Can I add another Clown

[Branespikin]

Hi all,
I had a pair of onyx/picasso clowns juvenile 7-8 months old. This morning one jumped out and died. So question is i want to have 2 clowns. What do i do? Can i just add another clown? Does it need to be same age? Same type? Or do i sell the one and find another mated pair?
Thx
Brani

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hi all,
I had a pair of onyx/picasso clowns juvenile 7-8 months old. This morning one jumped out and died. So question is i want to have 2 clowns. What do i do? Can i just add another clown? Does it need to be same age? Same type? Or do i sell the one and find another mated pair?
Thx
Brani

You should be able to add another one no problem they may fight a little bit to create a pecking order but as long as you don't have more than two you should be okay

 

[Diesel]

Tough call.
In many cases the clown in your tank will fight off the new clown.
When it is so short time you might be lucky if you find another so soon.
How big is your tank if I may ask.

 

[pelphrey]

I had a clown jump out awhile back. After a month or so I added another clown to the tank with the existing clown, the new addition was and is still smaller. I had no issues, must be luck!

 

[Branespikin]

Tough call.
In many cases the clown in your tank will fight off the new clown.
When it is so short time you might be lucky if you find another so soon.
How big is your tank if I may ask.

I had them in my tank for only 3 weeks they just started swimming around. I have a custom mesh top but figured wont need it fir the clowns. My tank is red sea reefer 250 which is 65 gallons. 3ft tank.

 

[FLAdaboy]

Add a small one. Make sure your old one doesn't kill the new one. If you see it getting too crazy pull the old one out for awhile then put it back in. It resets them for some reason.
Not sure which one you lost. If the old one is male, he will turn into a she. The way they do that is by having another clown present to bully. In the end, the more dominant will be the female. It's usually the bigger of the two.

 

[Branespikin]

Its the bigger one that jumped so assuming female. Id say the one i have left is about an inch. Hes about 7-8 months so pretty small.

 

[leahfiish]

If the bigger one jumped it is probably safe to say that the remaining one is a male. Therefore, adding a larger Clownfish that has been solitary for a while (likely to be a female) is likely to work, or you could add a smaller one and start the pairing process again, in which case your established clown will probably become a female. However, if you cannot add a new Clownfish quickly, like within the next 2 weeks (I can't remember exactly but I thought I read somewhere that single Clownfish can transition very quickly but correct me if I'm wrong), it is possible that your Clownfish will transition to a female in which case it will be important to add a male. Two males can usually work things out, but two females will rarely work together.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Get a smaller one, preferably a juvenile. Don't try adding one the same size or larger. If you get a smaller one they will easily and quickly settle their social situation.

 

[GoPitt88]

Get a smaller one, preferably a juvenile. Don't try adding one the same size or larger. If you get a smaller one they will easily and quickly settle their social situation.

I totally agree 100%! My friend did the exact same thing when one of his clowns died. They now spawn every two weeks or so like clockwork.

 

[jsker]

Here is my story, I had purchased a pair of yellow striped maroons. They were pretty small and after couple of months one passed. I decided to add another smaller one and the female turned into an assassin. She killed two little guys. I waited for about 6 to 8 months for the female to grow and added a anemone. I figured I would try again and add another, and the pair in 10 minutes. I was amazed, now they are a happy couple.

 

[rich nyc]

I agree. I got a smaller one as you did and the dominant one still ate part of the fins but a month later they were bonded. the dominant one became female

 

[eatbreakfast]

Here is my story, I had purchased a pair of yellow striped maroons. They were pretty small and after couple of months one passed. I decided to add another smaller one and the female turned into an assassin. She killed two little guys. I waited for about 6 to 8 months for the female to grow and added a anemone. I figured I would try again and add another, and the pair in 10 minutes. I was amazed, now they are a happy couple.

But maroons are much, much more aggressive than perculas. If the op had maroons a different course of action would be suggested.

 

[Branespikin]

Thx for the info guys. Im picking up a juvenile about 3/4" a tad smaller in the next day or so and will toss him in there and see what happens. Time to get my screen back on the tank. I have the artfully acrylic top but just got so used to no top when i went fallow that I forgot clowns can jump too.

 

[Rikki Reef]

sorry for your loss, here a link,
https://www.ocellarisclownfish.com/how-to-breed-clownfish/
I am in the process of pairing up maroon golden nuggets some days good some not so good but they both picked an anemone the other day Yay

 

[jsker]

But maroons are much, much more aggressive than perculas. If the op had maroons a different course of action would be suggested.

Ture and correct perc's are less aggressive than maroons , just want to tell my story.