How big should a clown be for high flow?

Aquaph8 · Dec 8, 2012

After five years I lost my male occelaris. I ordered a new beautiful black snowflake to pair with my current female. The problem is he is really tiny (not much over an inch). I'm worried that my sps tank has more flow than he's ready to handle at this point. Also, how soon should I worry about him changing sex while in QT? Any thoughts are appreciated.

.AcroKiller. · Dec 8, 2012

For what I understand is that once the clowns are not juveniles and they have change sex that they will not change back. Sex change only happends while they are juveniles. I really dont know its just what I have read

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schprock · Dec 8, 2012

My Picasso was .5" in my sps tank w two 6055 and a return pump
He just hung out in the corner for 6 mos or so
Now he is about 1.5" and hangs out in the anemone
Small clowns can find an area of low flow
Just make sure they don't go over the overflow

jomatty · Dec 8, 2012

It is my understanding that if a clown is left alone in a quarantine you will not need to worry about it sexing, and I definitely would not worry about it with one the size you are describing. Sounds like a pretty fish, any pictures?

jomatty · Dec 8, 2012

It is also my understanding that a clownfish male can always change to female even later in life if the dominant female dies or is removed. Two females equals a fight to the death (although I am not certain that it is 100% impossible for one to revert but Ive never heard of it happening), but a male who has been with a female as a pair can become the female if the dominant female is no longer present. Correct me if I'm wrong but that is my understanding.

JasonPG · Dec 8, 2012

To correctly answer your question you need to worry about your juvenile changing sex immediately. In the wild, when a juvenile leaves the harem environment he will quickly change from a non-sexual male to a sexual male than a female. That is how new social structures are formed. That being said, if he is "really tiny" you have nothing to worry about. I don't see obvious sexing happening much until month 6 or 7. But this is coming from a breeder. Your definition of "really tiny" might be significantly larger and thus over the critical age where sexing will happen to an isolated fish. You're rolling the dice but I honestly wouldn't worry about it if you only leave him in QT for 2-3 weeks.

Edit: And of course if you buy from a repuatable breeder, like me, you can skip QT and just dump him right in with your female. He will adapt to the current.. he is a fish.

Aquaph8 · Dec 8, 2012

Here's a pic. as far as flow were talking 3 Tunze 6105's and an MP40 in a 60x36 225 tank.

Aquaph8 · Dec 8, 2012

He's about 1.5", how old do you think that is?

JasonPG · Dec 8, 2012

Ocellaris breeders can chime in here (I have more experience with percula varients) but I'd say 5-6 months. He looks like an ORA. I'd definitley QT him.

Aquaph8 · Dec 8, 2012

JasonPG said:
Ocellaris breeders can chime in here (I have more experience with percula varients) but I'd say 5-6 months. He looks like an ORA. I'd definitley QT him.

He was bred by proaquatics.

saltwater bob · Dec 8, 2012

Nice looking fish. It's an Extreme Blacker Ice right? I would agree and QT it as well. If it's a male then it won't start the transition to female for 3-4 weeks of being alone in QT. Regards!

10galclowns · Dec 8, 2012

He's beautiful! I love when they bond then bond with the anemone

Aquaph8 · Dec 8, 2012

Thanks everyone, hopefully he'll bond well with the female

Jovreefer · Dec 10, 2012

Just echo'ing what JasonPG said, 2-3 weeks in QT and there should be no issue with it changing to female. Any longer alone and I'd start to get concerned it was changing.

It will adapt to the flow just fine. When I bought my clowns they were 1.5in and 1in and they adapted just fine. They even swim right at the tunze and get blown away some times. Looks like they are playing in it, they will do it a few times then go about their business. I did turn the pump off when feeding them for a while though, they did not like chasing food fast and far.

Aquaph8 · Dec 10, 2012

I'm not too concerned about disease at this point but he's not eating as well as I would like. Hopefully I can get him eating a little better this week and introduce him the following week.

Trex · Dec 13, 2012

What exactly do you have for flow?
What size tank? (( is it the 60" one in your sig? ))

As for QT'ing it -- don't care who you get the clown from, I would QT it. Heck, even DD strongly suggests that you QT their fish.

Aquaph8 · Dec 13, 2012

Todd, the tank is a 60x36x24, 225. power heads in the 4 corners, 3 Tunze 6105's and one mp40w. I completely agree with you about QT but I can't add A female clown in with my female either.

Trex · Dec 13, 2012

I would be shocked if your new clown went from an unsexed juvi, to male, to female all before the QT time was up. There is no other clowns around to encourage the switch.

Sorry, I missed the flow part. As for that, I really don't think that will be too much. All of the powerheads have wider flow, not like an old MJ. Plus, your tank is pretty large, there should be plenty of lower flow areas for it.

Aquaph8 · Dec 13, 2012

Thanks Trex, I appreciate your thoughts. I'm gonna leave him in QT for now. He's not even eating 1mm pellets yet and most frozen food is kinda large too. I'm still debating catching my female and moving her in with him, probably with the acclimation box at first. Hopefully she likes him.