how do I get my clownfish to mate?

[hng]

OK, so I just bought another clownfish to keep the first some company and for them to hopefully mate. So far, the bigger one just keeps chasing the little one around. Are there any secrets on how to get them to pair up and mate?

[ScruffyRubicon]

Time is the only thing you can do.

[carym]

Soft music and candle light..... j/k

[tellycoleman]

If you bought the biggest clown in the tank at the LFS it might also be a female.
I got the 2nd biggest and they still fought for about 2 days.
Now you couldnt pull them apart.

[Hendersonracing]

feed them well & give them time!

[aquawolf]

Just give it time and see what happens, hopefully they will get along and decide to mate for you.

Good luck Hoang!

[hng]

Thanks for advice guys. I guess I'll wait a bit longer. They aren't really dramatically different in size, but the mated pairs I've seen, one fish is WAY bigger than the other.

[aquawolf]

Hey Hoang. I have had my maroons for a very long time and one is almost double the size of the other one. For the last couple of nights she has started hovering over the smaller one and the Kracken where he sleeps. She used to always host in one of my leather corals, so this is a new behavior for her. I am hoping it is leading to something good on the mating front for this pair as that would be way to cool.

I will just have to continue watching and waiting to see what happens.

[evansbr]

you may have two females. if so you will probably end up with one female.
My gold banded pair the female is easily double the size of the male if not more. when you bought the clown, was it the only one in the tank? if not was it biggest, smallest?

[onebadgt]

Pick up a copy of Clownfishes by Joyce D. Wilkerson. She gives several ideas on encouraging spawning. I picked up a pair of black clowns about two months ago & they aren't dramatically differnt in size by anymeans, but I followed all of her advice & we noticed eggs in our tank yesterday morning. Good luck!