brawling in actinic lights

Riccio16 · Mar 18, 2013

I have to imagine someone out there has had the same concern as me. It's a bit tough to search for though so I'm posting it as a new thread.

I've had my tank up and running for about 3 months. The clownfish are the first and only fish in the tank. As of about two days ago they've become incredibly aggressive towards each other the instant the actinic lights only turn on. The behavior stops immediately when the the whites come back on or the lights all shut off. They're completely docile, swimming with each other when the day lights are on and then boom! Royal Rumble in the sand bed as soon as just the blues go on.

I'd love to think it's nothing more than a matter of establishing dominance, but I can't help but be cautious and make sure it's not something to be concerned with. I'd hate for one to kill the other. I'm also curious what it is about the blue lights that would trigger such a difference in behavior

Thanks

ritter6788 · Mar 18, 2013

Mine used to do that under blue leds. Maybe they can't recognize each other anymore? They don't do it as much now.

bairdimusprime · Mar 18, 2013

the only time my clowns fought in the early months was during their dominance wars.. ultimately one will become the dominant female and the other the male... mine always faught at night slept on other sides of the tank. then she took to a large RBTA and he moved in and all was well.. good luck

bct15 · Mar 18, 2013

What is the size difference between the clowns...sounds a little excessive if they are rolling around in the sand.

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Riccio16 · Mar 18, 2013

They're almost the exact same size. I wouldn't be able to differentiate the two were it not for the slightly different striping. It sounds though that I shouldn't have too much to worry about for the long run though. Eventually one will be the victor so to speak without killing each other first and they'll eventually settle down... Yeah they'll be rolling around in the sand when they're going at it. Pretty fun to watch actually.

bct15 · Mar 18, 2013

If they are both the same size and both female, then it will only end in one's death. You may have a lot to worry about. Clowns should always be paired with one obviously larger than the other so one is a female and one is a male. Once a clown becomes a female it can not go back to being male.

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Riccio16 · Mar 19, 2013

Thanks bct15. I guess my next question would be, if they're both females wouldn't they act that way at all times? Maybe not? I don't really know. I'm just curious as to why the behavior is so polarizing from day to night lights.

twiggyb · Mar 19, 2013

If you have LEDs, its probably it. My pair were just fine, but when I put my ecoxotic lights on the tank, and when whites went out and blues came on, the female just got enraged and chased the male off like she didn't know him. It would happen every night for a while, but finally deceased one day.