Added new pair to 210g system

[DeniseAndy]

Well, I have a nice mating pair of ocellaris (snowflake and mocha) with a bta in the 210. My bonded pair of blackfoots (A. nigripes) have been in a while and finally usually use the lta as a home base. Tonight I added my bonded pair of clarkiis.

Okay, I prepped for this. I had an acclimation cage all made and finalizes. I put it in the tank, added the nem and rock and then the fish. All were in and ready to go. I planned on using the acclimation until they were comfy.

Well as best laid plans do go, my male escaped. How? My fault. I did not get it into the sandbed enough. I should have enclosed the whole thing, but when removing it I wanted to lift it out. Bad call.

So, anyway, I removed it. Within maybe 2 minutes, the female found her way back to the nem. Smart girl. The male wondered too close to my breeding pair with a new clutch. Oops, took a beating, but left quick. Now hiding. Hope he finds his way to her. She was looking for him.

Now the fun begins between the skunk and clarkii. Both pretty good size femals. I have had the skunk about 3yrs and clarkii 2yrs. I got them as babies. I took video of the meeting. It was moonlights only, so not great quality, but watch the whole thing and see the fun these two have had so far. I think it will all be fine in a day or so.

I did feed heavily to break the tension.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Well after a rough night. I had to remove the femal clarkii. She went looking for her mate and left the nem. female skunk, my mated pair of ocellaris, and my darn blackmouth gave her such a hard time. She was better in the sump. Poor baby.

Problem now is the male is nowhere to be found. I hope he appears soon.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

It's hard to add another pair of any clowns to a tank with an established pair .I tried that in a 240 gallon tank that was 8' long.They would fight if they could see each other.There was about 13 Rbtas spread through out the tank.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I found the male and now they are once again in the sump much happier. I have two established pairs in there now. This was an experiment to add a third. The biggest problem was the escape from the box. I think if I trap them in the box long enough for others to get used to them and not going in territory, could work. I just need to build a better box. I may be a larger nem for them too. Maybe a carpet.

So far my two pairs do just fine. My tank is 7' long and one is on one side and the other on the other. The problem seems to be the skunks have not settles to one area or nem yet. The female likes the nem, the leather, the new nem, and the entire side of the tank.

If need be, I will set the clarkiis up in the sump. It is large enough for a carpet and them. My perc pair are good in the 40g.