Baby clowns

[Shb1991]

I’ve recently set up and cycled a new micro (20 gallon) reef tank. Clarity was nice 6lbs of live rock I went to my local store with water samples and everything was right on. I purchased 2 hermit crabs and a blue damsel to test my tank. Everyone is perfectly happy and perimeters have been great. Had one bloom and was able to get the bacteria under control. Added a peppermint shrimp and he’s swimming around lovely.

I determined that per the size of my tank and the current inhabitants, I should only limit myself to two smaller fish until I am able to upgrade tank size.

I added two baby clown fish about a week ago. Maybe an inch and a half long each. They are incredibly fun and they claimed their side of the tank.

Within the last two days one of the clowns has been showing aggression towards the other. The other clown seems cautious and flickers a bit when the other swims by. I’m just hoping this isn’t a sign they the aggressive clown isn’t allowing the other to eat or rest in the same place or if this is normal behavior.

thanks!

 

[Peace River]

First, welcome to R2R!!! Clowns are wired to their core to establish a hierarchy - in fact, this is even what determines which one is female and male. Aggression is often part of this process. What you are describing sounds like normal clownfish behavior. Good luck with your fish!

#WelcometoR2R

 

[VKP01]

Sounds like normal behavior to me! Because you bought both of them young, they both likely had an “undetermined”, for lack of better word, sex. This is just them establishing dominance, which will lead to the dominant one developing female while the other male, and you should end up with a mated pair! The twitching is a sign of submission that a male will do towards a mate.

 

[reef lover]

Welcome to r2r!