Clown Match.com?

[dr.schlegs]

So I had put a couple of yellowfin damsels in my new tank. Brent told me about their territoral behavior, and how it is a poor choice to put them in a tank first as they are aggressive to late arrivals to the party. After setting up a QT tank I picked up a couple Ocellaris Clowns. I hunted down the Damsels and put them into the fish jail. The Clowns are now swimming around and exploring. I never saw them hiding in the rocks.

This morning my dogs needed to go out, so on my way back to bed I swung by the tank. The clowns were hiding in the rocks, at opposite ends of the tank.

So do I have two hetrosexual clowns? Do they need some Berry White? Would it be too forward of him to ask her over to his rock for the night? Do I need to help them post up a profile on the MASC singles thread?:noidea:

 

[Boogie]

How old are the clowns? Were they a bonded pair? Can they see the damsels from their tank?, cause I know that if I am caught staring at any damsels, especially blonde ones, I end up sleeping on the other side of the house too.

I have two pair of clowns, one pair stuck together from the very begining. The other pair tried to stay about half a tank apart for awhile. The female would actually go over and grab the male and drag him to her spot. Eventually, like most males, he gave in and stayed with her. Been together in that same spot for over a year now...her chosen spot of course. Every now and then, if you look into the tank at the right time, you can see the male gazing over at the other rock longingly...but he does not stray.

 

[daverf]

I think the problem is the clowns, not the damsels. You need them paired.

I tried to pair clowns, no luck. Lots of people do it successfully, like Boogie, but there is definitely a strategy you need to pursue. You should Google it for ideas. It can be difficult with small space and impossible without a way to separate them and try trial/error introductions. If they are the same size, it probably won't work. You need a big (female) and a small one...the small will sexually mature to male. If it is a smaller tank, they will fight to death if they don't pair.

Most people get away with a pair of clowns if they get them paired. LFS with lots of clowns in a tank obviously has a better chance at success for mate selection/pairing. My problem was, I tried everything and the large (female) still would try to kill the smaller male after months of trying. At that point, my only option was to try over with a different male. I just decided to go with one clown.

 

[dr.schlegs]

Boogie. I'm not sure how old the Clowns are. One is older and Larger, the other one . . . not so much. They do hang together during the day time, so that is positive. I'm not so concerned about them mating, and having a circus. I am more interested in them being like drunken frat boys, who exchange homophobic barbs to hide their true bromance.

Dave, your tank sounds like a Jerry Springer Show in the making. And I suspect that your idea of a fishy orgy might be cost prohibative.

 

[Ghosty]

I bought my SA Fancy Snowflakes as a "bonded pair" from the DiversDen, they're in my community FmwLR right now mostly swim around together, kick up sand, etc. But as soon as I setup the 29g, that'll be their home with few to no other inhabitants except a Nem or two.

 

[Ghosty]

I bought my SA Fancy Snowflakes as a "bonded pair" from the DiversDen, they're in my community FmwLR right now mostly swim around together, kick up sand, eat like crazy, etc. But as soon as I setup the 29g, that'll be their new home with few to no other inhabitants except a Nem or two.

 

[dvenson]

Clownfish start off as all males and the most dominant one turns female. The trick is to introduce a smaller clown into the system and over time they will establish their roles. If a clown kills another clown it's very likely you had 2 females you were trying to pair. I would say give them time it could take months.

 

[dr.schlegs]

I have been watching the two of them and they will swim around together. Neither one of them has been aggressive towards one either from what I have seen. Perhaps I have a Female and a Male but just need a little time. Let's say for arguement sake that I have Clowns of the same gender - - How do I determine who goes? and How do I determine if the next suiter is of the correct gender?

 

[Boogie]

The female role will be filled by the larger. You said one is big and one is small, give them some time and the small one will become the male.

 

[dr.schlegs]

So tonight as I was getting ready to go to bed I checked in on my Clowns and the large one was hammering on the little one. I took the little one out for his safety and put him in with the Damsels. I think it is safe to say that little clown is going to have to find a foster home.

 

[reefmaster719]

Leave it in there and they will fight for dominance. The female will start picking on the little one to tell him whos boss.

 

[bigfoot610]

or untill the larger one grabs the smaller one by the tail and pulls it backwards to drown it reefmaster is right they do have to duke it out for dominance

 

[bigfoot610]

http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/resources.asp?show=417
good article on clown pairing if the larger dosent pick on the smaller one it will not go male it will stay immature or turn female

 

[dr.schlegs]

I saw the replies last night and I moved him back to the large tank. Now we wait.

 

[daverf]

Clowns are not haremic, you'd have to switch them for wrasses if you're looking for an orgy. Also Jerry (springer) looked over my shoudler and saw your update. he's on his way to your house

+1 on not giving up yet. I would suggest you keep the smaller in the tank with the larger in a separate quarter (fish trap, eggcrate basket, tupperware with holes, whatever). Let the larger get her nest zone established with the smaller one present in the tank, give her a little more time to sex to a determinate female. Then try 2-3 more controlled introductions, being ready to reseparate if she rejects him. Or if possible, arrange your rock so there is a nook that only the small can get in, and not the large, then separation isn't necessary.

Also make sure you are seeing subordinate behavior in the smaller, I believe this is a seizure/like shake and open display of one side when the larger approaches. If you are not seeing that, or are seeing lip-locking, the larger could not be sexually determinate and you just have 2 males fighting. I've described Maroon clown mating behavior, not sure if all clown species are the same.

That all captures what many on the web suggest as a pairing attempt. They also suggest you take the smaller back and trade it in for another small after the 3rd try (ie, conclude the larger female has rejected the first mate), trade the bigger for a larger one, or get happy with one clown in the tank. All depends on how much time you want to spend with clown relationship therapy, doctor.