I've tried dimming the lights and playing Barry White music in the past with limited success.

LMAO it never worked for me either but great minds think a like.

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathlindner25

funny, the new clown was just a hair bigger than the original. I didn't even notice he had 1 eye until I got homeI

It's totally up to you but I think I would probably take the clown back and get one the 2 eyes.

heathlindner25 · 07/03/2012, 10:10 AM

nah ,he's becoming my favorite, I love the underdogs

fishgate · 07/03/2012, 10:42 AM

They should have fought by now. They usually start the moment they see each other. Mine fought between the bag while it was acclimating. They paired up within 15 minutes of being together and haven't fought since.

Sport507 · 07/03/2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishgate

They should have fought by now. They usually start the moment they see each other. Mine fought between the bag while it was acclimating. They paired up within 15 minutes of being together and haven't fought since.

I raise clownfish and what you described can happen but it’s not necessarily a standard. There are many variables with this guys like tank size hiding places, temperment of the fish etc. Most likely though, at some point they will lock horns to establish dominance.

heathlindner25 · 07/03/2012, 11:57 AM

that's kind of why I got a slightly larger 1, I figured the smaller 1 in the tank was already at home, they haven't really got into ityet, sometimes they look at each other just start twitching

rovster · 07/03/2012, 01:55 PM

I'm glad you asked this. I also want to add a clown. Mine is getting big and I was under the impression you always want to add a smaller one so he can bow to her royal highness, queen of the tank, LOL!

Sport507 · 07/03/2012, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rovster

I'm glad you asked this. I also want to add a clown. Mine is getting big and I was under the impression you always want to add a smaller one so he can bow to her royal highness, queen of the tank, LOL!

Well put and her highness shall rule with an iron fist until they become lovers. Just make sure when you add a smaller one that it’s not the dominate fish/female from a "pair" of clowns. Once they become a female they can’t change to male but if they’re already a male the can switch to female.

07/03/2012, 09:35 AM	#1
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	clown fish okay so I have 1 clownfish and I just added another 1 this week, will they pair up or do they have to pick their mate? basically if I put together will they naturally pair? any advice would be great ps. the clown I add it only has 1 eye would that matter in the selection process

07/03/2012, 10:42 AM	#7
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	They should have fought by now. They usually start the moment they see each other. Mine fought between the bag while it was acclimating. They paired up within 15 minutes of being together and haven't fought since. __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

07/03/2012, 09:43 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	They need to pick their mate. It helps if the newer fish is smaller than the first (which may be a female or in the process of becoming one), but there is certainly no guarantee that any two fish will mate. Depending upon the size of your tank they may fight, possibly to the death.

07/03/2012, 09:44 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I've tried dimming the lights and playing Barry White music in the past with limited success.

07/03/2012, 10:00 AM	#4
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	funny, the new clown was just a hair bigger than the original. I didn't even notice he had 1 eye until I got homeI

07/03/2012, 10:10 AM	#6
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	nah ,he's becoming my favorite, I love the underdogs

07/03/2012, 11:57 AM	#9
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	that's kind of why I got a slightly larger 1, I figured the smaller 1 in the tank was already at home, they haven't really got into ityet, sometimes they look at each other just start twitching

07/03/2012, 01:55 PM	#10
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 7,518	I'm glad you asked this. I also want to add a clown. Mine is getting big and I was under the impression you always want to add a smaller one so he can bow to her royal highness, queen of the tank, LOL!