Complex question about Ocellaris clowns and pairing, (I might have 2 females )

Radioheadx14 · 02/24/2008, 12:38 PM

This is somewhat of a complex situation...
About 6 months ago I got 2 small tank raised ocellaris clowns and they seemed to have pair off... then 2 months later the larger one stressed the smaller one to literal death. I kept 'it' alone for 4 months and recently added 'it' to my 34g.

The same thing happened to my brother, he had a pair in a 12g for about a year, but now the larger one caused the smaller one to jump in the back. He said it was pretty beat up. So he brought over the larger one and I added it to my tank. They are pretty close to the same size... mine being a little larger

At first they did the little dance, and the larger one (mine) but after an hour or so, mine is chasing the other one into a corner and all over the tank... Is it possible they are both female? If so do i need to split them?

If this doesn't work, i was thinking I could give his clown back, and QT the smaller one he has until its better and then add him instead?

Any help is appreciated... I did some searching and couldn't find much on this type of situation.

garygb · 02/24/2008, 02:00 PM

I'm sure they are both female, you said he brought over the larger one, that was his female. So now you have two females in the same tank. Once a clownfish becomes female, there's no going back to being a male. It's a one way street up the hierarchy from adolescent to male and then to female. You need to separate them ASAP.

Radioheadx14 · 02/24/2008, 04:14 PM

Yeah I did more searching and figured that out. They are now separated. I just set up a little 20L i had setting around for her.

garygb · 02/24/2008, 04:24 PM

That's good to hear. You would never have a pair with those two.

Radioheadx14 · 02/24/2008, 05:54 PM

yeah i think they will both live their lives alone. hehehe

garygb · 02/24/2008, 07:47 PM

If you put a juvenile male in and introduce it so the female can't hurt it, you could have pairs.

02/24/2008, 12:38 PM	#1
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	Complex question about Ocellaris clowns and pairing, (I might have 2 females ) This is somewhat of a complex situation... About 6 months ago I got 2 small tank raised ocellaris clowns and they seemed to have pair off... then 2 months later the larger one stressed the smaller one to literal death. I kept 'it' alone for 4 months and recently added 'it' to my 34g. The same thing happened to my brother, he had a pair in a 12g for about a year, but now the larger one caused the smaller one to jump in the back. He said it was pretty beat up. So he brought over the larger one and I added it to my tank. They are pretty close to the same size... mine being a little larger At first they did the little dance, and the larger one (mine) but after an hour or so, mine is chasing the other one into a corner and all over the tank... Is it possible they are both female? If so do i need to split them? If this doesn't work, i was thinking I could give his clown back, and QT the smaller one he has until its better and then add him instead? Any help is appreciated... I did some searching and couldn't find much on this type of situation.

02/24/2008, 02:00 PM	#2
garygb Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: los angeles Posts: 4,016	I'm sure they are both female, you said he brought over the larger one, that was his female. So now you have two females in the same tank. Once a clownfish becomes female, there's no going back to being a male. It's a one way street up the hierarchy from adolescent to male and then to female. You need to separate them ASAP.

02/24/2008, 04:14 PM	#3
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	Yeah I did more searching and figured that out. They are now separated. I just set up a little 20L i had setting around for her.

02/24/2008, 04:24 PM	#4
garygb Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: los angeles Posts: 4,016	That's good to hear. You would never have a pair with those two.

02/24/2008, 05:54 PM	#5
Radioheadx14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 1,340	yeah i think they will both live their lives alone. hehehe

02/24/2008, 07:47 PM	#6
garygb Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: los angeles Posts: 4,016	If you put a juvenile male in and introduce it so the female can't hurt it, you could have pairs.