Maroon clownfish pairing issues?! Fighting!!

[Bobbb879]

I have had a gold nugget in the tank for about 6 months who’s about an inch and a half and decided to try pairing with a lightning maroon that’s 2 and a half inches. My smaller fish seems more aggressive. They both occasionally do the submissive wiggle to each other then fight?! I rlly love both fish and want them to pair. I am alternating them in and out of the nursery.

 

[SDK]

Welcome to R2R!

How long has it been since you introduced them? It can take a while with Maroon Clowns. I had better luck both with larger size differences, and introducing the larger fish first. Adding a large clown into a tank with a smaller resident can be more difficult.

 

[Bobbb879]

Welcome to R2R!

How long has it been since you introduced them? It can take a while with Maroon Clowns. I had better luck both with larger size differences, and introducing the larger fish first. Adding a large clown into a tank with a smaller resident can be more difficult.

The newer fish was purchased Friday so this was the third day. I’ve been reading and it says to isolate the female but I’m not sure which that is I understand it’s typically the larger of the two however the larger of the two is the one that’s getting beat up more. Hopefully they’re both not females!! Should I isolate the gold nugget in a different tank or put the golden nugget in the nursery box and let the larger lightning roam the tank.

 

[Bobbb879]

Welcome to R2R!

How long has it been since you introduced them? It can take a while with Maroon Clowns. I had better luck both with larger size differences, and introducing the larger fish first. Adding a large clown into a tank with a smaller resident can be more difficult.

Should I just let them fight it out so the dominant one becomes clear?

 

[SDK]

I would keep the smaller one in the acclimation box until you start seeing pairing behavior “through the glass”. Stop switching them and don’t move them around anymore.

Putting them together to fight it out is up to you, but understand that a fatality is possible. I personally would not let the two fish at each other without seeing a week or two of them acting like pair.

I’ve paired maroons twice. Both times it went relatively quickly and easily by introducing a 1” juvenile as the new fish into a tank with a mate near 3”. Both times I used a modified strawberry basket to create a refuge for the juvenile fish to escape to.

Others may chime in as you are in uncharted territory as far as my personal experience goes. Good luck and keep us posted...

 

[Bobbb879]

I would keep the smaller one in the acclimation box until you start seeing pairing behavior “through the glass”. Stop switching them and don’t move them around anymore.

Putting them together to fight it out is up to you, but understand that a fatality is possible. I personally would not let the two fish at each other without seeing a week or two of them acting like pair.

I’ve paired maroons twice. Both times it went relatively quickly and easily by introducing a 1” juvenile as the new fish into a tank with a mate near 3”. Both times I used a modified strawberry basket to create a refuge for the juvenile fish to escape to.

Others may chime in as you are in uncharted territory as far as my personal experience goes. Good luck and keep us posted...

Where would u recommend u keep the nursery with the smaller fish as the bigger fish is in it rn. I have it close to the anemone both fush have hosted

 

[Bobbb879]

I would keep the smaller one in the acclimation box until you start seeing pairing behavior “through the glass”. Stop switching them and don’t move them around anymore.

Putting them together to fight it out is up to you, but understand that a fatality is possible. I personally would not let the two fish at each other without seeing a week or two of them acting like pair.

I’ve paired maroons twice. Both times it went relatively quickly and easily by introducing a 1” juvenile as the new fish into a tank with a mate near 3”. Both times I used a modified strawberry basket to create a refuge for the juvenile fish to escape to.

Others may chime in as you are in uncharted territory as far as my personal experience goes. Good luck and keep us posted...

Where would u recommend u keep the nursery with the smaller fish as the bigger fish is in it rn. I have it close to the anemone both fush have hosted. Also can u recommend a video or post that explains clear pairing behavior...I am right in thinking that if both fish already transitioned to female they can’t change back and will inevitably kill each othet

 

[SDK]

I used to pair mine before the days of YouTube, although I am gearing up to do Maroons again soon.

I don't think it matters too much where the isolation box is, although I'd imagine that close to where the (theoretical) female hangs out in the open aquarium is good. The submissive fish should drop his head and shake to show submission. when he does this, you want to see the female respond by dropping the aggression. This should progress to them staying close together peacefully through the box. I would want to see this behavior for a week or so. Then release the smaller fish on a day where you have a few hours to keep a close eye on things...

An Occeleris by itself for 6 months and approaching 2" would almost certainly be female by then, but I am less sure with Maroon Clowns. They are larger and slower to mature. If they continue to fight you will probably want to trade one in, grow out the one you keep to 3" and then introduce a very small juvenile.