Clownfish aggression

[blazedbeef]

My clownfish recently started being aggressive towards my firefish. My black ice clown has been in the tank for a year ,and my firefish has been in the tank for about 2 weeks. My clownfish has never been aggressive towards any of my tank mates throughout the year, but today I noticed it chasing my fire fish and a little chunk was taken out of its tail. My other fish are a tailspot blenny and a hectors goby and my clownfish is never aggressive around them. I plan to take it back to my LFS and get another fish instead if the aggression doesn’t stop. Would I be able to trade it for a different clown?

 

[blaxsun]

I don't know what the return policies of your LFS are. You could try the mirror trick with the clownfish to see if that helps.

 

[blazedbeef]

I don't know what the return policies of your LFS are. You could try the mirror trick with the clownfish to see if that helps.

My LFS is pretty cool about trading in fish. They will usually let me trade fish for what I bought them for. Today the 2 fish seem to be fine. They’ve swam right next to each other and the clown doesn’t care anymore. I hope it stays this way ,but I’ll try the mirror trick if the aggression picks back up

 

[thewedge]

Hope it works out. I have a 8 year old occelaris and just added 3 fire fish and a month ago. Has been ok so far.
On a side note, a black occelaris in my other tank bit me over the weekend and actually broke skin. I didn't know they could!

 

[lelolai15]

I am currently running into this same issue. However the aggression is towards another clownfish. I after three days of attempting to net the aggressive clownfish, I have placed her into a breeding box. I am unsure how long to keep her there.

Goal would be to re-introduce her back into the tank once the other clownfish is not longer visually distressed and has gain some of it's natural color back.

If anyone has tried this before, how long have you kept your clownfish or any type of fish in isolation for?

 

[blazedbeef]

I am currently running into this same issue. However the aggression is towards another clownfish. I after three days of attempting to net the aggressive clownfish, I have placed her into a breeding box. I am unsure how long to keep her there.

Goal would be to re-introduce her back into the tank once the other clownfish is not longer visually distressed and has gain some of it's natural color back.

If anyone has tried this before, how long have you kept your clownfish or any type of fish in isolation for?

The clownfish could be fighting for dominance. Did you add them to the tank as a pair?

 

[lelolai15]

The clownfish could be fighting for dominance. Did you add them to the tank as a pair?

Yes, they are the first fishes in the tank. Tank has been running for three months now. The aggression has increased over time.

I did adjust my feeding from twice per day to one time per day, I think this also might be the issue.

 

[Jekyl]

Tank size? Clowns can be awful. The aggression also happens way more when you aren't watching vs when they see you. Acclimation box can help. I have 2 in my 90 gallon. They're fine with the other 6 fish I have. However I need to use the net as a shield any time my hands are in the tank.

 

[lelolai15]

I have a 20 gallon Max Nano.

I would hate to have to take the more aggressive one back to the LFS. But been doing some research on youtube and trying out the breeder box first with more frequent feeding.

Others are saying that if I add one or two more fishes I could relieve the stress from one fish. However, due to the limited space, I want to be selective in the type of fish I put in the tank.

How long can I keep the aggressive fish in the breeder box without causing any negative effects? I want to give the other clownfish some time to recover. Its fins look torn up.

 

[Jekyl]

I have a 20 gallon Max Nano.

I would hate to have to take the more aggressive one back to the LFS. But been doing some research on youtube and trying out the breeder box first with more frequent feeding.

Others are saying that if I add one or two more fishes I could relieve the stress from one fish. However, due to the limited space, I want to be selective in the type of fish I put in the tank.

How long can I keep the aggressive fish in the breeder box without causing any negative effects? I want to give the other clownfish some time to recover. Its fins look torn up.

How many fish in the tank? Do you have enough rock work so that each fish has its own safe spot / cave? You said other fish were fine before adding the newest. So guessing at least 5 in a 20 gal? You might just be trying to push the stocking too much.

 

[lelolai15]

I currently have a 20 gallon tank. I only have these two clownfish, a snail, and blood red fire shrimp. The two clownfish were the first two and only fish.

I do have opportunity to add more "caves". Currently my rock work is more of a center piece not so much caves.

My goal was just to have 4 top 5 fish max, all relatively small.

 

[Jekyl]

I currently have a 20 gallon tank. I only have these two clownfish, a snail, and blood red fire shrimp. The two clownfish were the first two and only fish.

I do have opportunity to add more "caves". Currently my rock work is more of a center piece not so much caves.

My goal was just to have 4 top 5 fish max, all relatively small.

When thinking of how many fish you can add I always view the "bioload" as the least relevant. Each fish will need its own place to sleep/hide.

 

[Lyss]

Looks like a different person from the OP, so kind of confusing.

So what I'm getting is that it's a new (3-month old) tank and the clown pair were the first fish added, and are currently the only fish in there. Is that correct?

