Replacing a Clown

OIIIIIO · 01-07-2008, 12:33 PM

One of my two Ocellaris clown fish decided to try carpet surfing a few months ago. I'd like to replace him but I'm afraid of having two females fighting 'til death. At what size or agedo they change sex? I had the clowns for about a year and they never really grew. The one that is still left is about 1.5" and thought he/she'd be a bit bigger by now. Should I buy another pair or just one. This is for a 55g tank with three chromis and no anemones. The single clown seems to like hosting in monti caps.

tellycoleman · 01-07-2008, 12:42 PM

when they are in the store you have to observe them. If they are the biggest then that is the greatest chance of gettiing a female.

crvz · 01-07-2008, 12:44 PM

get the smallest one you can. most likely it would be a male, and then the more dominant of the fish will swap to female.

OIIIIIO · 01-07-2008, 01:19 PM

Trouble is, all the clowns at the LFS I went to during my lunch break look like the same size and about the same size as what I have. One is more dominant acting though. Hopefully, the person working there is good with a net and doesn't get them mixed up chasing them around.

Shouldn't mine be bigger than it is though? In over a year it hasn't gotten any bigger. I thought O. clowns got to be 3".

crvz · 01-07-2008, 01:26 PM

they do get that big, but it can take a while. these fish can live for 15+ years in captivity, sometimes longer.

Loverotties · 01-07-2008, 01:26 PM

What size was the one that died?If it was the bigger it was the female so look for the smallest to be almost shure.And the Oppisite if it was the smaller get the biggest you can buy.

OIIIIIO · 01-07-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loverotties

What size was the one that died?If it was the bigger it was the female so look for the smallest to be almost shure.And the Oppisite if it was the smaller get the biggest you can buy.

Hard to tell. By the time I found it, it was all dried up. I orignally thought it got eaten by hermits after it died until I found it a few weeks ago behind the tank. Since it's been gone so long, the other would have changed to female by now if it is mature enough.