R.I.P clownfish (How do I go about getting another?)

[kevin]

Sadly, one of my black & white clownfish has jumped to his death sometime today. I took off the screen top a month or two ago because I got a new light bracket. Well, one finally took the plunge. How do I go about introducing a new clown? I don't seem to have very good luck with fish. I feel real bad for the lonely one.

 

[ZoaNut]

Sadly, one of my black & white clownfish has jumped to his death sometime today. I took off the screen top a month or two ago because I got a new light bracket. Well, one finally took the plunge. How do I go about introducing a new clown? I don't seem to have very good luck with fish. I feel real bad for the lonely one.

I've heard mixed methods, but mine has always worked for me. I usually take the remaining clown out and put him in a QT for a day or two. Introduce the new one to him/her in a bowl. Allow them to dance a bit and get to know each other, then release them back into the display. It's worked 4 times so far with multiple pairs I've made here from loner fish I've inherited or taken on trade. Only fail I've had was a maroon!

 

[Sunny]

Sorry for your loss. The main thing you need to pay attention to is, why did the clown jump? You had an issue with the firefish as well.
Which fish is bothering the others? Is it your wrasse? If so, you might have to find a new home for it.

Sunny

 

[kevin]

I've heard mixed methods, but mine has always worked for me. I usually take the remaining clown out and put him in a QT for a day or two. Introduce the new one to him/her in a bowl. Allow them to dance a bit and get to know each other, then release them back into the display. It's worked 4 times so far with multiple pairs I've made here from loner fish I've inherited or taken on trade. Only fail I've had was a maroon!

Thanks for the advice!

Sorry for your loss. The main thing you need to pay attention to is, why did the clown jump? You had an issue with the firefish as well.
Which fish is bothering the others? Is it your wrasse? If so, you might have to find a new home for it.

Sunny

yeah, I have no idea Sunny. That clown was acting somewhat strange the last few days. They hang out in the back right corner almost 24/7 until it's feeding time. Yesterday I saw the clown swimming around the tank which was unusual but it was swimming fine. The wrasse & the clowns have been in the tank from the beginning(last december). I came into my room & it smelled fishie. I looked behind the tank and found the clown & 2 snails! I've since put the screen top back on. I just have to modify it for easier use. It could only be the wrasse or pistol shrimp or ?. The only other fish I have are barnacle blennies.. I have a emerald crab that minds his own & two harlequin shrimp.

 

[MadReefer]

I agree with Sunny. If the fish are hiding in the top back corner that is not good. In my experience another fish was harassing it, could be the other clown. You need to find which fish it is before trying to add more.

 

[kevin]

They chose the back right wall to host. They've been there ever since I got them. Even when I moved the tank and put them back they stayed there.

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2

 

[Hawkeye]

I went thru this 2 years ago.

I introduced a very small clownfish to my dominant female clown. The juvi understood the pecking order very quick and they became a mated pair about a year later as he did the dance and she laid the eggs again. Under no circumstances should you get a clown of similar size as that will be a recipe for disaster.

If there is something in the tank causing the fish death, then just wait a while. No need to rush to add another clown immediately.

The back wall is fine. That is where mine laid their eggs consistently, and they defended the back corner from all comers.

 

[kevin]

I went thru this 2 years ago.

I introduced a very small clownfish to my dominant female clown. The juvi understood the pecking order very quick and they became a mated pair about a year later as he did the dance and she laid the eggs again. Under no circumstances should you get a clown of similar size as that will be a recipe for disaster.

If there is something in the tank causing the fish death, then just wait a while. No need to rush to add another clown immediately.

The back wall is fine. That is where mine laid their eggs consistently, and they defended the back corner from all comers.

I can only assume the wrasse bullied it out or he jumped on his own. Everyone once in awhile at night I would see the wrasse go in the clownfish corner and chase one for few seconds and leave. He seems to have random outbursts. I still don't know if that warrants getting rid of him. He was my first ever fish purchased. I do want sexy shrimp though & I cannot have them with him. He also did a fantastic job getting rid of flatworms.(ugh). I did get a message from a clownfish depot on r2r which is based in PA. They have some nice clowns.

 

[mnat]

Do you know which clown jumped and which one you have left as far as male female goes? That is really going to dictate how you add another clown. If the female is left, you can't add another female or you will have world war III. If it is the male that is left, you want to find another female or another small male so one of them can turn female. When we lost a female we always were quick about getting the replacement as you did not want it to shift over to female and introduce another female.

Once we knew what we were looking for we would just go to a store, look for a pair and but the gender we needed. We have not had a problem doing this and just did it with adding a new male.

 

[kevin]

Do you know which clown jumped and which one you have left as far as male female goes? That is really going to dictate how you add another clown. If the female is left, you can't add another female or you will have world war III. If it is the male that is left, you want to find another female or another small male so one of them can turn female. When we lost a female we always were quick about getting the replacement as you did not want it to shift over to female and introduce another female.

Once we knew what we were looking for we would just go to a store, look for a pair and but the gender we needed. We have not had a problem doing this and just did it with adding a new male.

Appreciate the advice! No idea which one is left. They both seemed to be the same size & didn't show any type of aggression towards each other. I'm a very bad judge of size though. I didn't realize how big they got until my wife said so.

 

[mnat]

Did you ever see one do the shutter dance?

If you are not sure, your best luck is to find a small one that is still gender neutral or at least a male. Scout pairs of them and pick the smaller one.

 

[kevin]

Did you ever see one do the shutter dance?

If you are not sure, your best luck is to find a small one that is still gender neutral or at least a male. Scout pairs of them and pick the smaller one.

Like there body twitches for a few seconds?

 

[mnat]

Yes that is the shutter dance. Generally the male does this to the female to show submission.

 

[kevin]

well, I picked up a Extreme Snowflake from Brian @ clownfish depot. He was nice enough to meet half way in Willow Grove, PA! I got home with the clown around 840pm & started to acclimate. The snowflake is a little smaller then my current b&w. When I dropped the snowflake in he went the opposite way not noticing the clown. He swam around not finding him until I gave him a little guidance. My lights are very dim because it's almost time for them to go off. The b&w is in sleep mode, but noticed the snowflake. The b&w chased him for a second but the snowflake kept coming back for more. Now they're both on the back wall & the snowflake is trying his hardest to become friends, lol. The b&w is not nipping, but just pushing with it's face.

 

[kevin]