Maroon Clowns Fighting! Help!

[cblount]

I purchased some maroon clowns and one is bigger and darker. The other is smaller and lighter. But the big one sometimes chases after the small one and nips at it. It is also looks like the big one is making the small one stay at the bottom corner of the tank. Will they kill each other. The big one is the darker one with a half stripe in the middle the little one is the one at the bottom of the tank. Should I get another little one so the big one will stop picking on the same one? They have only been in the tank a day.

 

[petjunkie]

Is the larger female just nipping sometimes or constantly attacking with intent to kill? Maroons are very aggressive and usually kill a male they won't accept pretty quickly but even with ones they accept there will still be nipping and chasing occasionally. If it seems very violent maybe split them up, hopefully someone else has actual experience pairing.

 

[kjohansen]

I read this technique on the web..
Pairing maroon clowns is much more problematic than pairing Amphiprion species clownfish. Maroons are notorious for being very aggressive towards other clownfish. They are pretty much fearless and will only back down from an all out fight when presented with the overwhelming threat of death.
Separation Technique:
The only technique I am aware of that works the vast majority of the time with the least amount of damage as possible to use a separation and slow acclimation process to introduce a poetical mate to a maroon clownfish.
First you need to have a large female already established in your tank before trying a pairing. The clownfish should be at least 3 from nose to start of the cardinal fin. Next you will need to do a little preparation before buying a potential mate for your maroon. You need something to securely separate the two fish in the same tank while still allowing the fish to see each other and the new fish to get water flow. You can use a clear plastic specimen container with holes drilled in it for example.
Now go to the LFS and find the smallest juvenile maroon from a community tank that you can find. It should be no larger than 1 nose to start of cardinal fin. Acclimate the new maroon just as you would any other fish. Once the new maroon is acclimated to your tanks water, place the new maroon in the specimen container. Let the two fish see each other, place the specimen container near the females territory. Carefully watch the female's behavior. If she is trying to attack the new fish thru the container, it is not safe to release the new maroon. Give her time to cool off from the disruption to her tank and addition of a foreign clownfish in her tank.
Now that the female has cooled her temper it is time to try an introduction. Get your favorite fish net ready and release the new maroon to the tank. If the fighting gets too bad you will need to rescue the new maroon and place it back in the container and try the next day. If after three failed attempts you can write off the new maroon as incompatible and you will need a new juvenile to try with.

 

[bellaroxio]

Originally Posted by KJohansen
I read this technique on the web..
Pairing maroon clowns is much more problematic than pairing Amphiprion species clownfish. Maroons are notorious for being very aggressive towards other clownfish. They are pretty much fearless and will only back down from an all out fight when presented with the overwhelming threat of death.
Separation Technique:
The only technique I am aware of that works the vast majority of the time with the least amount of damage as possible to use a separation and slow acclimation process to introduce a poetical mate to a maroon clownfish.
First you need to have a large female already established in your tank before trying a pairing. The clownfish should be at least 3 from nose to start of the cardinal fin. Next you will need to do a little preparation before buying a potential mate for your maroon. You need something to securely separate the two fish in the same tank while still allowing the fish to see each other and the new fish to get water flow. You can use a clear plastic specimen container with holes drilled in it for example.
Now go to the LFS and find the smallest juvenile maroon from a community tank that you can find. It should be no larger than 1 nose to start of cardinal fin. Acclimate the new maroon just as you would any other fish. Once the new maroon is acclimated to your tanks water, place the new maroon in the specimen container. Let the two fish see each other, place the specimen container near the females territory. Carefully watch the female's behavior. If she is trying to attack the new fish thru the container, it is not safe to release the new maroon. Give her time to cool off from the disruption to her tank and addition of a foreign clownfish in her tank.
Now that the female has cooled her temper it is time to try an introduction. Get your favorite fish net ready and release the new maroon to the tank. If the fighting gets too bad you will need to rescue the new maroon and place it back in the container and try the next day. If after three failed attempts you can write off the new maroon as incompatible and you will need a new juvenile to try with.
I will have the same problem. Currently, I have two maroons separated in 2 quarantine tanks. Both of them, will be in the same 200 gal.
1) Should I follow your advice by bringing the big one in the 200 gal 1st?
2) Should I introduce them the same time?
3) Should I go ahead and bring the small one, place in a plastic box, into the big one's quarantine tank now?
*** In my 200 gal, I have (2) BTAs on opposite side of the tank. Please advice me whether this would be a distraction or attraction of getting the 2 maroons to accept/mate. Thanks
Thanks

 

[fishy7]

Just a suggestion. Take everyone back and buy a mated pair. This will no doubt save you time, $ and energy....

