Mated pair vs. just getting 2 clowns...

Psyduck · 09-21-2002, 03:45 PM

Ok I am a bit confused. I would like to get a pair of true perculas and either have them be mated or develop that relationship. I thought if you got clowns in a pair, mated or no, one would either change sexes or if they were already opposite sexes, they would just turn "mated" assuming they are added at the same time. The reason I'm asking is I was looking at online sites to buy the 2 fish, and a "mated" pair is like $80, while the fish singley are like $20. Hopefully my question is clear

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horge · 09-21-2002, 05:24 PM

Hi!

All clowns are born male. The dominant one in a group turns female ---she won't turn male again.

So, if you buy just any two clowns ---you risk purchasing two females, and that's asking for trouble.

You can minimize the risk by buying VERY young specimens ---but then you have to wait quite a while for breeding maturity, and run the risk of mortality along the way.

Or you can just buy a mated pair and feel the hole in your wallet.

seahawkjohnny · 09-21-2002, 06:23 PM

Or when you buy them make sure one is bigger than the other... look for 1 to be double the others size,.the bigger one will be the female, she will be the dominate one of the group

beach bum · 09-22-2002, 02:56 AM

I've also heard about what Johnny said. They really don't begin their major development until sex is or pairing is 'established', male or female. All the lfs's around here that sell mated pairs of common clownfishes just throw them together and if they get along fine - jack the price.

Psyduck · 09-22-2002, 07:24 AM

Yeah my LFS had a couple false percs in a tank and I asked if they were mated. "Oh yes, a customer brought them in, blah blah blah". They both looked almost the same size, female size. My parents have a pair of false percs and the male is VERY small compared to the female. So I was like "Yeah ok, and you wanna charge me $90 for a pair of false percs". Of course this is also the store that changes their prices depending on the day. Shame I cant find a better one around here. Ah but that is a different thread isnt it. Thanks for the info.

pcmankey · 09-23-2002, 02:35 PM

I bought two regular baby O. clowns that were the same size. Now, 6 months later, one is more than twice the size of the other and they are inseparable. And they do, at times, what looks like mating behavior--cleaning off and guarding an area of rock. But I haven't seen any eggs.