Are my new clowns stressed?

OceanReefLover · Dec 11, 2021

I just got a couple of clownfish today and drip acclimated them for about an hour and a half before putting them into the tank. Everything seems fine for the most part so far but now one of them seems to be swimming around fast and maybe is a little stressed. I’m not sure if I’m just being paranoid or if I should be worried about it. I’ll insert a video for reference.

I fed them a little earlier and they are like normal. I also did introduce a bubble tip anemone, Xenia, a couple crabs and snails, and this cool mushroom. Not sure if any of that might have anything to do with it. I also just tested the water yesterday and everything appeared normal.

KrisReef · Dec 11, 2021

It definately looks uncomfortable and agitated with the way it is moving about. I don't know why really, but if I had to guess it kind of looks like it might be afraid of the tank mate? Were these supposedly a mated pair before you got them? The calmer one does (not!)-edit look to be attacking the swimmer but it was definitely looking at the swimmer in the video, but I can't see that it is trying to charge or just interested in what the swimmer is up to,

Hopefully they will both settle in by the morning. Keep an eye out for fighting and be ready to seperate these fish if one of them is getting thrashed by the other.

Also, I don't think your acclimation was an issue. I would shut the lights off and let them rest in the dark and see what tomorrow brings.

OceanReefLover · Dec 11, 2021

KrisReef said:
It definately looks uncomfortable and agitated with the way it is moving about. I don't know why really, but if I had to guess it kind of looks like it might be afraid of the tank mate? Were these supposedly a mated pair before you got them? The calmer one does look to be attacking the swimmer but it was definitely looking at the swimmer in the video, but I can't see that it is trying to charge or just interested in what the swimmer is up to,

Hopefully they will both settle in by the morning. Keep an eye out for fighting and be ready to seperate these fish if one of them is getting thrashed by the other.

Also, I don't think your acclimation was an issue. I would shut the lights off and let them rest in the dark and see what tomorrow brings.

Thanks you! I’ll shut off the lights and see what’s happening tomorrow.

OceanReefLover · Dec 11, 2021

KrisReef said:
It definately looks uncomfortable and agitated with the way it is moving about. I don't know why really, but if I had to guess it kind of looks like it might be afraid of the tank mate? Were these supposedly a mated pair before you got them? The calmer one does look to be attacking the swimmer but it was definitely looking at the swimmer in the video, but I can't see that it is trying to charge or just interested in what the swimmer is up to,

Hopefully they will both settle in by the morning. Keep an eye out for fighting and be ready to seperate these fish if one of them is getting thrashed by the other.

Also, I don't think your acclimation was an issue. I would shut the lights off and let them rest in the dark and see what tomorrow brings.

Also, they were in the same tank at the place I got them from with around 2-3 others. Now I’m thinking maybe one is just trying to assert dominance since they are living together for the first time? Hopefully they can figure that out soon..

GHOSTLY · Dec 11, 2021

All new fish will be mild stress but its ok

BrianAnthony · Dec 11, 2021

Lol.. nawh.. not stressed. My two clowns did the same thing when I put them in. They both thought the current was awesome and swam in and out of it like they were surfing. Lol. They will eventually settle down. Mine started to establish dominance after that though. Make sure you have a cover over the tank as one will get aggressive with the other. And that may make one jump out. You may see one bully the other and try it's hardest to eat all the food. This is normal. As the bigger one will eventually become the female. If it gets too aggressive, meaning, you see physical damage on him like a nipped fin... You can interfere with a fish net and chase the bully around a little. That will calm him down. My bully only chased the other in the evening when all blue lights were on. Strange... Idk. Best of luck to you and enjoy your two. They are fun to watch!

BrianAnthony · Dec 11, 2021

This would be stress...

OceanReefLover · Dec 12, 2021

BrianAnthony said:
Lol.. nawh.. not stressed. My two clowns did the same thing when I put them in. They both thought the current was awesome and swam in and out of it like they were surfing. Lol. They will eventually settle down. Mine started to establish dominance after that though. Make sure you have a cover over the tank as one will get aggressive with the other. And that may make one jump out. You may see one bully the other and try it's hardest to eat all the food. This is normal. As the bigger one will eventually become the female. If it gets too aggressive, meaning, you see physical damage on him like a nipped fin... You can interfere with a fish net and chase the bully around a little. That will calm him down. My bully only chased the other in the evening when all blue lights were on. Strange... Idk. Best of luck to you and enjoy your two. They are fun to watch!

thanks for the advice! I’m glad to here this is pretty normal and nothing to worry about. I’ll just keep a close eye and if they start to fight too much I’ll separate for a little maybe.