Left 1 Clown Fish in IQ5, can I add 1 more?

[JeffL]

Hi all,, I had two false clownfish in the past but 1 died. I know clownfish can be difficult to live together with but the only one left looks so lonely.

It's about 3-4cm, can I introduce one more in? I know it has to be smaller in size but is there any other concerns?

I only have 1 clownfish and 1 cleaner shrimp now.

Thanks in advance

[Gouldian]

Your current is 3-4cm which is still pretty small. If I were you I will add a 5cm clown.

Reason is that the existing one may be too aggressive for a 2-3cm new comer. Thus adding a larger one may even up the odds. Also, I don't think your existing one has morph to a female, it could have morph to a male at this stage.

Hope that helps.

[JeffL]

Your current is 3-4cm which is still pretty small. If I were you I will add a 5cm clown.

Reason is that the existing one may be too aggressive for a 2-3cm new comer. Thus adding a larger one may even up the odds. Also, I don't think your existing one has morph to a female, it could have morph to a male at this stage.

Hope that helps.

thank you for the reply, appreciate it!

oh that is a good thought. I was bothered by only being able to introduce smaller size. Is there any way to tell if it has morph to female?

also, since it is a false percula, is it advisable i buy a true percula?

[Gouldian]

Actually false or true percs are just common names and does not have carry any significance.

Amphiprion percula is commonly called percula or true perc and Amphiprion Ocellaris is commonly called false percs in this hobby to differentiate it from the percs. Most believes that the percs are slightly more agressive compared to the ocellaris however most also find that percs colours are more vibrant.

I suggest to get another A. Ocellaris, If you have some spare cash, you may want to get the Aussie black ocellaris so that you will have higher chance of pairing them. Hope that helps.

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6/identify-true-or-false-percula-clown-86803.html

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1500+1114&pcatid=1114

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocellaris_clownfish

[JeffL]

Actually false or true percs are just common names and does not have carry any significance.

Amphiprion percula is commonly called percula or true perc and Amphiprion Ocellaris is commonly called false percs in this hobby to differentiate it from the percs. Most believes that the percs are slightly more agressive compared to the ocellaris however most also find that percs colours are more vibrant.

I suggest to get another A. Ocellaris, If you have some spare cash, you may want to get the Aussie black ocellaris so that you will have higher chance of pairing them. Hope that helps.

http://www.thereefta...lown-86803.html

http://www.liveaquar...114&pcatid=1114

http://en.wikipedia....laris_clownfish

thank you Sir! I should be shopping for a bigger A. Ocellaris these few days

[Gouldian]

Btw, ocellaris also tends to be cheaper compared to percs unlike its the black ocellaris.

Also, you can't tell whether they are male or female from just a look.

Clownfishes are Protandrous hermaphrodites, they live in communities consisting of a dominant feamle, several males and the rest asexual. If the dominant female is removed, the next most aggressive male will moprh into female and lead the community. So the largest and most aggressive is usually females.

With the size you mentioned in your earlier post, I don't think your current fish has fully developed into female but rather I suspect it is morphing to male.

http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/articles/2002/hermaphroditism.html

[JeffL]

Btw, ocellaris also tends to be cheaper compared to percs unlike its the black ocellaris.

Also, you can't tell whether they are male or female from just a look.

Clownfishes are Protandrous hermaphrodites, they live in communities consisting of a dominant feamle, several males and the rest asexual. If the dominant female is removed, the next most aggressive male will moprh into female and lead the community. So the largest and most aggressive is usually females.

With the size you mentioned in your earlier post, I don't think your current fish has fully developed into female but rather I suspect it is morphing to male.

http://www.reefscape...phroditism.html

Thanks for your clarifications. Ok, so I think my objective is to get a clownfish which is big enough. Hopefully there are many I can choose tomorrow when I visit the fish farms in pasir ris.

I did another measurement yesterday, yes it is around 3-4cm.

Oh previously when there were two of them, this guy were quite aggressive to the other, does it mean it's already a female or they are just fighting for space.

[Gouldian]

From my experience, they will slowly developed into females but this will takes time. And usually females are start from 5cm.

