Male Clownfish Not Submitting

[reef wrangler]

Hello. I'm new to reefing. What happens if a male clown won't submit to the female? I have two ocellaris snowflake clowns, one black and much larger so I assume it's female, the other is orange (male). I've had them for about 10 months and introduced them to the tank together when they were young. Other than the first week or so, they have stayed away from each other. The female has hosted an anemone and won't let the male near it. About 4 weeks ago, the female started rushing the male and pinning him in the corner. She wasn't biting him that I could tell. I have seen both of them twitch a few times but mostly the male tries to get away. I'm concerned because she is now chasing him constantly and he now has a few frayed fins. If they're going to pair, how long does it take? At what point should I separate them? He's eating well but I'm afraid she will just end up exhausting him to death. I appreciate any feedback.

 

[Vahanyos]

Maybe you’ve considered this already, but perhaps they might not actually both be ocellaris? My brothers clowns didn’t pair for weeks and he changed his smaller one out from a different store and they paired in a day or so...

 

[shred5]

I have had two once that did not pair. Male eventually died and I introduced another and she paired up right away.

I think something was not right with the first male and the female could tell. She would not want a male fertilizing her eggs that had a defect I am guessing so she didnt pair with him. I do not think they want any issues being passed on to her young.


It could be you have two females too even if one is bigger.

Sometimes it just takes a while.

 

[reef wrangler]

Maybe you’ve considered this already, but perhaps they might not actually both be ocellaris? My brothers clowns didn’t pair for weeks and he changed his smaller one out from a different store and they paired in a day or so...

I'm pretty sure they are both ocellaris since I got them from Live Aquaria. I really don't want to get rid of either of them. :-(

 

[reef wrangler]

I have had two once that did not pair. Male eventually died and I introduced another and she paired up right away.

I think something was not right with the first male and the female could tell. She would not want a male fertilizing her eggs that had a defect I am guessing so she didnt pair with him. I do not think they want any issues being passed on to her young.


It could be you have two females too even if one is bigger.

Sometimes it just akes a while.

Hmm...I hadn't thought about a male not being prime breeding stock. They both were pretty small when I got them so I figured they were both juveniles. One was about an inch and the other 1.25 inches. It looks like I may have to separate them.

 

[shred5]

Hmm...I hadn't thought about a male not being prime breeding stock. They both were pretty small when I got them so I figured they were both juveniles. One was about an inch and the other 1.25 inches. It looks like I may have to separate them.

At that size they would be juveniles for sure.

 

[gar732]

I’ve never had issues pairing occys given you have one of each sex, they typically aren’t as aggressive as other clowns like maroons or clarkis. Even if you had a perc and an occy they would still pair up. Like shred5 said it sounds like you might have two females, smaller doesn’t always mean male. You could try to remove the female for a few days or a week then reintroduce her to the tank. Either she’ll play nice or she will continue to attack the other clown. If the later happens then remove one or the other and try another fish.

 

[gar732]

Ahh, took to long to post this, didn’t see the previous posts. Try the time out. It might work.

 

[reef wrangler]

I'm planning on rearranging my rocks and such this weekend. That'll give me a chance to catch her. She can be in solitary confinement for a while. Hopefully that does the trick. Thanks!

 

[reef wrangler]

I will be rearranging my rocks and such this weekend so it will give me a chance to catch her. Maybe some time in solitary confinement will do the trick. Thanks!

 

[reef wrangler]

I will be rearranging my rocks and such this weekend so it will give me a chance to catch her. Maybe some time in solitary confinement will do the trick. Thanks!

Sorry for the double post!

 

[reef lover]

My first pair bonded easily and has been together for over 7 years. Then i set up a nem tank and wanted a black and white pair. Bought one b+w ocellaris and one domino occ. Didnt work out replaced dom for a midnight occ...no.go. finally traded the female that had now been with me 2 years and got 2 small b+ w. Its been 3 weeks and theyre still.snipping at each other...they twitch at each othet but still bite so idk. About to give up on a second pair and move my original orange from the 120 to the nem tank.none of this probably helps....just sharing my experience...

 

[Michael Llabona]

I think the best chances of success is getting 2 dramatically different sizes. I had my female orange clown for about 2 years. Then I got a tiny b+w clown. The female bit him once and I think he knew she was boss and did the siezure thing to submit. They were both hosting the BTA the first day. I removed the nem cause it killed some of my acros and now they host the goni.

 

[shred5]

I think the best chances of success is getting 2 dramatically different sizes. I had my female orange clown for about 2 years. Then I got a tiny b+w clown. The female bit him once and I think he knew she was boss and did the siezure thing to submit. They were both hosting the BTA the first day. I removed the nem cause it killed some of my acros and now they host the goni.

It defiantly helps getting two different size, they know which will be dominant.

Right now I have two Wyoming whites I am trying to pair for breeding and they were the exact same size. Man they are battling.


I didn't post this above but sometimes there is aggression their whole life, just not as hard as during pairing. She want him to know she eats first, he needs to do his job etc.


Question is do they sleep together? If so they will most likely pair.

 

[MarinaP]

Agree with shred5, there is something wrong with the other fish. I would rehome him and start again. Having a stressed fish in a tank never ends well.

 

[reef wrangler]

My first pair bonded easily and has been together for over 7 years. Then i set up a nem tank and wanted a black and white pair. Bought one b+w ocellaris and one domino occ. Didnt work out replaced dom for a midnight occ...no.go. finally traded the female that had now been with me 2 years and got 2 small b+ w. Its been 3 weeks and theyre still.snipping at each other...they twitch at each othet but still bite so idk. About to give up on a second pair and move my original orange from the 120 to the nem tank.none of this probably helps....just sharing my experience...

Thanks for sharing!

 

[reef wrangler]

It defiantly helps getting two different size, they know which will be dominant.

Right now I have two Wyoming whites I am trying to pair for breeding and they were the exact same size. Man they are battling.


I didn't post this above but sometimes there is aggression their whole life, just not as hard as during pairing. She want him to know she eats first, he needs to do his job etc.


Question is do they sleep together? If so they will most likely pair.

They don't sleep together. I got them as juveniles and the black one has always been bigger. She is at least twice his size now. I'll try removing her for a awhile, them separate long term if that doesn't help.

 

[Captain Quint]

Good info imparted in this important thread.

A side note. If a female does lay eggs and even if there is a true mated pair and the male does not tend the clutch the female have been known fo attack up to the point of killing the male.

 

[davocean]

I've had round 2 of hashing out just before the female is ready to spawn, could be what's happening.

My present pair just kinda accepted each other for at least 4-5 months and did not sleep together during that period, and then it got rough, and I even wondered if I had 2 females, but then it calmed and they spawned right after, and now they are inseparable both happy in their mag spawning regularly

If yours are both eating still and fin tearing is not excessive I'd ride it out