Clowns acting wierd?

[hiddenicon]

i have another false perc in my tank and whenever the new one i got today(false perc also) comes up to it the old one swims away from it fast. whats going on with the 2 fish?(the new one is bigger if that helps) and the new one kinda does alittle dance thing but doesn't do it long because the old one swims away?

 

[viper_930]

New one bigger? Not a good thing. You should return it and get one that is smaller than the original one in the tank. In clownfish society, the biggest clown will turn female, and the second biggest will turn to the breeding male. Once one turns female, it cannot change back to male. You will have problems with 2 females in the tank.

 

[hiddenicon]

then whats the dancing for?

 

[hiddenicon]

and will it be fine if i don't see them fighting?

 

[viper_930]

I guess it would be fine, but I doubt the peace would hold up for long. The new one probably still hasn't figured out he is dominant.

 

[hiddenicon]

so if i take the big one back and i get a smaller one i wouldn't have any problems in my tank?

 

[viper_930]

It is much less probable that you will have problems, but there is always a chance.

 

[hiddenicon]

i thought false perc were non-aggressive. i understand why i have a problem now but why would i have one if i got a smaller clown?

 

[viper_930]

I'm not exactly sure but I have heard of a few problems even with introducing a smaller clown.

 

[hiddenicon]

have you heard of the smaller one picking on the bigger one?

 

[neoreef]

Getting one smaller than your present clown and smaller than its tankmates at the LFS is a good idea, because they start out male and the biggest clown in town then changes into a female. The biggest clown in the tank at the LFS is probably a female, and the lone clown in your tank is probably a female, so you want to get a male so that after some initial squabbling, they will settle down as a mated pair and wont fight anymore.

 

[hiddenicon]

will there only be one female in the tank at the LFS? or do alot of the bigger clowns turn female at the same time?

 

[viper_930]

Just 1 female, so don't pick the biggest one in the tank.

 

[hiddenicon]

K thanks Viper. That might be hard because the LFS only has 2 clowns right now i think, so what should i do because i think there the same size?

 

[hiddenicon]

should i just wait or take a chance on one of the 2 clowns? or is there a good chance both of them will still be males?

 

[viper_930]

I'd just take the chance. Just choose which ever you like and hope for the best. Wouldn't make a difference to wait.

 

[hiddenicon]

K thanks Viper. Its about 11:11 here in VA so i'm getting ready to go the the LFS to see what they have. I'll let you know how it turns out

 

[bang guy]

Many Stores will let you trade if you set up the deal in advance.
"If this Clown fights with mine can I trade it in for a smaller clown at a later date?"

 

[hiddenicon]

well Viper and Bang Guy I just wanted to let you know that i went to the LFS today and i got one of the little clowns. And............ My old bigger clown loves it. It's doing the little dance now, whats that mean? And does this mean i must have gotten a male today?

 

[viper_930]

Cool! :cheer: Yup, that means you go a male.