need advice on adding another clown

[Qwank]

so heres the deal. I have a 12g nanocube with a perc and a purple psuedo. they have both been in there for over a year and a half. I'm in the process of moving everything over to a 24g nanocube. the 24g has been running for a month now. i was planning on getting a black clown once the new tank is ready. I'm pretty sure i read a black clown will pair up with a perc. my question is how should i go about doing it? i'm thinking i should get the black clown and add him to the new tank before first. and a week or 2 later add my current clown to it. and add the psuedo in last since hes aggressive. does that sound like a safe way to go? it will also give me time to make sure the new clown is healthy since i have no QT while both tanks are set up.

thanks

 

[marine mike]

It is a good thing you will be introducing them to a new tank, that way the territories won't yet be established. That is the most important item to worry about. If the new clown is in there too long and establishes itself it will then be hard to add another in that size tank. I would say not to wait too long before introducing your original clown with the new one. That does cut back on the QT process a little but I would say gives them a better chance of pairing up successfully. good luck with it!

 

[Qwank]

thanks. are black clowns the same as onyx clowns? I wont have a problem pairing it up with my perc right? i dont need them killing each other.

 

[Matt L.]

As long as you get a very small clown, you should be okay with this species.

My only question is whether you should get the same species (ocelaris or percula) as your existing clownfish. I would think that would be best, although I don't know for sure whether it matters.

The new fish might take some aggression at first, but nature will take its course, and soon you should have a mated pair.

Matt

 

[Qwank]

i thought i've read somewhere that ocelaris and percs will pair up with each other. i'm not positive though. my question i asked about black and onyx clowns being the same, i think black are ocelaris and onyx is perc? onyx are the ones with the orange face correct? or does it turn black over time?

 

[afboundguy]

My only advice is to get the biggest side difference possible between the clowns. I tried pairing up a black clown with a perc and it'd didn't work but I've heard success stories...

 

[Qwank]

My only advice is to get the biggest side difference possible between the clowns. I tried pairing up a black clown with a perc and it'd didn't work but I've heard success stories...

I'm going to get the smallest one i can find, since mine is so old its probably a female already.

 

[jojo1n2]

With a new tank, I would add them all at once. I have three clowns in mine, a pink skunk, saddleback, and a clarki. The saddleback and clarki hang out in a toadstool, and the pink has a purpletip annemonne. I have very little probs with the 3 being aggressive towards each other.

 

[addictedreefer]

I would not try to pair a true black clown with a perc, as the black clowns are ocellaris. Although they look very similar to us, trust me, the clowns know the difference. Therefore, adding clowns of two different species in a 24 gallon is asking for trouble. As far as onyx goes, that should be fine as it is a true perc color variety. Add them at the same time, and as mentioned, make sure there is a significant size difference.

 

[Qwank]

I would not try to pair a true black clown with a perc, as the black clowns are ocellaris. Although they look very similar to us, trust me, the clowns know the difference. Therefore, adding clowns of two different species in a 24 gallon is asking for trouble. As far as onyx goes, that should be fine as it is a true perc color variety. Add them at the same time, and as mentioned, make sure there is a significant size difference.

I got Jay's latest livestock email yesterday and it said he got in 4 onyx clowns. so i went there today and picked up the smallest of the 4, which was also the most orange. i'm guessing it must have been the youngest since the biggest one was more black?

i just got back with it not too long ago and both the new clown and the old clown are accllimating still. i'll post some pics up when they are in the tank.

I'm still nervous about adding 2 fish in a small tank at the same time though.

 

[Qwank]

the smaller one is the onyx:

 

[Qwank]

great. i noticed 3 white spots on the new fish last night before i went to bed. and they are still there this morning. please tell me that could be something else besides ich. the older clown has no spots.

looks like i'll be setting up a QT tonight. how long does the QT have to be running before i can add the fish to it?

 

[afboundguy]

If you put some live rock and water from the display you can put fish in right away. Just remember not to put the rock back in the DT if you use copper/meds... Just throw a HOB filter and a heater and that's it...

 

[Qwank]

i have a whole set up, i just never set it up. i don't have any live rock that i can use. i figure i can take some water out of both my tank tanks though. how do i go about keeping them alive in the QT. do i have to do a water change every day? if its ich, i know i won't be able to put them back for 2 months. how long does it take to kill ich in a QT? i'm wondering if i could add them into my 12g after they are fully treated, instead of staying in QT for 2 months.

sorry, i'm going to have a lot of questions on this. i've had 2 clowns die of ich right after i got them. this was 2 years ago when i first started. i havnt had any fish deaths since. and i would hate to lose the older clown. i stayed up all night during the ice storm with no power keeping her alive, it would be terrible to lose her to ich.