Clown Help

[oafie2244]

I bought three tru perculas from fly fish express, and two seem to be battling can i keep three in a tank or should i take one back to a lfs? I need help soon before they kill each other, i have seperated them, but i don't know what to do about the future?

Brett

 

[JohnD]

What size are the 3 percs? Are they all the same size?

Here is a quote from Wilkerson's Clownfishes:

"Because social surroundings determine gender, clownfishes from the Amphiprion genus can form a pair from any 2 juveniles. Two well-cared for small clowns can become a male/female pair, or one large clownfish (presumably already female) and a smaller one (adolescent or male) can also form a pair. Avoid pairing 2 large clownfish, because they will probably both female and ... may duel to the death."

"If you already have one clownfish and are introducing a potential mate, make arrangements for the newcomer's safety. Additional hiding spaces for the second fish allow it to find an unclaimed sanctuary. Better yet, add the two fish to a broodstcok tank at the same time so that neither one has a prior territorial claim."

She speaks about 2 fish, but you have 3. I hope this helps, at least somewhat.

 

[JennM]

If they are all juveniles, then they are probably duking it out for who gets to be the female

just as the quotes above allude.

My recommendation, for the sake of STRESS levels in the tank, is choose the two you want to keep, and trade the odd man out in at LFS. The remaining two will become a pair.

Jenn

 

[small-fish]

how big can a percula clown be to be still considered a juvenille? is 2 inch long juvenille?
just wondering, thanks.