Pairing Clowns

philip_r5 · 01-12-2007, 07:27 AM

Hello, everyone. My LFS is getting in 4 Percula Clowns and I was wondering if it is possible to pair up two by characteristics or something? I want two of them and am wonder how to pick the best two out of the 4 they will be getting in. Any suggestions will be appreciated thanks.

JustPhish · 01-12-2007, 07:44 AM

If you get two that are the same size then after a while you will have a male and a female. The one that grows bigger and faster will be the female. If they are older clowns then get the biggest one out of the bunch and the smallest. Again, the female will be the big one. Perculas aren't really all that aggressive so it shouldn't be too rough if they are older.

If you have a clown in a tank alone for a while, it will become female. Males can change to females, but females can never change back to males.

So like I said, if they are small juvi clowns, any two will make a pair eventually. Don't expect it to happen overnight though.

Good luck.

turbo4603 · 01-12-2007, 07:46 AM

Hey phillip, i have no experience in this, but by my understanding, if you get two clowns that are small(juveniles) and that have been together in the tank were you purchased them, you have a chance that they will pair, one making itself the female. Somebody correct me if im wrong, i also whant a pair!!!

m_lacom99 · 01-12-2007, 08:25 AM

+1 on what JP said. I've had a whole bunch of clowns and after a while they always seem to pair up. Dont worry about it.

Marc.

Bruce · 01-12-2007, 11:15 AM

If two young clown fish are purchased there is a pretty good chance that eventually they will pair. This is not certain. It could turn out that both become female.

I purchased one clown then about one month later purchased another. In the beginning they fought for dominance a lot but eventually one became the female. There will be a lot of aggression between the two for a while before they pair up officially.

nemo79 · 01-12-2007, 01:15 PM

When I first started I purchased 2 clowns. they were older so I got one slightly larger than the other. They always hung out together but then one died due to an ammonia spike in a new tank.

I waited 5 weeks and replaced it with a tiny juvenile clown and I was worried that I would have problems but they took to eachother immediatly. They swim, sleep, and eat together. They rarely stary from eachother. BTW they are really cool fish.

philip_r5 · 01-12-2007, 03:57 PM

Thanks guys

Birchell · 01-12-2007, 07:00 PM

I agree with everything that has been said. Purcula and ocellaris clowns are the easiest to pair IMO. If all the fish are small ( around 3/4" to 1 or so ) just get any two that you like and they will pair in a few months. One will start to become the most domanate, and will become the female. If all the fish are large, ( over 2 inches) it is likly they are mostly or all female. But most clowns ive seen forsale are around an inch long. Dont stress to much when they start fighting, it is just how they find out who will be female. Hope this helps, and good luck,

Michael

philip_r5 · 01-13-2007, 08:03 AM

Do you think a Percula - true can pair with a Maroon ?

Ive been told no by the LFS owner and a couple of the employees, I ask this because I like the Maroon, they look swt but I want a pair of Clowns and they also said that you can't pair two maroons. Idk Any suggestions?

amcarrig · 01-13-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philip_r5

employees, I ask this because I like the Maroon, they look swt but I want a pair of Clowns and they also said that you can't pair two maroons. Idk Any suggestions?

If you can't pair two maroons, where would all the baby maroons come from?

There has been some cross breeding between clown fish species but I don't think maroons will pair up with anything but maroons because they are just so darned aggressive.