Clown Pairing

[RayAllen]

Ok I posted this in my tank thread, but figured it was worthy of its own thread:bigsmile:

I have a small cinamon clown; maybe 1" long that I got from Hobogatos class a while back. Im going with a anemone/clam only tank and would like to have a pair of clowns to host. Hes very docile in nature compared to my Angel and sixline and all around just a calm fish. Im want to try and pair it up with another cinamon, any caution I should take?

[Joshua]

I have no experience with cinnamons but I had a big female Ocellaris and it took me 3 tries to get her to pair. The first two small males I added to the tank both died and I'm pretty convinced that she killed them both because she harassed the heck out of them and never let them near her. The third one suffered the same treatment for about 2 weeks and then one day they were both in the anemone and eventually began spawning.

[Mr Cob]

I would buy a smaller cinnamon (smaller than your female) and an anemone at the same time. Introduce the anemone and smaller cinnamon in a holding acclimation area (bucket, or whatever) together so that the two new additions will already be bonded when added to the tank. Hopefully this will help the new little guy from being owned and bullied too much by your already established female.

I have had clown pairs both Percula and Occelaris and now have a pair of Black Onyx clowns...I have never had a cinnamon pair.

[FSU]

To my knowledge (never had cinn clowns), being that small for the 1 incher, I have never had a problem pairing. I would agree buying a smaller clown would be best, however, if it's only an inch long, I would just try buying one about the same size. A bigger one might not even be that bad seeing the 1 inch is probably to small to have morphed. Good luck!

[RayAllen]

Thanks guys im going to give it a shot and see what happens. Probably buy it this weekend. Buying with a anemone is a great idea, so I will see what I can find.

[SoLiD]

Isn't this just the coolest idea for a new tank. :thumbs_up:

Good Luck, Ray!!! Let us know if you are successfull.

-David

[FSU]

Make sure you post pics too! :photo:

[Mr Cob]

Isn't this just the coolest idea for a new tank. :thumbs_up:

Good Luck, Ray!!! Let us know if you are successfull.

-David

Yep, I vaaaannnntt to do it tooo!!!

[RayAllen]

Clams and anemones, what more do you want. To of the coolest sea animals if you ask me. I just thought wouldnt that look cool, so why not?

I already have a crocea clam thats purched up on the rock bridge/shelf but want to get a maxima for the sand bed. Now just to figure out the anemone.

From what I read Cinnamon clowns prefer Bubble tips and Purple base anemones but may host in Sabae Anemones as well.

[RayAllen]

Make sure you post pics too! :photo:

Heres my other thread showing my new progress

http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=46855

[FSU]

Looks great! Anymore updates? Have you gotten any anemones yet or you still waiting for the tank to mature more?

BTW, I suck at plumbing and that's a plumb job if I have ever seen one! :D

[FSU]

lol, nm I just saw the last pics...missed them the first time!

[RayAllen]

Havnt gotten any anemones yet, want to let the tank mature at least another 2 weeks or so. tank and sump have a estimated total gallons of 50gallons and I kept at least 35gallons of the water in the redo. So in reality its more like I did a decent size water change so nothing should be effected to much. Also during that time I just left the sump fuge full and running not to disturb it so I shouldnt have much of a cycle at all.

Plumbing I find is easy. Ive plumbed probably 6 tanks in the hobby and have not had a one leak from the start. This one is now really quiet thanks to my double durso setup on both ends allowing the line to really burp.

Sorry for the long answer, lol.

[Gseclipse02]

ok this might be a dumb ? but how can you tell if one is male or female certain colors ???

[FSU]

ok this might be a dumb ? but how can you tell if one is male or female certain colors ???

If I remember correctly, younger clowns start off unsexed. As they mature they all turn to males, except for the bigger, more dominant one. That one morphs to a female. If the female is removed (or dies), then then next biggest, most dominant then morphs into the female, etc, etc. I may be a bit off, but I believe this is the cycle.

[g-ray]

As far as I know that is correct FSU

-Gary

[Mr Cob]

As far as I know that is correct FSU

-Gary

That's how I understand it too :)

[Gseclipse02]

cool cool

so let me get this right ... they need a anemone to host in and the babies just stay in that ???

[RayAllen]

This isnt about breeding clowns, a 1" clown is considered a juvinile. Babie clowns are super tiny and require a whole nother bag of tricks to bring them up in a seperated breeding tank etc...

Basically what everyone is saying is that at a certain stage in their lives before getting into adulthood clowns can morph into whatever sex they feel necessary to survive. Anemones are not needed to keep clown, but in the wild clowns are always seen in or close to their host anemone for protection. The anemone benefits from this because the clowns feed them.

Now in a home reef unless you have ample room its best to either have corals or anemones because anemones are not stationary animals and go where the want; theirfore trampling over your corals and stinging them. Which can stress them out or eventually kill them. Which is why im going anemone/Clam tank only. No corals what so ever in my 39g.

[RayAllen]

Also do not assume just because you have a clown that it will host your anemone. Diffrent clown species prefer diffrent anemone species. For example Cinnamon clowns prefer Bulb Tentacle, Sabae and Magnificent anemones and its rare that they will want to host another kind, but in the home aquarium odd things do happen.