I have two clown fish that were small when purchased 4 months ago. They got along great for the last 4 months. The two in the last five days were really dancing around a lot more than normal. The bigger one (female) has since in the last two days has become aggressive to the very submissive male, tearing up his fin and causing some scale damage. She has been so aggressive that the male will float at the top of the water and she will continue to peck at him. I have since introduced a holding net in the tank, but did not put the clown in it. Doing so has seemed to change behavior - at least temporary taking the aggression out of the female. (I have heard changing rock scape may do the same). Any suggestion on what to do now?
Clown aggression after 4 months
- Thread starter gbr
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melypr1985
totally addicted
It's pretty extreme for a female to inflict that kind of damage. If it were me, I'd be thinking about taking the male back and getting a different one. Are you sure they are both male and female? What is their actual size?
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
That is unusually extreme. What kind of clownfish are they. This behavior is not unheard of with maroons and the tomato complex. If it picks up again, one may need to be removed.
in my opinion a time out doesn't usually work in the long terms in this scenario. If it was a new addition it would be one thing, but theyre familiar with each other and that level of aggression seems extreme. I would also try to find a larger male
TetoCCB
Active Member
I had a similar situation (not nearly as extreme, but annoying to watch)... I returned "Bruiser" and kept "YB"... I have video of their final interaction... "Bruiser" attempting to attack "YB" from inside the siphon tube I used to trap her... "YB" making nice from outside... Kinda sad to see...
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
I would advise against adding a larger male, as it is more likely to be viewed as competition for dominance, therefore aggression would be worse.
melypr1985
totally addicted
+1 Plus, at a larger size, you also couldn't guarantee that it's a male still unless you take it from a larger pair where you know there is a female and male.
Rjramos
Valuable Member
Had the same happen with a pair of perculas, but they had been together for over a year! And similarly, it was shortly after they where dancing and seemed like they were gonna spawn. She was relentlessly aggressive towards the smaller male. I separated him into my refugium sump below and he jumped out on me.[emoji853]
