Maroon Clown Question

[alexwolf]

how long does it take for 2 yellow stripe maroon's to get together? i had a small one and bought a bigger one, but the bigger one is kicking the others butt.......its been about an hour, but im afriad for the little one, is this normal?

[Instar]

If you introduce them in the late P.M., not too long before lights out, they will usually be together by morning.
If the little one is little enough, it will still be male. The larger one, how large are we talking about? What sized tank?
I have done this several different ways with all different goldstripped maroons. If the little one is getting its tail kicked, separate them with an eggcrate divider. You will have to make it yourself. Got plenty of ideas to help you as I've done this quite a few times. Been breeding them. The larger one may need time to recolonize its intestinal flora if it was just received from a supplier. That can spell trouble for a wild caught maroon and it may need to be kept separate in a quarentine tank for a couple months. Where did you get the bigger one?

[Instar]

If you just put them together tonight, let them fight unless it looks like a death fight. Maroons are good fighters and thats what they do really well, at least at first. They can withstand quite a beating.

[alexwolf]

they are the only fish in a 135. I bought both of them at Alamo aquatics. one 2 days ago and one this evening. The little one, which is maybe 3/4 the size of the other, now has 3 torn fins. They are staying on seperate sides of the tank for now. I guess i will see in the morning

[Instar]

Make sure each one has a cave to hide in at opposite ends. Next time, the large one goes in first, then the little one. The little one may not back down since hte was in there first and more established. It may take longer than one night since they were not added at the same time, thats why they each need their own lair at opposite ends.

[alexwolf]

yeah they have the space. I didnt have any idea.....they are mean little suckers, they went cheek to cheek literally, it was amazing to watch. they touched their cheeks together and spun in circles. interesting

[Instar]

After a while, or perhaps tomorrow or in days(?), the smaller will approach the larger and head toward one side of her and then flutter his fins right against her. Its cool and they'll start to stop fighting and start thinking of other things. Its a real test of nerves for you though.

[Instar]

How are the maroons doing tonight?? What happened so far?

[alexwolf]

well, they seem not to be fighting but the small one has almost no fins left and he keeps rubbing up on my confused hippo tang :(

[Instar]

Just be sure the little guy eats good. If you have troubles with him, you should be sure his fins don't get ripped any furthur.
Make sure no more fighting takes place and if you have to, make an eggcrate divider. You know what that is, right? (Don't use the silver egg crate junk just the plain white.) His fins will grow back pretty fast as long as he was healthy to begin with. They are pretty tough fish.