Clownfish domestic...?

Reef_scuba · Apr 2, 2019

So, quick update.. I've had no choice but to banish my female clownfish to a hospital (or jail tank as I'm calling it.) She has been in there just over week now doing her time.

For a few weeks she was constantly putting my smaller clown in the corner and not letting him roam or eat much at all. I then saw it got quite aggressive, resulting in him losing a high % of all of his fins (overnight). He never retaliated to this and actually performed the submissive dance a few times. They have been together for nearly 3 years with no problems they have even moved into a new tank together, all fine. (This was about 8 months ago)

Now the presumed males fins are growing perfectly with some alone time I'm planning on introducing her back into the tank. Im aware this method isn't always successful as I don't even know why they are fighting.

If anyone has any extra tips or hints that could help this jail bird I'd be grateful..

Few answers to questions my lfs have already asked incase you want to know these also;
Female about a cm larger than Male
Few changes to tank eg. Introduced a few soft corals.. they haven't paid attention to..
No other fish in tank
All parameters got a gold star on my last test.

Thanks in advance for your help

Flippers4pups · Apr 2, 2019

Both the same type clown? I'm at a loss.

#reefsquad.

Ron Reefman · Apr 3, 2019

If your tank is big enough, maybe the addition of another small fish, like an algae eating blenny?

Sometimes a clown is just too aggressive. I had a Tomato clown that would bite me when I put my hand in the tank. Nothing I could do would stop her. I'd have to chase her to one end of the tank with a big net so I could work at the other end.

reef lover · Apr 3, 2019

Getting older and sexually mature might have triggered it. She may not find him acceptable as a mate. My clowns in the 120 paired from day one going on 7 years now. But trying to get a pair for my nem tank was another story...i think i bought and traded back 4 diff fish in a year and a half time frame trying to get 2 to pair....

Scotty Buttons · Apr 3, 2019

I had the same thing happen to my clowns, I separated them and tried re introducing them twice after several weeks apart and my female immediately went back to beating up the Male. I was never able to successfully get them back together and eventually got rid of them both. You could try putting the Male in a acclimation box. Good luck.

ReefWithCare · Apr 3, 2019

I had the same issue in my 125G. They wouldn’t pair and fought all the time. Both were little when I got them. Sold them to someone with a 225G and they seem more tolerate of each other now [emoji848]

Elegance Coral · Apr 3, 2019

If what you're doing now doesn't work, try placing the female in an isolation box, inside the tank, where the fish can see each other. Leave her in it for a week or more. If that doesn't work, try trading the male off for a smaller fish.
HTH
Peace
EC

Reef_scuba · Apr 3, 2019

Thanks for all of your suggestions.. the clowns are both percula.

If they don't get along when I reintroduce I will look at another small fish as a distraction as i have also been given this advise by my lfs or try a net. If I was to go down the route of another fish would you introduce this now without the female in the tank?

If all else fails and I do have to remove them both, where do I take them.. do the lfs take them?

Reef_scuba · Apr 3, 2019

Oh one more Q.. my aim when first starting out was like many others and that was to have two clowns living in harmony but if I had no choice and resulting in just keeping one would they be happy enough being alone (only one of its species) or is their instinct to pair too high that this would depress them?

Flippers4pups · Apr 3, 2019

Many hobbyist keep just one. The pair I have, now going on 10 years, were bought at the same time from a clutch of baby clowns. They were about the size of a thumb nail then. Of course one became male and they have been okay with each other since.

Once they mature, they either accept another or don't. A good LFS will give you store credit if you bring one or both in to trade. Check with them first if they will do that.