[JeffL]

From my experience, they will slowly developed into females but this will takes time. And usually females are start from 5cm.

oh ok, so it is best I find one which is >5cm tomorrow? Ok what if I find one which is not female will the two fight? I am thinking at least the bigger one can suppress the incumbent

[Gouldian]

We won't know whether your new one will be female but if you get a larger one it will be able to hold off the incumbent and therefore with time the larger one will morph into female and the smaller one will be male.

[JeffL]

We won't know whether your new one will be female but if you get a larger one it will be able to hold off the incumbent and therefore with time the larger one will morph into female and the smaller one will be male.

Thank you for your help!! Appreciate it deeply!

Wish me luck

[JeffL]

We won't know whether your new one will be female but if you get a larger one it will be able to hold off the incumbent and therefore with time the larger one will morph into female and the smaller one will be male.

Hi bro, I bought a 5cm big clownfish on friday after acclimatising it slowly it seems good. The incumbent wasn't 'angry' with the new guy and is all well. They are swimming together constantly

Only thing is the new guy is not eating yet. I hope he can get used to my pellets soon

[Gouldian]

Try with some mysis or cyclopeeze. It will soon start to feed by looking at the incumbent feeding.

Good luck!

[JeffL]

Try with some mysis or cyclopeeze. It will soon start to feed by looking at the incumbent feeding.

Good luck!

I tried mysis yesterday but that bugger just don't even smell it haha

[Gouldian]

I tried mysis yesterday but that bugger just don't even smell it haha

Assuming you gotten healthy fish - wait a few days.

Is the new comer swimming around or cowering at one corner?

[JeffL]

Assuming you gotten healthy fish - wait a few days.

Is the new comer swimming around or cowering at one corner?

Now that you mention, I think 70% of the time he is at one corner. He don't look unhealthy I think

[Gouldian]

Now that you mention, I think 70% of the time he is at one corner. He don't look unhealthy I think

I assume you did not QT it before releasing into your tank. Was it a wild caught fish? Can you take a pic of it close up?

[JeffL]

I assume you did not QT it before releasing into your tank. Was it a wild caught fish? Can you take a pic of it close up?

Hmm no, I didn't QT it. I got it from recent AM shipment, guess it's wild caught.

Sure, I try to get a clear picture tonight when back

[JeffL]

hi bro, here you go my new clown fish photos. Can't really capture closeup without sharp images. This is the best...

as of last night he is still not eating...

[Gouldian]

Looking at pic, I can't see any signs of disease or injury thus I believe it could be quite ok. Continue your feeding regime and also observe.

If they start to hide at a corner, swim and stay at the top of the tank then you will need to be concern.

All the best!

[JeffL]

Looking at pic, I can't see any signs of disease or injury thus I believe it could be quite ok. Continue your feeding regime and also observe.

If they start to hide at a corner, swim and stay at the top of the tank then you will need to be concern.

All the best!

thank you!!

but I did see that fellow staying around the surface but not grasping for air. When I walk over he will swim away not sure if this is going to be an issue. Not permanent just sometimes only

[Gouldian]

I super stressed clownfish will remain at the top even when you walk near and you can easily net it out. So look out for this.

That is one good thing about clownfish unlike angels, wrasses and especially tangs - they will swim away even when they are emaciated and prevent them from being rescued.

I have had 1 juv perc that was rescued several times when it got bullied by my large matured black ocellaris pair. After several attempts, it is now doing well in a part of the tank where the ocellaris pair do not see as threat to their territory.

Hope that helps.

[JeffL]

I super stressed clownfish will remain at the top even when you walk near and you can easily net it out. So look out for this.

That is one good thing about clownfish unlike angels, wrasses and especially tangs - they will swim away even when they are emaciated and prevent them from being rescued.

I have had 1 juv perc that was rescued several times when it got bullied by my large matured black ocellaris pair. After several attempts, it is now doing well in a part of the tank where the ocellaris pair do not see as threat to their territory.

Hope that helps.

Oh ok, I will monitor that fellow. One thing to note, when I feed cyclopeeze I did notice he was a little bit more active but he still didnt bother about the food. Hope that is a good sign showing he is aware of food but not his type yet. adapting

[JeffL]

as of yesterday my new tank member still refuse to eat but I did see that he is getting very active when I feed mysis. Hope he can start eating soon. Starting to worry

[Gouldian]

If the stomach is not sunken in, it should be eating something.

Good luck!