Splitting up a bonded clown pair

[jabberwock]

32 gallon biocube

I will be returning my female darwin ocellaris to the LFS tomorrow. She has killed my fire fish, my lawnmower blenny, and has just about done in my yellow watchman goby all in the space of 2 months. I am not sad to see her go. She is a major jerk.

My question is, should I send back her bonded male with her. He is half her size and does not seem to be the instigator of aggression. Will he be OK without her? Will he become more aggressive? They were already bonded when I bought them. Thanks for any input, I would keep the male if he will behave, and if it would not cause him significant trauma to remove his mate.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

If they are a bonded pair I would return them together. They have more value as a pair and how would you like it someone sold off your mate? lol. If they are bonded they will do better together.

 

[jabberwock]

She is a jerk to him also. He might be glad to be rid of her.
I don't miss my ex wife at all...

 

[James M]

That’s how clowns are. The male just turn into a female and do the same thing

 

[Zakery Murray]

You could split them up if that is what you really want to do, although I prefer to keep paris together because they are already pairs if that makes any sense.

 

[KrisReef]

Valentine’s Day just went past and you ask this, Romeo?
Both, it will be better for everyone.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

She is a jerk to him also. He might be glad to be rid of her.
I don't miss my ex wife at all...

Well that is a story all by itself....this is a fish forum not a marriage counseling site . Bonded pairs of any fish do better in large tanks or tanks set up just for them. Clowns are notorious for bad behavior when bonded. So your choice is to make them the only residents and watch them make babies or find a better mix for your community.

 

[jabberwock]

Yep, I appreciate the advice. Looks like they will be both be going back tomorrow. Sounds like the best deal for all involved.

 

[jabberwock]

Valentine’s Day just went past and you ask this, Romeo?
Both, it will be better for everyone.

LOL, so you quote a great tragedy where everybody dies?

Hopefully I can nurse my YWG back to health. He is a tough little bugger.

 

[Captain Quint]

She is a jerk to him also. He might be glad to be rid of her.
I don't miss my ex wife at all...

LOL...

 

[jabberwock]

They are gone! The YWG is in a little hospital enclosure so the flow does not toss him around so much, and I can make sure he is getting food. He needs some time and peace and quiet to get those fins to grow back.

 

[Reefrookie220]

In my personal opinion, the main issue here is something no one has mentioned yet and idk why.

Yeah that’s a 32g tank, but it’s a bio cube. It’s mostly vertical swim space, making it a very small environment for the rock hugging and bottom dwelling fish selection you’ve went with. Clowns are clowns, until you back em in a corner....then they are lions. lol

 

[jabberwock]

In my personal opinion, the main issue here is something no one has mentioned yet and idk why.

Yeah that’s a 32g tank, but it’s a bio cube. It’s mostly vertical swim space, making it a very small environment for the rock hugging and bottom dwelling fish selection you’ve went with. Clowns are clowns, until you back em in a corner....then they are lions. lol

I have to agree, and I appreciate you pointing this out. Part of the benefit of posting here is that others can learn from my experience. Gallons is a big factor, but so is shape of the habitat. I have a good scape with lots of caves and ample negative space, but the vertical nature of this tank definitely influences how certain fish will do in the habitat. I had reached the intended limit of my stocking plan at this point, in order of introduction:

1 fire fish (regular size)
1 yellow watchman goby (2 inches)
1 royal gramma (2.5 inches)
1 lawn mower blenny (2 inches)
2 clowns (bonded pair, 1.75 inches and 2.25 inches)

I purposefully chose small examples of each species. In retrospect, I should have never added the clowns. The tank was peaceful and thriving until then. I was trying to be very careful not to overstock, and do it in a logical sequence. Now I am down to the royal gramma and a banged up YWG... I will not be adding any new fish until he is all healed up, and I have no desire to ever keep clown fish again. Hope this helps someone down the road, and I appreciate all the advice and support from the community here. You guys and gals are great!

 

[jabberwock]

Here he is in his hospital enclosure right after a successfully feeding. My spot feeding device let’s me shoot mysis directly through one of the holes. Good to see he still has his appetite.