Clown issue

[Charles Belisle]

Recently, I just moved 3 pairs of clowns into a 240 gallon reef. At first all 6 got along and travelled in a big school. Recently, I have noticed that one clown has been singled out and is getting picked on by several other clowns. At first, I thought it might be getting sick is why other were picking on it. But now it seems there is the Alpha clown that is actively hunting the outcast. This fish is mean. It will attack my hand during cleanings, etc. The outcast now has taking to hiding and getting what food it can, when not being chased. - What is the probably outcome - outcast being killed? Or will the Alpha finally give it a break? Don’t want to see the outcast die - (however catching it with 250 lbs of rock) will not be easy. Alpha even charges the net to the point - I can almost catch it. - Is removing the Alpha Clown for awhile an option? What will happen when returned to Main? Currently I don’t have another tank setup to rehouse either - so they would be sumo/refugium bound. Until I can get a 10 gallon Qt / frag tank going. Any help / suggestions welcome. Or do I let the fish work it out? Both are similar in size. - Alpha doesn’t mess with the smaller clowns in tank currently. - what is likely hood that after killing this target that more clowns will become bullied?

 

[Dbichler]

The dominant one is going to be female and one will become male and the rest most likely will be picked off. Not saying this is a for sure because all fish are different but that’s the typical for clowns. Your size tank 2 pairs is possible but hard unless paired previously.

 

[Charles Belisle]

Had two together for quite a while. Then we I setup the 240 - added the rest. Each set has been together previous. I plan on starting a frag tank. I guess it would be best to pull a pair out and start separating them.

 

[Charles Belisle]

Well it started - I lost one - frost clown a week ago. My orange clowns tried to take out my other frost clown; but it was dominate over the smaller orange clown. So now the smaller orange clown is being chased every time the frost one sees it. When the larger of the two orange clowns runs into the frost clown - they both blow up but do not battle. Are they becoming the dominate pair? I have two black / white clowns - both are smaller. At this point, should the smaller orange and two black/ white make a trip to LFS? Or will the two larger (orange clown and frost) battle? Do the two strongest become pair? Or the strongest / weakest in tank? I this point - I am tempted to pull both orange and both black / white and go looking for a mate for the frost. Will it accept any other clown left in tank as a mate?

 

[Dbichler]

2 will survive and the others will not most likely scenario.