Clownfish pairing

[clownfishfanatic]

Hello, hopefully this is the right thread to post this in.

I’ve been looking online at some clownfish. *I do not have a tank setup yet just looking in advance

The website I decided to go with only sells pairs of the same morph. (I’m not sure if morph is the right word for the strains of color)

If I wanted to get clownfish of different morphs I would get them as juveniles so they’re both boys and have not yet gone through sequential hermaphroditism as I believe it’s called.

Is there anything I should know about introducing them together, what to expect, things to worry about etc. ?

 

[Andy Sager]

Get them very young and at the same time. That's about the most efficient way to get a pair in 1-3 years. With that said, why would you want to breed different color morphs?

 

[clownfishfanatic]

Get them very young and at the same time. That's about the most efficient way to get a pair in 1-3 years. With that said, why would you want to breed different color morphs?

Thanks!! I’m not too interested in breeding and couldn’t decide on just one morph

 

[Andy Sager]

Thanks!! I’m not too interested in breeding and couldn’t decide on just one morph

Well then that is going to be a problem because if you have a small tank and 2 young clowns, you will eventually have a pair. If you get 2 that are already sexually mature, they may fight in a small tank. If you can get a definite female of one morph and an unsexed one of another morph, that is about your only guaranteed way of them not fighting in a small tank. In larger tanks where the fish can get away from each other to declare a territory, you have a better chance of success. Clownfish are no different than damselfish, very territorial. This is why it's so difficult to house other fish with them in small tanks. Just keep this in mind when choosing your fish.

 

[clownfishfanatic]

Well then that is going to be a problem because if you have a small tank and 2 young clowns, you will eventually have a pair. If you get 2 that are already sexually mature, they may fight in a small tank. If you can get a definite female of one morph and an unsexed one of another morph, that is about your only guaranteed way of them not fighting in a small tank. In larger tanks where the fish can get away from each other to declare a territory, you have a better chance of success. Clownfish are no different than damselfish, very territorial. This is why it's so difficult to house other fish with them in small tanks. Just keep this in mind when choosing your fish.

Thanks! Very helpful! I don’t mind if they form a pair. I didn’t think eggs would last in a main display tank

 

[clownfishfanatic]

But maybe just getting 1 would be better than. Although it’s natural, I don’t really want any clownfish babies to be eaten. I read clownfish can still do fine without a bonded mate with them

 

[Andy Sager]

But maybe just getting 1 would be better than. Although it’s natural, I don’t really want any clownfish babies to be eaten. I read clownfish can still do fine without a bonded mate with them

Your choice.

 

[Andy Sager]

Thanks! Very helpful! I don’t mind if they form a pair. I didn’t think eggs would last in a main display tank

There's really no reason why they wouldn't because the parents will get overly aggressive to protect their eggs so getting just one instead of a pair sounds like a more sound idea.