Clowns fighting

[Shadowspop]

I put 5 designer clowns in my tank about 6 weeks ago and all was fine, other than a couple of spats. The past few days have been different and two of them have been nipping and chasing one of them almost non stop. Is there anything I can do to prevent them from killing him while I'm out of town?

 

[GK3]

I put 5 designer clowns in my tank about 6 weeks ago and all was fine, other than a couple of spats. The past few days have been different and two of them have been nipping and chasing one of them almost non stop. Is there anything I can do to prevent them from killing him while I'm out of town?

My experience is clowns only school when they are juveniles. After that, one will dominate and turn female, the next top male will become her mate, and the rest are left out. I am guessing you have two that have paired and now hey are picking on the weakest one. Unless you have a massive tank, it would be tough to have more than two clowns. As a species they are flat out aggressive and territorial. Only suggestion I have is a breaded box with clear sides, maybe that would help them adjust and it MAY work.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Clowns are notorious to bicker with each other, are they just trying to establish dominance or actively trying to kill the other fish is what you need to figure out.

If they are all the same size, more or less, you may have a situation where the two that are being aggressive have sort of paired up and established their territory and the one that is being bullied isn't big or strong enough to let them know otherwise. If you can, you could rearrange the rockwork, which may reset what they see as their territory and curb some of the aggression.

I have also taped a picture of a much larger fish to the glass and that helped with the aggression I had from my clowns and dottyback towards a newer fish and gave that fish some time to establish itself without being chased around the aquarium every second. I guess the image of the bigger fish makes them more cautious about letting their guard down to pester the new fish.

 

[Shadowspop]

Ugh...LFS said putting them in together should prevent this and the 4 remaining males would harem. Certainly not a huge tank. Only a 90 gallon cube so there isn't very far for him to run.

 

[Shadowspop]

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

After seeing the video, I would see if you can separate that clown from the others. Poor guy seems to be having a rough time when he gets the chance to sit still. See if your LFS will take it back, if not for store credit or something.

 

[Shadowspop]

After seeing the video, I would see if you can separate that clown from the others. Poor guy seems to be having a rough time when he gets the chance to sit still. See if your LFS will take it back, if not for store credit or something.

That's what I was afraid of. He's my favorite of the 5.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Call your LFS and see what they can do, you could also take the others and put them in a temporary holding tank and allow the weaker one to stay in the main display tank and allow it to get established and healed up. After a while, you can try again with having them all together.

 

[Shadowspop]

I am going out of town tonight for 5 days. Probably won't have time to get to my LFS. I have a QT tank that I just set up yesterday so there is virtually just salt water and a piece of live rock in it. Would they survive in there until I get home?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I am going out of town tonight for 5 days. Probably won't have time to get to my LFS. I have a QT tank that I just set up yesterday so there is virtually just salt water and a piece of live rock in it. Would they survive in there until I get home?

If you have a filter or something that can go in there as well to give it some water movement. I would also just put the weaker one in there for now. You could definitely overload the bio-filtration and have a nitrate issue in the quarantine with alot of clowns.

 

[Shadowspop]

If you have a filter or something that can go in there as well to give it some water movement. I would also just put the weaker one in there for now. You could definitely overload the bio-filtration and have a nitrate issue in the quarantine with alot of clowns.

I actually do have a hang on filter and heater as well. Some PVC for hiding places.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I actually do have a hang on filter and heater as well. Some PVC for hiding places.

There you go! That would actually be a nice place for the little guy, he may not even want to come out of it when you get back!

 

[Shadowspop]

I guess that's the best plan. now the fun of catching him.

 

[Shadowspop]

There you go! That would actually be a nice place for the little guy, he may not even want to come out of it when you get back!

Thanks!

 

[eatbreakfast]

They aren't juveniles. That behaviir is how a male and a female behave to another male or female. If they were all juveniles, then the advice the LFS gave would be correct in that you would end up with 1 female, 1 male, and a few neuters. This is relentless and either the aggressors or the victim need to be removed.

 

[Philip Chin]

I take the two fishes that are fighting and put them into two net breeders. I leave them next to each other for a week and then I will release them. the aggressive behavior is usually gone by them. good luck!