Clown Agression? Pairing behaviour?

Prettymuchnow · Jan 11, 2022

Hi all!
I have a pair of clowns in a 29gal with sump who were previously only fighting around mealtimes. But today I have been watching them go at each other almost constantly for about an hour or two. Even saw the female holding the male for a few seconds by one of his fins. He looks OK right now - not too beat up but I'm wondering at what point I should intervene.

Only recent change is the addition of the filefish two weeks ago and the led lights were installed this weekend just gone. I have opted for a FOWLR as my previous foray into coral didn't go well.

They both do the wavy vibration thing that I think is mating behavior at each other, but their fighting has been just a lot more intense today.
I did a water change and even that wouldn't distract them from fighting so I took a video - don't mind the floaties as it's just because the water got all stirred up after the water change.

Does Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

thereefhotspot · Jan 11, 2022

Hello,

This is very normal behavior. The clownfish seem to be very close in size. Eventually one will be larger, and the aggression will fizzle. It already seems like one is dominating the other more so. My guess is in about two weeks, if that, you should see little to no aggression. The best thing you can do is wait it out. Our recommendation would be to add a few pieces of live rock to give some more hiding places.

All the best,

Gavin

KrisReef · Jan 11, 2022

Young lovers are so cute. She probably want him to kick that filefish out of the neighborhood.

Prettymuchnow · Jan 11, 2022

thereefhotspot said:
Hello,

This is very normal behavior. The clownfish seem to be very close in size. Eventually one will be larger, and the aggression will fizzle. It already seems like one is dominating the other more so. My guess is in about two weeks, if that, you should see little to no aggression. The best thing you can do is wait it out. Our recommendation would be to add a few pieces of live rock to give some more hiding places.

All the best,

Gavin

Thanks Gavin!
I've been doing a lot of reading about it and it just made me anxious today because the larger has been so relentless!

I do have some more rock that I can slip in soon from a frag tank I've just torn down - so hopefully that will help!

thereefhotspot · Jan 11, 2022

Prettymuchnow said:
Thanks Gavin!
I've been doing a lot of reading about it and it just made me anxious today because the larger has been so relentless!

I do have some more rock that I can slip in soon from a frag tank I've just torn down - so hopefully that will help!

Awesome! I just thought also that you may want to make sure you've got a lid while they are still in the courtship phase. I can't tell you how many male clowns I've seen lost early there was no lid during this stage. Down the road if you like the lidless look you should be good but for now, I'd try to get it covered at least with egg crate or mesh.