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Mating a pair of Buck Clownfish (1 Viewer)

ConnorG

ConnorG

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Apr 22, 2012
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I picked up the cutest pair if Buck Clownfish yesterday and wanted to make them a mated pair. There is a bigger one and then a slightly smaller one. I put them in a breeders net yesterday because they were so small and I didn't want them to be picked on or blown around. But the big one seems to be exhibiting major aggression towards the smaller one, cornering him in the top corner of the breeders net. Eventually he jumped out into the main tank, he did this 2 times and it scared the crap out of me because he is tiny. I know aggression is normal but it got to the point of where I have to separate them when I'm not home because I want to observe them in case I need to intervene. The little one seems to be breathing really really heavy and I'm really worried about him that he will die of a heart attack! If that's possible. Anything I should do? Or do differently?
 
Just put them in the tank.

You're making it harder on them than it needs to be. If they are small then they should be able to easily hide from any larger fish. What fish do you have in your tank? What size? A breeders net is too small to keep them in. It will take a long time for them to grow. If they're jumping out of the net that means that they want OUT.

Also if you looked at the other thread about their baby clowns they have said the same thing you are worried about. It looks like all the baby clowns from yesterday are "Breathing heavy" and don't worry about the current. . . . sounds like they have a blast swimming up the current.
 
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Lyretail anthias
Tailspot blenny
Randals goby
Royal grama
 
I'd be careful about the Lyretail anthias and Royal Gramma the most. I would suggest using something like a 10g or a sump as a grow-out tank for the Clownfish. They are too small to be put with those fish, but too big and active for a breeding net.
 
I picked up two bucks too! They have my whole BC29 to them selves and are having a great time surfing* in the MP10s current! I would also like mine to be a mated pair. Mine are fighting a bit as well but from what I understand they are figuring out who is the boss and that one will be the larger female and then the one that lost the fight will be the smaller male. Hope this helps!
 
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they are fighting to figure out who is the dominant one. The may beat each other up a little, but don't worry, they heal pretty fast, and when they are done, you will have a "mated" pair. Although they won't mate till they are older.
 
I have them in a box that hangs over the side of the tank, it's 1 gallon but these guys are only probably 3/4 of an inch at most. They are tiny. And I'm sorry Badomen but I don't remember ready about breathing heavy in the other thread. The little one is still breathing extremely heavy and being bullied a LOT. It scares me because he is being bullied and I'm worried he is going to die from it. He has one nip in his dorsal fin. The box has a siphon to siphon water through the box but it has dividers that are clear and I put those in to give the male a break because the bullying is relentless. What should I do?:cry:
 
The best thing to do at this point is to release them into the tank. 1 gallon is not enough for 2 clowns and is why the larger one is beating up the other one so much. Normally there would be a fight and then the loser would dash away from the larger one. But with 1 gallon of space it can't hide or run so the larger one just keeps beating on it.
 
To be really honest about your situation ... They will kill eachother especially in a breeders net. Too cramp no space to run n hide. Depending on your tank size any bigger than 29 biocube I wouldn't put them there also. Too big of a tank harder for a 3/4" or smaller clownfish to find food... He will find some but not enough unless you dump a butt load thus cause higher nitrate and more water changes. I recommend a 5-10 gallon and just put them both in there. They will fight a little but there will be room to roam around. This is what I would do if I were you... Good luck

They won't mate for awhile... Some people get lucky and they can start breeding at around 2 years old. Some can take up to 5yrs all depending on environment food etc. patience is key
 
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So is it risky to have mine in my BC29? What if I turn off the pumps to feed them?:cry:
 
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Kveekx said:
So it ia risky to have mine in my BC29? What if I turn off the pumps to feed them?:cry:
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No, dump them in. Give them a few days to get used to the environment, feed them, but don't expect them to eat. If you feed them at the same time/times (and with fish this small, many small feedings are preferable) and the same spot in the tank everyday, they will get used to the feeding pattern and come out to eat. Mine ate the frozen food right out of my hand while I had it in the tank to thaw.
 
Your likely years before they will spawn. Enjoy them in the show for a while. The only real reason to keep seperated would be to make sure they are eating well and not getting out competed for food from the other more established fish.

If they don't find something to host right away they may end up hanging out in one of the top corners. If so, you may have the same results only will end up on the floor. So best to keep the tank covered if you don't already. Once they find something to host it makes it unlikely to jump.
 
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I have had a 20 long set up for a couple months that I have been wanting to use as a frag tank but the nitrates are a little but high. Around 50 ppm I did a 50% waterchange and I have about 5-8 pounds of kt in there as well as about 15 pounds of live sand. At what level if nitrates can I put the clowns in? Ammonias and nitrites are at 0. I am also having a hair algea issue so I added a a skimmer from my old 24 gallon. What else can I do to lower nitrates and get rid of the ha?
 
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Kveekx said:
So it ia risky to have mine in my BC29? What if I turn off the pumps to feed them?:cry:
Click to expand...

I dumped mine in the BC29 and left for a birthday party. Got back to find two of them in the middle chamber in the back and one missing. I'm going to disagree with the others and say it isn't safe if you picked up clowns as small as I did.
 
data_loss said:
I dumped mine in the BC29 and left for a birthday party. Got back to find two of them in the middle chamber in the back and one missing. I'm going to disagree with the others and say it isn't safe if you picked up clowns as small as I did.
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Yes and that is why I don't buy or sell any under 1". Most people aren't equipped to take care of a tiny fish.
 
ConnorG said:
I have had a 20 long set up for a couple months that I have been wanting to use as a frag tank but the nitrates are a little but high. Around 50 ppm I did a 50% waterchange and I have about 5-8 pounds of kt in there as well as about 15 pounds of live sand. At what level if nitrates can I put the clowns in? Ammonias and nitrites are at 0. I am also having a hair algea issue so I added a a skimmer from my old 24 gallon. What else can I do to lower nitrates and get rid of the ha?
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If you want to get nitrates under control after a cycle, you need to do a near 100% water change. Your just not going to get anywhere with smaller ones. With a 20g long it should be hard to do a larger water change.

Having said that, clowns should not care about the nitrates just so long as they are well feed and getting good nutrition.
 
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