 

[kjohansen]

You need a fully or almost fully devolped female at least 2 1/2 inches and then a smaller maroon no bigger than 1 1/4 inches.
The larger fish should be in the main tank and have a claimed spot in the tank.
The thing being is that the female has to terrorize the smaller fish into submission. By far maroon's are the hardest to pair up.
Joyce Wilkerson states in her book "As the small, newly introduced Maroon will have no adequate defenses and may not likely be accepted immediately, a safe haven should be provided for his protection. A section of 'egg crate' lighting panel (available from building-supply stores) walling off a portion of the aquarium makes a good refuge. The dimunutive Maroon should be small enough to pass through the half-inch (12 millimeter) divider openings, and he will quickly learn that the larger fish cannot follow to molest him in his haven.
By repeatedly venturing into view, then scurrying away submissively, the small fish shows acceptance of an inferior position in the social order. If the female ignores the small clown as he positions his body perpendicular to hers and trembles as if terrified, the two are on their way to becoming a pair. If they fight, seperate them and try a smaller male later."

 

[renogaw]

by the way, a hamster ball is a great way to seperate them

 

[cblount]

The larger one is no longer nipping at the smaller one but the smaller one is staying in the rocks while the large one swims everywhere. When I feed them the large one will let the other eat but then darts at it and it swims back to the rocks. So the only thing the larger one is doing now is darting at the small one. Do you think they might get along?

 

[kjohansen]

Maybe... time will tell! Keep an eye on them and make sure the little one has a safe place to go where the female can't.

 

[bellaroxio]

Originally Posted by KJohansen
You need a fully or almost fully devolped female at least 2 1/2 inches and then a smaller maroon no bigger than 1 1/4 inches.
The larger fish should be in the main tank and have a claimed spot in the tank.
The thing being is that the female has to terrorize the smaller fish into submission. By far maroon's are the hardest to pair up.
Joyce Wilkerson states in her book "As the small, newly introduced Maroon will have no adequate defenses and may not likely be accepted immediately, a safe haven should be provided for his protection. A section of 'egg crate' lighting panel (available from building-supply stores) walling off a portion of the aquarium makes a good refuge. The dimunutive Maroon should be small enough to pass through the half-inch (12 millimeter) divider openings, and he will quickly learn that the larger fish cannot follow to molest him in his haven.
By repeatedly venturing into view, then scurrying away submissively, the small fish shows acceptance of an inferior position in the social order. If the female ignores the small clown as he positions his body perpendicular to hers and trembles as if terrified, the two are on their way to becoming a pair. If they fight, seperate them and try a smaller male later."
Went to Home Depot and Lowes. Cannot find such divider. Any one have pics. If I can see one, I can replicate. Thanks

 

[kjohansen]

It is usually sold in the lighting area. It is used as a lighting diffuser. Looks like the white square lighting panels you have seen used in flourescent lighting fixtures.

 

[cblount]

When the lights first went out the two clowns were swimming together with the larger one occasionly darting or nipping at the small one. Now after about and hour and a half of dark the are swimming close together in the rocks with some occasional nips but the smaller one is not running away anymore. Is this a sign they might get along? Thanks for all the replys.

 

[renogaw]

most likely they will. just keep an eye on them

 

[cblount]

OK the clowns are no longer fighting they both swim at the same time without the big one getting angry. If they ever become a pair how can you tell. Do they swim close to each other? Because right now everyonce in a while they swim together but most of the time they just swim around alone.

 

[kjohansen]

Sounds like they are on their way to becoming a pair. Still keep an eye on them. Things seem to be looking up for them though!! Congrats on the possible mated pair!

 

[cblount]

Thanks for the help on the clownfish! When you get a anenome how do you let it loose in the tank without water getting out of the bag?