Clarkii on the prowl!

[BestMomEver]

My male Clarkii (Mocha) is being a jerk. He and his girl (Java) have spawned multiple times and typically he guards his territory with more gusto when they have eggs. This time, he’s gone berserk. He’s bullying everyone, most especially one of my blue green chromis. He’s leaving the other chromis alone... he only has it in for a particular one. He’s forced the little guy into a corner, behind a seaweed clip. Any suggestions? Do y’all think he’ll eventually leave it alone or do you think he’s gone keep being an butt until the chromis is dead?

 

[saltyhog]

In a tank your size, mature spawning clowns will often lay claim to the entire tank as there territory. Not sure there's much to do other than moving either the clowns or the fish being bullied. I'm afraid as time goes by other fish will be picked on too.

 

[JerseyClowns]

My male Clarkii (Mocha) is being a jerk. He and his girl (Java) have spawned multiple times and typically he guards his territory with more gusto when they have eggs. This time, he’s gone berserk. He’s bullying everyone, most especially one of my blue green chromis. He’s leaving the other chromis alone... he only has it in for a particular one. He’s forced the little guy into a corner, behind a seaweed clip. Any suggestions? Do y’all think he’ll eventually leave it alone or do you think he’s gone keep being an *** until the chromis is dead?

Clarkii's like a lot of room. I've typically had my pairs in 40-75G tanks with them as the only fish. I would think the chromis' days are numbered if your pair is spawning regularly.

 

[BestMomEver]

Clarkii's like a lot of room. I've typically had my pairs in 40-75G tanks with them as the only fish. I would think the chromis' days are numbered if your pair is spawning regularly.

Sadly, I think you’re right. They haven’t killed the chronic but have relegated him to a corner. If they don’t kill him, the stress will. I wish I had a place to put him. I have three other tanks but they all have established clowns in them. In the meantime, I’m feeding him with a dropper in in his corner. He’s learned to suck the mysis out of the tube.

 

[shred5]

My male Clarkii (Mocha) is being a jerk. He and his girl (Java) have spawned multiple times and typically he guards his territory with more gusto when they have eggs. This time, he’s gone berserk. He’s bullying everyone, most especially one of my blue green chromis. He’s leaving the other chromis alone... he only has it in for a particular one. He’s forced the little guy into a corner, behind a seaweed clip. Any suggestions? Do y’all think he’ll eventually leave it alone or do you think he’s gone keep being an *** until the chromis is dead?

Clarkiis are just aggressive fish in general and worse when mature and spawning.

I love them but they really require a big tank when with other fish that are less aggressive then them

 

[exnisstech]

Exactly why my clarkii pair have been banished to my QT. I had them in a 180 so there was plenty of room but they would zero in on a single fish and double team it. When they targeted my powder blue that was enough. Now they spend their time attacking my hand when I feed or move stuff in the tank.

 

[adtravels]

If you have a chance to dive around adult and large pairs of Clarkii you will often see the fish first swimming in open water and then have to locate the anemone, sometimes its quite hard as the are a good 5-10m away. Their lack of reliance on the anemone compared to skunks, percs and ocellaris is marked. Its why they are not as suitable aquarium inhabitants as the smaller clowns which are pretty much perfect aquarium subjects. They are big, mean and can hold there own alongside adult domino damsels (another brute of a fish).

 

[BestMomEver]

If you have a chance to dive around adult and large pairs of Clarkii you will often see the fish first swimming in open water and then have to locate the anemone, sometimes its quite hard as the are a good 5-10m away. Their lack of reliance on the anemone compared to skunks, percs and ocellaris is marked. Its why they are not as suitable aquarium inhabitants as the smaller clowns which are pretty much perfect aquarium subjects. They are big, mean and can hold there own alongside adult domino damsels (another brute of a fish).

You’re absolutely correct. The story about the purchase of my Clarkii is long so I won’t bore you. But I have grown to love them. I think they love me too.... when they’re hungry. Otherwise, if I’m doing maintenance, they bite me!

 

[BestMomEver]

In a tank your size, mature spawning clowns will often lay claim to the entire tank as there territory. Not sure there's much to do other than moving either the clowns or the fish being bullied. I'm afraid as time goes by other fish will be picked on too.

You may be right... I had a pair of maroons in a past tank and they were pretty decent for maroons. Of course, they were in a 500 gallon tank with fish 2-3 times their size!