Mating Pairs

[deaclauderdale]

I added a Maroon clown yesterday getting a second smaller one tomorrow. ? the should eventaully become a mated pair correct? The samller is half the size the larger.

[lgerold]

That's the theory, anyway. I started with one large tomato, and purchased a second tomato about a third the size of the first. Didn't work. The first one actively chased the second one around for a month or so. After 6 months, the "female" will just tolerate the "male" sleeping in a coral about 6 inches away from the female's ritteri.

I wish you all the luck! I love the beauty of the maroon clowns.

[PhilOlsen]

I have tried several times to match up clowns and have only had sucees once, I now buy them as mated pairs and save the aggrivation

[deaclauderdale]

I will give it a shot. maybe I will catch the larger and re-drip acclimate them both and add them at the same time.

[lcstorc]

I would try to add them at the same time or add the larger one later.

[Woodstock]

I must have really good luck pairing up clowns. I've paired up 4 or 5 sets now with no issues. I think the critical part is the second clown. Not only should the 2nd clown be smaller but it should also be a 'neutral' or a 'male'. Remember that clowns are born 'neutral' (neither male or female), then morph into a male and later possibly a female. A lone clown (of any size) will eventually morph into a female if left alone long enough. So size is not the only factor for trying to find a male clown. It is best to get the smallest and most submissive (male characteristics) clown out of a group. If the clown is alone, find out how long it has been alone. If more than a month or two, I wouldn't choose it for a male.

[deaclauderdale]

Ok

[cheeks69]

Maroon Clowns are very difficult to pair up and the female will usually kill the male or juvenile.

Paring Premnas species clownfish (maroon clownfish):
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.

Here's more info

[BoomerD]

Of all the clown species, the maroon is the hardest to mate up into a pair...as Cheeks noted above, MOST of the time, the larger female will kill the smaller male intruder...

My least favorite of the clowns...Just too aggressive.

[deaclauderdale]

Originally Posted by BoomerD

Of all the clown species, the maroon is the hardest to mate up into a pair...as Cheeks noted above, MOST of the time, the larger female will kill the smaller male intruder...

My least favorite of the clowns...Just too aggressive.

But one of the most beautiful.

[BoomerD]

Originally Posted by deaclauderdale

But one of the most beautiful.

IMO, only when they're small. To me, they're not nearly as attractive once they reach adult size.

[Warnberg]

Best success rate I have had mating maroons is to add several (3 to 5, preferably all from differant parents, born within a few weeks of eachother) tank raised juviniles at the same time, they will work it out. Most of the time if you have 5 of them in there you will end up with two pair. But please make sure you have someplace for the outcast to go and there will be an outcast.

JME