Clownfish pair aggression

[C_Donovan93]

Today I went to the LFS and picked up a pair of clowns. They were sold as a pair. They are both about 2 inches and showing signs of aggression. One will grab the others pectoral fin and then they will go nose to nose for a while then act normal. Did I get two females even though they were marked as a pair? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[blaxsun]

Possibly. I'd be inclined to take one back and exchange for the smaller, whipped model.

 

[C_Donovan93]

Possibly. I'd be inclined to take one back and exchange for the smaller, whipped model.

Should I wait a while to see. I also have a isolation box which I’m very tempted to put one in.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

Today I went to the LFS and picked up a pair of clowns. They were sold as a pair. They are both about 2 inches and showing signs of aggression. One will grab the others pectoral fin and then they will go nose to nose for a while then act normal. Did I get two females even though they were marked as a pair? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Clowns fight to determine which one will go female. I got mine when they were the same size and had a lot of fighting until one decided it was going to dominate

 

[Reefer5640]

Today I went to the LFS and picked up a pair of clowns. They were sold as a pair. They are both about 2 inches and showing signs of aggression. One will grab the others pectoral fin and then they will go nose to nose for a while then act normal. Did I get two females even though they were marked as a pair? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Were they sold as a bonded/mated pair? Or just a couple clowns? If they were sold as a bonded/mated pair the fighting should very limited if any. And if they don’t stop soon I’d take them back and get your money back. As we all know a bonded/mated pair are sold for more and that’s not a fair if they are two clowns. I have a couple bonded pair. They don’t breed that I know of but they very rarely fight and if they do it’s very light or short. If you bought a couple of clowns then like @Zoa_Fanatic mentioned, the fighting is normal until they determine who’s male/female. Be careful though. I had a couple I tried to get to bond and naturally the more expensive one died from getting beat up too much. If they do keep fighting maybe take @blaxsun advice and get a smaller one.

 

[C_Donovan93]

Were they sold as a bonded/mated pair? Or just a couple clowns? If they were sold as a bonded/mated pair the fighting should very limited if any. And if they don’t stop soon I’d take them back and get your money back. As we all know a bonded/mated pair are sold for more and that’s not a fair if they are two clowns. I have a couple bonded pair. They don’t breed that I know of but they very rarely fight and if they do it’s very light or short. If you bought a couple of clowns then like @Zoa_Fanatic mentioned, the fighting is normal until they determine who’s male/female. Be careful though. I had a couple I tried to get to bond and naturally the more expensive one died from getting beat up too much. If they do keep fighting maybe take @blaxsun advice and get a smaller one.

The LFS just said pair. Not bonded or mated. I didn’t really pay a premium price for them either. They are a pair of naked clowns that I paid 100$ for. Do you think they are indexed and need to go through dominance or they could be both females? Neither backs down from the fight is the only reason I’m worried they could be both females.

 

[Reefer5640]

The LFS just said pair. Not bonded or mated. I didn’t really pay a premium price for them either. They are a pair of naked clowns that I paid 100$ for. Do you think they are indexed and need to go through dominance or they could be both females? Neither backs down from the fight is the only reason I’m worried they could be both females.

How big are they?

 

[ahiggins]

Clowns fight to determine which one will go female. I got mine when they were the same size and had a lot of fighting until one decided it was going to dominate

+1

 

[C_Donovan93]

How big are they?

About 2 inches

 

[blaxsun]

There's only three possible outcomes here:
1. They work it out.
2. They kill each other.
3. One kills the other.

If you can exchange one for a smaller one it at least improves your odds of a favorable outcome. Otherwise, you roll the dice and let nature take its course...

 

[Reefer5640]

Hard to say at that size. I think I agree with @blaxsun. It’s always best to buy one smaller than the other if they aren’t already bonded. I agree with the other two guys on here as well. They will fight until they figure it out. Or until one/both die. If I were you I’d get a smaller one to improve your chances.

 

[C_Donovan93]

There's only three possible outcomes here:
1. They work it out.
2. They kill each other.
3. One kills the other.

If you can exchange one for a smaller one it at least improves your odds of a favorable outcome. Otherwise, you roll the dice and let nature take its course...

I will probably go back and exchange one out. You guys have been super helpful. Thank you.

 

[blaxsun]

I have a bonded pair, and they are evil. Every see Natural Born Killers? Theae are the clownfish equivalent. We call them "The Killers" or Bonnie and Clyde. They've unofficially wracked up a clownfish kill count of something like 30 clownfish (1 in my tank and something like 28+ in another).

 

[blaxsun]

Duplicate.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

I have a bonded pair, and they are evil. Every see Natural Born Killers? Theae are the clownfish equivalent. We call them "The Killers" or Bonnie and Clyde. They've unofficially wracked up a clownfish kill count of something like 30 clownfish (1 in my tank and something like 28+ in another).

Mine attack my rings when I’m in the tank

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

Were they sold as a bonded/mated pair? Or just a couple clowns? If they were sold as a bonded/mated pair the fighting should very limited if any. And if they don’t stop soon I’d take them back and get your money back. As we all know a bonded/mated pair are sold for more and that’s not a fair if they are two clowns. I have a couple bonded pair. They don’t breed that I know of but they very rarely fight and if they do it’s very light or short. If you bought a couple of clowns then like @Zoa_Fanatic mentioned, the fighting is normal until they determine who’s male/female. Be careful though. I had a couple I tried to get to bond and naturally the more expensive one died from getting beat up too much. If they do keep fighting maybe take @blaxsun advice and get a smaller one.

Mine were super tiny when I got them. Like maybe 3/4”.