Clownfish wants to kill me!

[Saltman Thomas]

My tank-raised Ocellaris Clown attacks my hand whenever it goes in the tank for maintenance! It hurts! I’ve had this clown for just over two months and it was not aggressive towards my hand to start. The clown gets along with his tank mates just fine. What the heck is going on here? I’ve had clowns nip at me in former tanks if I get to close to their hosting anemone, but this is different.

Also, he seems to want to host my large frogspawn colony. I’ve never heard of such a thing. He hangs out by it all the time.

My clown

 

[ash9965]

In over 7 years in this hobby with different tanks and clowns including tomatoes and mine have never even tried to bite me.. Lucky for me and them my solution would be to introduce them to their new sump home and get a new pair

 

[Zak Duncan]

I have a pair of biters as well. The frostbite being the worst of the two. She’s actually jumped out of the tank twice now attacking my hand. You’d think after saving her twice she’d warm up to you some. No such luck. I usually have to remove them from the tank while performing any kind of prolonged maintenance. They were both model citizens until they started being hosted by anemones/coral in the tank. Thought about getting gloves. Haven’t quite gotten around to it. Not too sure what could be done to discourage any of that knid of behavior. Anything I’ve tried doesn’t seem to make a difference. Some clownfish are just jerks I guess. Looks like I got the short end of that stick.

Pic of the biggest jerk in the tank

 

[PopaSmurph]

Aqua Gloves are pretty thick

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Every clown I’ve had becomes a piranha after sexing occurs (and a fish truly turns female) and I’ve had them all. Skunks, occy, Percs, Clarkii, twoband, maroons, designer hybrids,etc. Just be glad you don’t have a breeding pair of maroons with a 7” bowling ball of a female with a mouth full of razors. I recommend getting shoulder length nitrile slop gloves, they can be had for 10-15$ on Amazon.

 

[Dancingmad]

Another clown loses its mind. My tomato clown was Satan Jr, murderer of all that went in her territory. Everything must DIE.

I hear maroons have the same attitude and grow larger...

breeding pair of maroons with a 7” bowling ball of a female with a mouth full of razors

^^This right here terrifies me lol

 

[Wh00pS32]

I have a pair of biters as well. The frostbite being the worst of the two. She’s actually jumped out of the tank twice now attacking my hand. You’d think after saving her twice she’d warm up to you some. No such luck. I usually have to remove them from the tank while performing any kind of prolonged maintenance. They were both model citizens until they started being hosted by anemones/coral in the tank. Thought about getting gloves. Haven’t quite gotten around to it. Not too sure what could be done to discourage any of that knid of behavior. Anything I’ve tried doesn’t seem to make a difference. Some clownfish are just jerks I guess. Looks like I got the short end of that stick.

Pic of the biggest jerk in the tank

It's not trying to be jerk, just protecting it's territory. Clowns will fight to the death over what it considers a nice home

 

[kinetic]

I've heard of this, but never experienced it myself! How old was the clown when you purchased?

The clowns I've had were pretty small when I got them, and were scared of me from the start. My hand goes in and they swim away, though they'll come investigate and eventually eat out of my hand (I'll hold pellets or flakes between fingers and they'll nibble). They got used to it from the start.

Currently I have a group of clowns, and all seem to accept me so far. I stick my hand in quite a bit to do stuff in the tank these days, so they might be used to it.

 

[Zak Duncan]

It's not trying to be jerk, just protecting it's territory. Clowns will fight to the death over what it considers a nice home

I’m aware of why they do what they do. Doesn’t make it any less irritating.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Mine has done the same thing ever since she has had the nem. She drew blood once. She now goes by Telecom.

 

[cody2cannon]

Mine host my teal hammer even fight over it at times! They pack a punch already at 1.5 inches!

 

[Slarti]

On a side note, my one clown did some carpet surfing and for a good 18 months I only had the one in the tank. Yes the one that dislikes my hand in the tank! So on Saturday my wife went to the shop with me and after some very long consideration she convinced me to buy a second clown again. It was with some trepidation I agreed and with even more angst that I let the little fellow out to what I thought may have been his death!!! He swam right up to the other clown and I thought this is it. Lo and behold, not even a little nip or nudge and they seem to be getting along just fine. Which brings me back to the original post, she really just hates my hand...