If so, I does appear that they are fighting for dominance. Some additional space for the smaller one to hide out in would be helpful, but they are going to do this until the little one submits and the larger one accepts him. If the larger one is being aggressive enough to kill the little one, you might have to permanently separate them. I think an acclimation box is a good way of trying to see if some time separated might reset the situation, but you may still need to permanently separate them and try a new clown for her to pair with. I've seen accounts of the acclimation box working, and the clowns pairing after being reintroduced, but I've also seen the opposite.

 

[Spicy Reef]

I had 6 Ocellaris from the same clutch. One grew larger than the others. Within one day (from time I noticed behavior) it bullied 2 others to death before I could get QT tank going. These little guys were inseparable from day one!

My THEORY is: Of the remaining 4, 1 is female the other 3 are male and the dearly departed were female...

I have no proof, no anecdotal reason, just a thought. Wondering if anyone knows of any articles on this stuff???

 

[Jekyl]

I had 6 Ocellaris from the same clutch. One grew larger than the others. Within one day (from time I noticed behavior) it bullied 2 others to death before I could get QT tank going. These little guys were inseparable from day one!

My THEORY is: Of the remaining 4, 1 is female the other 3 are male and the dearly departed were female...

I have no proof, no anecdotal reason, just a thought. Wondering if anyone knows of any articles on this stuff???

Changes don't happen as quickly as you're thinking. The largest became the most dominant. In time will eventually become a female. From that point all others will become submissive. Depending on other factors the highest probability is that of the remaining 3, one will pair with the female and the others will be killed off.

 

[Spicy Reef]

Changes don't happen as quickly as you're thinking. The largest became the most dominant. In time will eventually become a female. From that point all others will become submissive. Depending on other factors the highest probability is that of the remaining 3, one will pair with the female and the others will be killed off.

That's brutal, so clown herum tanks are a myth? Only last a short time?

I'm a newb and really don't know much about this. Do you have any articles you can refer me to for this, or has this happened to you as well?

me: 150g tank lot's of hiding places and 6 nems, green ricordea mushrooms (they love) as well as a GSP bonsai looking tree (they also love) Thought that would be enough, apparently not...

 

[Jekyl]

That's brutal, so clown herum tanks are a myth? Only last a short time?

I'm a newb and really don't know much about this. Do you have any articles you can refer me to for this, or has this happened to you as well?

me: 150g tank lot's of hiding places and 6 nems, green ricordea mushrooms (they love) as well as a GSP bonsai looking tree (they also love) Thought that would be enough, apparently not...

Clown harem tanks aren't a myth. However they require a very strict set of conditions from my understanding. Lots of timed feedings per day, lots of hiding spaces, lots of anemone. They are also usually done with 30 clowns instead of 6 all being from the same clutch. One successful tank had timed feeding every 20-30 minutes.

 

[Freenow54]

My clownfish recently started being aggressive towards my firefish. My black ice clown has been in the tank for a year ,and my firefish has been in the tank for about 2 weeks. My clownfish has never been aggressive towards any of my tank mates throughout the year, but today I noticed it chasing my fire fish and a little chunk was taken out of its tail. My other fish are a tailspot blenny and a hectors goby and my clownfish is never aggressive around them. I plan to take it back to my LFS and get another fish instead if the aggression doesn’t stop. Would I be able to trade it for a different clown?

Weird fish. Mine was docile for 8 years now chunks me all the time. My new pair the female has been aggressive from day one. This forum is littered with people complaining about it. Now I am a little disappointed to hear they do it to other fish. If mine start in on my Tang I am afraid of what I will do

 

[SlugSnorter]

That's brutal, so clown herum tanks are a myth? Only last a short time?

I'm a newb and really don't know much about this. Do you have any articles you can refer me to for this, or has this happened to you as well?

me: 150g tank lot's of hiding places and 6 nems, green ricordea mushrooms (they love) as well as a GSP bonsai looking tree (they also love) Thought that would be enough, apparently not...

you can have harems with the proper conditions and rockwork, but for most itll end poorly.

 

[Freenow54]

Looks like a different person from the OP, so kind of confusing.

So what I'm getting is that it's a new (3-month old) tank and the clown pair were the first fish added, and are currently the only fish in there. Is that correct?

If so, I does appear that they are fighting for dominance. Some additional space for the smaller one to hide out in would be helpful, but they are going to do this until the little one submits and the larger one accepts him. If the larger one is being aggressive enough to kill the little one, you might have to permanently separate them. I think an acclimation box is a good way of trying to see if some time separated might reset the situation, but you may still need to permanently separate them and try a new clown for her to pair with. I've seen accounts of the acclimation box working, and the clowns pairing after being reintroduced, but I've also seen the opposite.

I read It is common for the female to do this to the male ( on this forum )