Clownfish Not Getting Along

[roadkeel]

I had another thread that was not about clownfish but I did ask a couple of questions about my clownfish. I thought maybe I could get some advice now what to do.

I have 2 Ocellaris clownfish that I did not purchase at the same time. My little one was with a much larger clown at my LFS and I actually saw it fluttering under the bigger fish. So I brought him home with a another bigger clown(the clownfish he was with was the owners and not for sale) and the bigger clown died the night I brought it home. A couple of days later I bought another Ocellaris slightly bigger than the one I had and they got along fine for the first few days. Then the bigger one started chasing the smaller one and it has been going on now for about 10 days pretty much non-stop. My smaller clownfish's tail has lots of pieces bitten out of it, but other than that it appears unharmed. When the bigger one corners the smaller one they spar a little and the small one seems to get aggressive and defend itself but the bigger one does not appear to want to hurt the smaller one. But anytime the small one ventures out from his hiding place near the rocks the bigger one chases it relentlessly until it goes back.

Is it time I separated them?

 

[Sn4k33Y3z]

Yes! I did this a month back and stuck her
n the sump of a week and added her back. That was just the attitude adjustment she needed.

Good luck!

 

[Mr. Fancy Pants]

I too am worried about mine. They have been staying under cover of some rock a lot and don't come out too often. When my light timer turns on the blue light, they will come out a tad and mainly stay around the power head. They have been in the tank for four days now (new fish) so maybe they are adjusting to the new environment??

Good luck with yours, I am interested to see how you make out!

 

[mike007]

The only way I have luck with them is you have to add them at the same time and they need to be similar in size. They can be aggressive fish. I have a maroon that I have had for 12 years and he will not let any new comers in the tank.

 

[roadkeel]

Thanks for the replies. Mike, 12 years is remarkable, I hope I can get mine to live half that long.

Right now I am concerned there is too much going on in my tank. A couple of days after my first clownfish died a friend gave me a BTA that had came from his BTA. I saw pictures of it when it was the size of a quarter and when he gave it to me it was about 3" across. I wanted to make sure it would do OK in my tank so I took it with the understanding that he would take it back if he did not do well. So far it is doing good. It is eating and opening and closing which I think indicates a healthy BTA. I have modded my Biocube and have and Intank media basket and fuge basket. I also upgraded the pump to a Cobalt 1200. A couple of days after I put the BTA in it moved to one of my highest rocks and has stayed there since.

Here is where I think my problem started. When the BTA moved and settled in, a domino damsel that was in the tank began hosting the nem and would not let the clown near it. Not what I had planned. So when I brought the bigger clown home (it is about 1/4" bigger than the one I had) I was hoping it would claim the nem and run the damsel out of it. No such luck. So I removed the damsel, he was very aggressive, and as soon as I did the bigger clown starting the chasing and tormenting the smaller clown. And now neither clown shows any interest in the nem.

Unfortunately, since I have a Biocube I don't have a sump to put the bigger one in to give the smaller one a bread. But I had an idea and wanted to see if it would be cruel.

I first thought about getting a breeder floating net and putting her in it for a few days. But then I found a Gladware container that is probably 12" long X 6" wide X 6" deep. It I took the container and cut 40 to 50 small holes to let the water float in and out and placed her in it in my tank for a few days would that be OK. Even though it is aggressive towards the little clown I don't want to do anything to jeopardize the larger one's health. And I am not sure if this will be separating them adequately to help with the aggression.

Any thoughts?