HELP! put another pec in and my other perc is picking on it.

ReefJunkie · 08-11-2001, 04:57 PM

I have a 2 1/2" true percula and just picked up another true perc that is about a 1". I put him in the tank with the lights out and when he got near my original perc the battle was on (well not much of a battle the new perc just sat there will the other one repeatedly nailed him

. I currently have the new one at the far end of the tank and all is well at this time.

Will they just take sometime to get use to each other or is my planned pair doomed?

Drew · 08-11-2001, 05:12 PM

IME, they will bicker for a few months and then will learn to accept each other. Of course, if the fish gets beat up too bad, you should remove one.

Drew

FishDaddy · 08-11-2001, 05:21 PM

Scott,
It's hit or miss on adding new Percmates. Usually, adding the small one for an existing larger one works out once they accept their dominant/submissive roles. Last time I did this (same relative sizes as yours) it worked out very peacefully).
Watch them and, as Drew said, if the warfare gets too intense, you might have to think trade for a different new one.
Dick

MontanaRocknReefer · 08-11-2001, 05:28 PM

Also try to get the smallest one you can because from what I have read the sex is not determined yet and if the larger one is a female the small one will become a male.
They say the larger one in clowns is usually the female. That is the way it is with my pair of maroon clownfish. She has him in a certain spot on the reef and that is where he stays pretty much. Johnny

ReefJunkie · 08-11-2001, 05:39 PM

Drew, Dick, and Johnny,
Thanks for your quick replies

I currently have them separated at each end of the tank. The little guy keeps wondering over near the other one then I have to separate them.

I think what set my large on off was that after putting in the new one in he immediately went to the other end of the tank and dove into my other clowns host coral. I am going to leave the lights off for another two or three hours and see how things go.

I would put him in my hospital tank but I just tore it down two days ago (setting up a prop/fish room) I should have the tanks up and going in about three days and hopefully the little guy makes it.