Clownfish pairing question

[efish]

I recently bought a black clownfish and it is getting abused alot by my old mature female true percula clownfish is this normal behavior and when will it stop, the black clownfish's fins are nipped alot and I'm kinda worried for him was it the right call to get one of the smallest clownfish after getting a big one?

 

[dedragon]

yes, but you should take an acclimation box (inside of the display tank) and put the female into it. This will give the male time to recover and then they can establish a relationship. After a couple of days to a week or so they will usually start doing their twitching and then you can put the female back in. This usually works but can take a few attempts so be ready to move the female back in if she gets too aggressive again and repeat the process

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

Is the black clown an Ocellaris? Does it have the same color eyes as the percula? You shouldnt mix ocellaris with percula, percs are mean fish and will continue to bully any ocellaris until theyre dead.
If they are both percula, then they might be both female.

regardless the fish need to be separated. When trying to pair clowns ensure theyre the same species, and get a male from a mixed tank of clowns at an LFS. I always have separated females, confirmed pairs and a mixed tank of unclaimed males and one female at work. The largest of the group is the female, she will be more aggressive and hold her dorsal fin higher, the males will be smaller and docile.

 

[gobybryant]

It is best to try to get the smallest clown possible when pairing with a larger, more mature clown, so you're right there. I'd get an acrylic acclimation box, so you can separate the two. Something like this here.

 

[gobybryant]

yes, but you should take an acclimation box (inside of the display tank) and put the female into it. This will give the male time to recover and then they can establish a relationship. After a couple of days to a week or so they will usually start doing their twitching and then you can put the female back in. This usually works but can take a few attempts so be ready to move the female back in if she gets too aggressive again and repeat the process

Beat me to it @dedragon lol. This is the way!

 

[dedragon]

Is the black clown an Ocellaris? Does it have the same color eyes as the percula? You shouldnt mix ocellaris with percula, percs are mean fish and will continue to bully any ocellaris until theyre dead.
If they are both percula, then they might be both female.

This isnt true all of the time. It can be harder to pair them but it is 100% possible. Many people, including myself, have pairs of 1 ocy and 1 perc. I have a wild caught female percula and a storm clownfish (ocellaris), that have been together for years and breed regularly

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

This isnt true all of the time. It can be harder to pair them but it is 100% possible. Many people, including myself, have pairs of 1 ocy and 1 perc. I have a wild caught female percula and a storm clownfish (ocellaris), that have been together for years and breed regularly

Absolutely, hence why i said shouldnt and not never. I’ve attempted it a couple times and got close, but dont like recommending it due to the risk youll wake up with a dead occy. I think the hybrids are super neat though, and eventually will probably be able to house most clowns together as theyll mostly be hybrids.

 

[efish]

Is the black clown an Ocellaris? Does it have the same color eyes as the percula? You shouldnt mix ocellaris with percula, percs are mean fish and will continue to bully any ocellaris until theyre dead.
If they are both percula, then they might be both female.

regardless the fish need to be separated. When trying to pair clowns ensure theyre the same species, and get a male from a mixed tank of clowns at an LFS. I always have separated females, confirmed pairs and a mixed tank of unclaimed males and one female at work. The largest of the group is the female, she will be more aggressive and hold her dorsal fin higher, the males will be smaller and docile.

I couldve sworn it was possible to breed 2 species together? And I'm 100% sure the red one is a female and the black one is 100% a male should I seperate the male in a box in the tank?

 

[dedragon]

I couldve sworn it was possible to breed 2 species together? And I'm 100% sure the red one is a female and the black one is 100% a male should I seperate the male in a box in the tank?

No, put the female into the acclimation box in the tank. Gives the male time to both get used to the tank and recover from injury.

They can breed and produce viable offspring as well. My ocy/perc pair breed every 8 days of so for the past few years

 

[efish]

yes, but you should take an acclimation box (inside of the display tank) and put the female into it. This will give the male time to recover and then they can establish a relationship. After a couple of days to a week or so they will usually start doing their twitching and then you can put the female back in. This usually works but can take a few attempts so be ready to move the female back in if she gets too aggressive again and repeat the process

that makes more sense how long do I have before the female kills the male because I just ordered an acclimation box

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

I couldve sworn it was possible to breed 2 species together? And I'm 100% sure the red one is a female and the black one is 100% a male should I seperate the male in a box in the tank?

You definitely can, just understand the risk of your female killing him. I would start with putting him in a breeder box for atleast a week or two, and try again

 

[efish]

You definitely can, just understand the risk of your female killing him. I would start with putting him in a breeder box for atleast a week or two, and try again

Alright sounds good thanks

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

Either of them in the breeder box will work but maybe do the female like others say. Then try the male in the box if that doesnt work

 

[dedragon]

that makes more sense how long do I have before the female kills the male because I just ordered an acclimation box

I would separate asap if you can. This can work as long as you have a petco close and a glass cleaner or magnet to hold the box in place. Also drill holes with a dremel of similar drill so water can pass through

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/imagitarium-pet-keeper-for-aquarium-fish-medium-2441264

 

[dedragon]

A refugium can also hold the female for a few days if waiting for shipping, but not sure if you are running one

 

[efish]

Either of them in the breeder box will work but maybe do the female like others say. Then try the male in the box if that doesnt work

Will this work for 3 days? I just got a breeder box from Amazon ot will arrive Thursday

 

[dedragon]

Will this work for 3 days? I just got a breeder box from Amazon ot will arrive Thursday

yes but you probably want to switch the male and the female as stated previously. If the male is eating you will be fine but dont want to give that one more stress than it already was dealing with.

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

Will this work for 3 days? I just got a breeder box from Amazon ot will arrive Thursday

Thats honestly perfect, they may jump out though.

 

[efish]

yes but you probably want to switch the male and the female as stated previously. If the male is eating you will be fine but dont want to give that one more stress than it already was dealing with.

Oh it's eating fine but should i switch their place or does it not matter which place each one is

 

[dedragon]

Oh it's eating fine but should i switch their place or does it not matter which place each one is

There is a bit of a debate on that, most agree that it should be the female in the box to establish the relationship but you can switch them when the new acclimation box gets there. Make sure to drill more holes in the box for water flow and try and add a lid if you can, either the lid of the tupperware (cut holes for light) or some eggcrate will work.