Adding second clown

[Jim11]

For the last 4 months I have had a pair of small tank raised tomatoe clowns. Yesterday one had jumped out of the tank and when I found him it was to late. I want to know if it is possible to add another. Or will the one in there kill it.
My LFS advised agaoinst it unless I add one that is a bit larger than the one I have.

Jim

 

[31-2c]

I added a second maroon clown to my tank a few months ago.

Make sure there is a significant difference in size, not just a little bit.

I would go with one that is much smaller, rather than larger.

Be prepared to remove one if it doesn't work

David

 

[reefer_jones]

I agree with the idea of adding a smaller clown.

Clowns are born male and eventually one clown will become a dominant female.

If your existing clown is female and you add a female... you can have problems....

adding a smaller clown will assure he is male and the existing clown will become the dominante female.

 

[FishDaddy]

I concur with what's been said. Get a much smaller one.
When I lost one of my Ocellaris after almost 2 years, I added a smaller one, but it obviously wasn't small enough.

The larger one beat the smaller one up badly.

I then found a much smaller one, just a wee child, and Big Mama took to it like it was her pet! They've been together over a year now and a happy couple.
Dick

 

[AuroraDave]

Not to add duplicate info, but I just went thru the same ordeal. I lost a jumper before I built my canopy. What a shame they were a beautiful couple. After a few months, I ran into another gold striped maroon that was very small. After acclimation, I added the new clown and they immediately swam and danced together in circles. This changed to nipping after 30 mins and the new entry wouldnt swim and hide, so I pulled him out. No real damage done, but I didnt want to push it. After another couple weeks I tried again, placing the new clown on the other side of my 135. They kept their distance at first and eventually warmed up to each other. Now they are lovers (if you count fixed marriages)

 

[Jim11]

Thanks for the help everyone. I think I will try
that tonight. My LFS had lots of small TR tomatoes.
I'll let you know how I make out.

Jim

 

[JohnD]

Jim,

I am not interested in breeding clownfishes, but Joyce Wilkersen's book also provides a great deal of background information about all of the species of clowns you will see at the LFS and online. I picked mine up at half.com for $20 new.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

I added a smaller Clarke's clown to my tank which housed a tomato clown. She bullies him a little,but a few weeks after adding him,she spawned. Of course she later ate them because they cannot mate. I agree with the others,get a much smaller clown and they should be fine.