Clownfish issues

[Zack]

After cycling my 10 gallon nano tank, I added a wild caught false percula, after about a week and a half, I decided to add a tank raised black and white false percula to the tank. Since then, the black and white clown has been keeping the wild caught clown inside the caves in the live rock. He doesn't seem to be attacking him, just swimming up to him and then backing off. Is this a form of a mating ritual of just the black clown proving his dominance? The wild caught false percula does not fight back.. Any ideas?

[z28pwr]

Please provide us with the size of both fish. My femaie Maroon clown would not let the male out of the rocks she would only let him peek his head out or come out while feeding, otherwise she would chase him back into the rocks.

[Regric25]

what size are the 2 clowns? How old are they? If the black clown is larger it could be the dominant female and asserting its position as boss. If they are the same size and still small like 1" it could be they are trying to see who the female will be. If they are also the same size and larger it could be they are both females and they are fighting. It's probably the 1st scenario and if it is, just give it time but keep an eye on the smaller one because sometimes they (dominant females) can become too aggressive and end up killing the smaller male.

[Reefer4ever]

Male clownfish are smaller than the female. They are hermaphrodites. All clowns are male. The larger clown will change sex into a dominant female. They can also change sexes if they are alone for a long time. If they are both larger, it is possible they can fight to the death, because they might both be females. If a male loses his "manhood"(changes into a female), he can't grow back another one. Tell us how big they are.

[tebstan]

Male clownfish are smaller than the female. They are hermaphrodites. All clowns are male. The larger clown will change sex into a dominant female. They can also change sexes if they are alone for a long time. If they are both larger, it is possible they can fight to the death, because they might both be females. If a male loses his "manhood"(changes into a female), he can't grow back another one. Tell us how big they are.


Haha, good description. It's called "protandrous sequential hermaphroditism."

(Everyone starts out as boys but only the best one ends up as a girl :lauging: )

[allan]

(Everyone starts out as boys but only the best one ends up as a girl :lauging: )

Ha! Not that I agree with you, but that was funny. :)

[StevenSeas]

Male clownfish are smaller than the female. They are hermaphrodites. All clowns are male. The larger clown will change sex into a dominant female. They can also change sexes if they are alone for a long time. If they are both larger, it is possible they can fight to the death, because they might both be females. If a male loses his "manhood"(changes into a female), he can't grow back another one. Tell us how big they are.

Haha, good description. It's called "protandrous sequential hermaphroditism."

(Everyone starts out as boys but only the best one ends up as a girl :lauging: )

I have to disagree... Clownfish are born "sexless" or as "juvies" some refer to them all as males (except the females though) However my understanding is that they have both sex organs just neither is developed until their role in their fish society calls for it. Everything else I agree with except the last part by Tebstan lol

[Scream311]

Lol 2 all of yalls comments

Good way to start the week

[Europhyllia]

(Everyone starts out as boys but only the best one ends up as a girl :lauging: )
:D

[Zack]

The black one is a little over one and a half inches and the other one is under one and a half inches.

[hobogato]

if they are both over an inch, you probably have two females.

[Kristy]

if they are both over an inch, you probably have two females.

... in which case you have a big problem, especially with only 10g of territory to squabble over. If things don't settle down immediately, you need to make a plan for rehoming one of your fish or else risk finding one dead.

[tebstan]

I have to disagree... Clownfish are born "sexless" or as "juvies" some refer to them all as males (except the females though) However my understanding is that they have both sex organs just neither is developed until their role in their fish society calls for it. Everything else I agree with except the last part by Tebstan lol


I've heard this too, but further reading suggests that is not really the case.

There are sequential hermaphrodites, and simultaneous hermaphrodites.

Clownfish are sequential hermaphrodites. They don't have both reproductive parts at the same time.

There are two types of sequential hermaphrodites. Protandry is when an animal is born male and becomes female. Protogyny is when it is born female and becomes male.

The confusion may come from the fact they are born with the ability to become female. This doesn't mean they are born with both genders.

[tebstan]

The black one is a little over one and a half inches and the other one is under one and a half inches.

Is the little one closer to an inch or 1.5 inches?

How long ago did you introduce them to each other? Any change in behavior today?

[Zack]

Ok, so as for today, there is a bit of change, the black one seems to be a bit less antagonizing of the other fish. The black clown is around 1.5 inches and the smaller one is about 1.1 inches (I just measured as they swam by the glass) Another thing I noticed is when I turn the lights in the aquarium off, the smaller one comes out and the black one does not bother it. During feeding time, the black clown eats normally and the orange clown is now starting to eat a bit of the frozen mysis shrimp with garlic extract.

I have always noticed two small spots on the right side of the black clown, is this normal for a black clown?

http://s1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/zackg7/?action=view&current=P1020546.jpg

Here is a picture of another blackclown with the same spot:

http://www.greenreefing.com/resources/DarwinOcellaris.jpg

[Europhyllia]

what are your long term plans with these? 10 gallon seems pretty tiny for two clowns. Do you have a bigger tank cycling for them?

[Zack]

I have always thought that a 10 gallon was enough for two clowns? If not what is the recommended size for the two of them? Sorry, I'm new to the salt water trade.. Does anyone have any advice on the two spots on my clown?

[hobogato]

...The black clown is around 1.5 inches and the smaller one is about 1.1 inches ...

you may have lucked out with a female and male then

[Europhyllia]

I have always thought that a 10 gallon was enough for two clowns? If not what is the recommended size for the two of them? Sorry, I'm new to the salt water trade.. Does anyone have any advice on the two spots on my clown?
several different diseases that affect clownfish can have spots as symptoms. here's some info:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clnfshdisart.htm

[Zack]

Thanks!

[jrnannery]

Minor hijack...do hermaphroditic fishes that eventually change, change back in the absence of the opposite? Can a clown that has "become" female "become" gender neutral, or even switch to male?

[Zack]

Good question, also, how will I know if one is male and the other is female after their "dispute" is settled? Will one just continue to grow bigger than the other one or can you vent them like you can a freshwater fish?

[Third Coast Tropical]

clownfish are protandrous hermaphrodites...meaning that they change from male to female...once female they can never go back. In most species there is sexual dimorphism, meaning there is a size difference between the sexes...in those cases the female is always the larger fish. Some species are very close in size (ex. Tomatoes) in the sexes, in these cases coloration might tell the difference, or you would have to watch behavior.