Clownfish Aggression

[Jarrito]

Hi everyone, I recently got a pair of clownfish a little over a month ago and everything seemed to be fine up until today when I came back from work today and saw that one of the clowns was not looking too good and its pelvic fins are pretty torn up. The other clown keeps chasing and nipping at the other. I know they can be aggressive towards each other for dominance but it looks kinda bad. This just started happening out of nowhere. The one that is getting bullied looks kinda weak and I saw it have a sort of "seizure" like movement. Is this something to be concerned about or is it just normal aggression?

 

[Uncle99]

Can be normal, may stop, may end in either disease or death.

Two females will end badly if that’s what they are.

Or female not accepting male, so out he goes.

Sorry,

 

[Jarrito]

Can be normal, may stop, may end in either disease or death.

Two females will end badly if that’s what they are.

Or female not accepting male, so out he goes.

Sorry,

They’re both pretty small I don’t think one has transitioned yet but obviously clearly one has dominance

 

[Uncle99]

They’re both pretty small I don’t think one has transitioned yet but obviously clearly one has dominance

That rules the two females issue out.
Is the attack relentless?
When fins get damaged, that’s a problem, gotta stop that through either separation, or maybe a mirror might cause the aggressor to pay less attention to the weaker.

Dominance yes, damage no.

 

[jabberwock]

Not a seizure. The shaking is a sign of submission. It might work out, it might not. Clownfish are mean...

 

[PharmrJohn]

They’re both pretty small I don’t think one has transitioned yet but obviously clearly one has dominance

If they are both small it's very unlikely that either has transitioned. I'd say both are sexless at this point. It takes a year or more for them to start their journey down this road.

 

[Jarrito]

That rules the two females issue out.
Is the attack relentless?
When fins get damaged, that’s a problem, gotta stop that through either separation, or maybe a mirror might cause the aggressor to pay less attention to the weaker.

Dominance yes, damage no.

yea it's pretty constant...will it just keep bullying the other or will it stop at some point?

 

[Jarrito]

also any explanation for the sudden increase in aggression?

 

[jsmkmavity]

Better to start with more than 2.
What type of clowns?
Maroon and cinnamon can be very aggressive

 

[Jarrito]

Better to start with more than 2.
What type of clowns?
Maroon and cinnamon can be very aggressive

ocellaris

 

[jsmkmavity]

Fin nipping is common but the ocellaris will usually sort it out when small, but you may need to put a divider in for a while.
Adding mor now may make them all gang up on the weak one. But in the futur try do start with 5 and plan to give one away later after 4 pair up.

 

[jsmkmavity]

I should have asked what size tank and how much rock/places to hide/defend?

 

[Jarrito]

I should have asked what size tank and how much rock/places to hide/defend?

not a very big tank 15 gallons so even 2 is pushing it, there is plenty of structure to get away from the other one but it still seems to be finding and bothering it

 

[Uncle99]

yea it's pretty constant...will it just keep bullying the other or will it stop at some point?

IME, if the chasing is here and there with no damage, then it can work out.

But if the chasing is consistent including psychical damage, the weaker will either die, or may fall victim to disease.

Whenever there’s direct contact, the bully should be removed and separated for 48 hours then retry with a change in rock work.

 

[Uncle99]

also any explanation for the sudden increase in aggression?

This happens from time to time but except for just before nesting in which the male is not accepted for this tasks, the change at this point with two juveniles is a bit odd.

I’ve had this happen to me before but not with to juveniles, especially occs.

 

[exnisstech]

, I recently got a pair of clownfish

You got two clownfish not a pair. Maybe you'll get lucky maybe not. There are many threads asking why are my clownfish fighting all of a sudden. Some people end up with a pair and some end up with a single female. IME adding a single fish and allow it to transition before adding a male has been 100% succesful. Unfortunately many people do not have the patience to do this. So they buy two cute little fish and here we are. No disrespect meant just voicing my experience having successfully paired several times including maroons. I've had failures as well. I introduced two at once the first time and ended with one.

 

[Jarrito]

IME, if the chasing is here and there with no damage, then it can work out.

But if the chasing is consistent including psychical damage, the weaker will either die, or may fall victim to disease.

Whenever there’s direct contact, the bully should be removed and separated for 48 hours then retry with a change in rock work.

i just got a breeder box to separate them for a while, which one do you think i should put in the box?

 

[Uncle99]

i just got a breeder box to separate them for a while, which one do you think i should put in the box?

Me, I put the bad guy, and watch very carefully.

48 hours, then return, consider a small mirror so it looks like there’s another bully if possible, sometimes that can help. But now put the other into the box and see what the bully does.

Maybe a small rock, the intention is to open new territory, is doesn’t take much.

I’ve had this both work in one instance, and do nothing in another. But it’s a try.

 

[Jarrito]

Me, I put the bad guy, and watch very carefully.

48 hours, then return, consider a small mirror so it looks like there’s another bully if possible, sometimes that can help. But now put the other into the box and see what the bully does.

Maybe a small rock, the intention is to open new territory, is doesn’t take much.

I’ve had this both work in one instance, and do nothing in another. But it’s a try.

hi i just noticed that they both seemed to be both twitching and having those seizure like movements, if its a form of submission why is the larger one doing it to the smaller one and still bullying him? The larger one seems to be bothering the little guy a tiny bit less...

 

[Jarrito]

u think i should still go on with the breeder box idea? its arriving tmr