Picasso Clown

[howze01]

So I have seen both Percula and Ocellaris Picasso Clowns. Any way to tell the difference between the 2? I read about the differences between the normal ones but not so sure if they would be as apparent in a Picasso.

Anyone ever try to mix a Perc and an Ocellaris?

 

[NikkiT]

Ocellaris and A. Percula will hybridize. They can be kept in "pairs"; you have the same issue with pairing an ocellaris with a true perc as you would have with pairing any other two clowns, need to be careful with the size of your clowns.

Ocellaris picaso clowns will not develop the thick black edges that the true perc picasos develop.

 

[howze01]

Well, figured I would update this. I got the new Picasso (thanks Tony, it's an awesome fish) and my Ocellaris was not pleased in the least. So, I decided the thing to do was to pull the old Ocellaris out for a few days. He's living in the frag tank to give the new one a chance to establish itself. Going to try adding the Ocellaris back in Saturday. I'm going to give him a day or two in a specimen container (don't worry, there will be holes drilled in it) for a day or so to see how they react. I'm hoping they work it out!

 

[NikkiT]

It is possible that it will take more than a day or two in a specimen container. One way to limit the damaged cause by an aggressive female clown (your aggressive "he" is likely a "she") is by placing a barrier with a small hole in it in your tank, giving the smaller fish a "safe" space to retreat to that the larger fish cannot get in to. A freshwater breader cage with a hole cut into it can also work, so long as the larger fish can't get in.
If that is not feasible, I have also had luck with mid-sized wide-mouthed glass containers, with mesh tops, so that water can flow in the container, located inside of the tank. If you have the room to do it, I like this method for clowns because you can add a piece of PVC or a rock for the fish to hide in, lowering potential stress level to the fish in the restricted area.
Good luck!

 

[shipwrecked]

Glad you like the clown...and I agree or what Ive done when introducing new tangs to my tank I took eggcrate and sectioned off the tank to give the newcomer(s) time and room to get settled in...post pics will ya....lol

 

[howze01]

The funny thing is, the newer one id just slightly bigger than the old one but they are both only about 2". I was hoping that they were still small enough that it will work out.

OK Tony, I will get a pic of him/her/it today

 

[mnat]

Just a little clown biology. Clowns are born sexless with the biggest one in the group becoming female and the rest become males. If the female dies or moves away then the next biggest male becomes the new female. Once a clown becomes a female it will not switch back to a male. The males can switch to a female but not the other way around. Females can be very aggressive towards a new male and it might just take some time for her to calm down. If there is steady continued aggression that does not go away you might have two females which means you would have to rehome one of them.

 

[howze01]

The funny thing is, the bigger clown (the new Picasso) is the larger one and the aggression was only from the old one to the new one. The new one just kind of ignored it and kept swimming around. Not sure if the months alone in the tank turned the Occellaris into a female or what. Hopefully they will figure it out when I put them back together again.

 

[howze01]

So after bringing the Occellaris back up from the frag tank Sunday, I kept it in a plastic breeder cage until tonight. Let it out and after a little bit of displaying time (the Occellaris mostly) they seem to be OK now. They are hanging together now and except for the occasional shimmy they aren't even displaying anymore. Got my fingers crossed but it looks good!