Trying to add a small clownfish with established female

[ritter6788]

I've had a pair of ocellaris clowns for a couple of years now. For some reason the male decided to jump. It wasn't the first time it jumped and the first time I was there to save it but a few weeks later I came home to find it dried up behind the tank. I've been looking for a small clown to replace the male and I came across a good deal on a very small Snowflake clown, (still expensive as far as I'm concerned but as far as snowflakes go it was a good deal). After finishing QT, I tried to add the new clown to my 75 reef. I put it in a "betta" box with a magnet on the side of the tank to gauge reaction from the female. After an hour or so I didn't see a ton of aggression from the female I let the small clown loose in the tank. WWW3 started and the female was attacking the small clown aggressively. Luckily I was able to catch the little guy easily and get him back in the betta box. It's hanging out in the box on the side of the tank with the female patrolling the outside.

What's my next strategy here to introduce the little clown to the tank? Is it even possible without stressing the new fish to death or jumping?

[Ron Reefman]

I had the same issue introducing a small tomato to a large female (never mated). I had a box with no lid and set it just below the waters surface. The little one could swim in and out but the female was too big to get into the box. That worked OK and after a couple of days I pulled the box a couple of hours after lights out. She chased him for 30 minutes and then backed off. Good luck.

[ritter6788]

Is it better to let the new fish out during the day or night?

[lil_man72]

is there any way you could catch the female? it would be better to turn the little guy loose and let him get used to the tank.
even better would be to change a few things while you had her in the betta box. that way when you let her go she wouldn't be as aggressive of her space.

[galoot]

I was in your same situation. I added a little guy to my big female. She never went after him. Even when he tried to swim with her. Now she let's him into her cave at night. Hopefully they eventually pair up for good.

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[velvetelvis]

I've just started going through the same process now, trying to pair my female nigripes with a new little male...good luck!

[nicodim55]

I'm drip acclimating a true perc as I type this to pair with my blk/white occi

[ritter6788]

Originally Posted by lil_man72

is there any way you could catch the female? it would be better to turn the little guy loose and let him get used to the tank.
even better would be to change a few things while you had her in the betta box. that way when you let her go she wouldn't be as aggressive of her space.

I tried but she has been in there too long and knows where to go to escape the net. I can almost get her but she slips in her hiding space. The tank is crammed full of sps and lps corals so it's tough to get a fish out once it's in. I got lucky and netted the little one out when the female chased it to the surface.

The little snowflake is free in the tank now. Cross your fingers. There is lots of chasing but it's not as dramatic as yesterday. If you've ever seen a tank full of damsels fighting, it's like that. The big one isn't quick enough to strike the little one but it's trying. The little one just darts to the side like a bull fighter. I fed to distract them but after feeding they went back to chasing again. The lights are off now and the clowns are on opposite sides of the tank. I'm not as worried about stress on the little fish but I'm really concerned about it jumping.

[ritter6788]

Thanks for the tips and support. Good luck to the rest of you!

[nicodim55]

Pairing successful good luck with yours

[ritter6788]

Pow! Caught the female while she was sleeping in the corner! She's in the box now. The little one is hanging out by one of my clams in the bottom front.

[ritter6788]

Originally Posted by nicodim55

Pairing successful good luck with yours

Well, that was easy for you. congrats!

[velvetelvis]

Originally Posted by ritter6788

Thanks for the tips and support. Good luck to the rest of you!

Thanks, you too! I released the new male from his isolation container a couple of hours ago. She chased him around a few minutes before I cut off the lights; now she's in her usual sleeping spot and he's hiding next to the overflow. Fingers still crossed.

[nicodim55]

Originally Posted by ritter6788

Well, that was easy for you. congrats!

yeah thx, the blk/white is huuuge so as soon as I released the true perc the blk/white immediately showed dominance and went over to the perc and nudged him maybe 3 to 4 times then left him alone. Now they're swimming together Now if they would just host the multiple nems I have in the tank I'll be so happy

[ritter6788]

This morning the little one was trying to get to the female in the container.

http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/e...t=20bc69b2.mp4

[ritter6788]

http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/e...t=bbf91c6c.mp4

[lil_man72]

they look good together. from what i've heard if they ever spawn the babies coloring should take after the male. looks like you may have some baby snowflakes in the future.