Adding a second clown fish

[brunobear]

I've got one clown in my nano tank, and I'm planning to move everything to a bigger tank this weekend. I'm not sure what type of clown I've got - I think it's either a perc or an oco, I'll double check before I get another one. I'd love to get a second clown to keep the first one company, but I'm not sure how to go about it.

I was thinking of buying the second clown and putting them both in the new tank at the same time, but the thing is, I've got a lot on my plate that day and I won't have time to make the 45-minute trip to the LFS to pick one up. So, I'm wondering if it would be okay to get a smaller one and introduce it to the tank the next day, or if I should just stick with one clown.

[zenoxa]

Introducing the smaller one the next day should be okay. Both perc and oco clowns are pretty chill, they're among the least aggressive and easiest to pair.

[coltin]

You could set the new tank up a day in advance, just don't move the existing clownfish into it yet. Then, the next day, go pick up the second clown and bring it home, introducing them to the new tank together.

[VibraXe]

Introducing the smaller one the next day should be okay. Both perc and oco clowns are pretty chill, they're among the least aggressive and easiest to pair.

If you've got a lone female clown, which is probably the case, pairing her up can be a nightmare. I learned that the hard way - started with two, lost one, and then the remaining one took out every other clown I introduced.

Your plan to add both to a new tank at the same time is a much better approach. Here's what I'd do: get the second clown about a week before the move, and quarantine it in a small setup - even a 5-gallon bucket with a power head will do. Change the water every few days and keep a close eye on the salinity. Once the new tank is up and running, add both clowns together and cross your fingers.

[coltin]

When you buy a small clownfish from a group, it's likely to be a juvenile that hasn't sexed yet - making it a safer bet to pair. On the other hand, if you leave that little one on its own for a couple of weeks, it'll probably change sex and become a female, which can lead to trouble with your existing clown. As for buying an adult or larger clown, I'd advise against it - chances are it's already a female. Your best bet is to go for the smallest one you can find.

[zenfox8]

You could set the new tank up a day in advance, just don't move the existing clownfish into it yet. Then, the next day, go pick up the second clown and bring it home, introducing them to the new tank together.

Actually, clownfish are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning they're all born male - the dominant male will change sex to female if the current female dies.

[coltin]

Clownfish start out as unsexed juveniles until they find an anemone to call home. Without another clownfish in the anemone, the new arrival becomes female. But if there's already a clownfish in the anemone, the new one becomes male.

In a pair-bonded situation, new clowns that show up will remain subordinate juveniles, not developing a sex until one of the dominant fish is removed. This triggers a shift in the pecking order, allowing the juvenile clowns to move up and eventually change sex.

The presence of bigger fish keeps the juveniles in check, preventing them from developing and keeping them as unsexed juveniles. It's only when they're no longer being bullied that they change sex - usually within a couple of weeks.

[fleeton]

I always thought juvenile clowns were kind of in a gray area, not fully male but not completely sexless either. Either way, it's all about the pecking order and dominance when it comes to pairing them up. The specifics of their sex status at that stage seem pretty minor in the grand scheme of things.