Confused on Sex Of Clowns?

[gobyfan]

I need same advice on my 2 clown percs, they get along fine, they like to swim together, and take turns on hosting the feather duster that i have, but my question is that i don't know if i have a pair or not??? the reason why i say that is beacuse both clowns look the same size, and i have read that the male is usally smaller than the female, so what does this mean? Do i have two females?? One is probably a half an inch smaller than the other but at a glance you cant tell the size difference.. Should i get a smaller Perc and take one of mine back? Or should i leave the ones that i have in my tank? I would hate to take one away since they seem to like each others company. the only thing is i would like to have a female and a male. Or maybee i already have that in my tank??? I am confused sorry!!

I hope this makes sense!
GF

 

[efish11]

Unless they are full grown adults I would wait and see what happens.

 

[gobyfan]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by efish11:
<strong>Unless they are full grown adults I would wait and see what happens.</strong><hr></blockquote>

This is probably a stupid question but i will ask!

How can you tell if they are full adults?
They are pretty large, but i am not sure if they are full grown!

GF

[ April 08, 2002: Message edited by: gobyfan ]</p>

 

[Rich-n-poor]

Basically all junveniles start out as males, as the clown fish mature the dominate one will become female and outgrow the other.

This larger female will then keep the smaller male submissive and in the juvenile male stage.

If they are not being aggressive toward each other and are swimming together the chances are good they will become a set.

But dont be surprised if one suddenly intimatidates the other into a corner for a week and never lets him out. this is what occurs when the larger becomes a full blown female

HTH

_________________
Honda CB900F

 

[Gatortailale1]

How long have you had the clowns in the tank together. I think it's a 6+ month process for them to mate up and mature into female and male. If they get along let them be.

Patients young grasshopper.

 

[gobyfan]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Gatortailale:
<strong>How long have you had the clowns in the tank together. I think it's a 6+ month process for them to mate up and mature into female and male. If they get along let them be.

Patients young grasshopper.

</strong><hr></blockquote>

They have been in the tank for about a month now!
So even if they are the same size they will pair up as female and male?
GF

 

[Gatortailale1]

I would give them more time. As with anything in a reeftank, it takes a long time for things to grow.

We all (or most of us) are guilty of wanting instant success. IMHO I would just let the clowns do their thing and figure out who will be male and who will be female. They may still be in juv. stage and that is why they are same size.

John Tullock's book "Natural reef Aquarium" gives a good short overview of clows and their sex & development.

[ April 08, 2002: Message edited by: Gatortailale ]</p>

 

[JohnD]

Beside's Tullock's book, you may want to check out Joyce Wilkerson's Clownfishes. her book focuses on breeding, but IMHO she gives a great deal of background on each of the species, including the maturation from juvenile to male to female.

 

[Anonymous]

Define "pretty large". My maroon clown female is nearly 6". (The largest I've ever seen was about 10"!!) My male maroon is only about 2". Since they were not a naturally caught 'mated pair', they haven't begun to breed yet, but they've only been togehter for six months or so.

Clowns are sexually dimorphic, meaning that if you have a pair that are of roughly the same size, but getting along okay, as they grow (we're talking months to years, here), one will naturally outgrow the other and become sexually female, while the other will stay smaller and become sexually male. Give 'em time and good luck!

-John

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by gobyfan:
<strong>

This is probably a stupid question but i will ask!

How can you tell if they are full adults?
They are pretty large, but i am not sure if they are full grown!

GF

[ April 08, 2002: Message edited by: gobyfan ]</strong><hr></blockquote>