Evil clarki clown! What to do?

[Bfragale]

So I have a full grown clarki clown. This little guy is mean! He’s in my frag tank- with only a domino damsel because he doesn’t like most other fish.

now he has started fiercely attacking my hand as soon as it hits the water. Like a pit bull- relentlessly attacking.

he’s a pretty fish- but at this point what should I do? I don’t want to give away a problem but also can’t keep it in a tank my hands are in daily. Just doesn’t make sense.
I also keep a long spine urchin. In the process of pulling my hand away from “Clark” the clarki- I have gotten stabbed by long spine urchin.

what would you do?

 

[SDK]

Your Clown is a "she" by now, and attacking hands is what mature female clowns do.

A pair of Coralife Aqua Gloves will set you back about $20 and are heavy duty enough to keep bites from bothering you. Gloves as are also a good practice at any time when sticking your hands in a reef tank.

My big female Darwin's Clown is smart enough to have figured out her bites don't bother me when I have the gloves on, so she stopped even trying. She just sulks now when my hand gets into her territory. She will actively watch for me to slip up though. If I dip in a bare finger while feeding or cleaning the glass she goes straight for it.

 

[Azedenkae]

So I have a full grown clarki clown. This little guy is mean! He’s in my frag tank- with only a domino damsel because he doesn’t like most other fish.

now he has started fiercely attacking my hand as soon as it hits the water. Like a pit bull- relentlessly attacking.

he’s a pretty fish- but at this point what should I do? I don’t want to give away a problem but also can’t keep it in a tank my hands are in daily. Just doesn’t make sense.
I also keep a long spine urchin. In the process of pulling my hand away from “Clark” the clarki- I have gotten stabbed by long spine urchin.

what would you do?

It depends on what you value more. If you are willing to accept being bitten/not putting your hands in the tank/wearing gloves, then you should keep it. If you don't want to do the above, then you'd have to get rid of it and may reconsider keeping clownfish in the future. Biting can be a very natural behavior of all clownfish. I have a cinnamon and an ocellaris, both bite. I had occys before that did not bite. So luck of the draw, but each time you get a clown there's a chance it'll be a biter. And anecdotally seems like a high chance at that, given how often biting is cited in this forum.

 

[Bfragale]

I have a pair of “regular” clowns. They are non-biters lol. Not aggressive at all. When they have eggs they are a bit aggressive towards anything that comes close to the eggs- they chase them away but don’t bite anyone. But other then that they are “nice” fish

this clarki was givin to me because he “didn’t like other clowns” (as expected) so I’ve had him away from other fish in the frag tank. He’s with a domino damsel that was also given to me because he was over grown in a nano tank. The clarki clown and domino damsel get along.

At first “she” was fine. But later started attacking my hands. (Sorry I call all mean fish a he and nice fish a she lol- but your right it is for sure a full grown female)

ive only had one other fish that bits hands- it was also a clown. This was in 2002-2003. I’ve never been a huge fan of clowns or damsels as most damsels have been jerks lol. Everyone I have had was ones I “saved” from other reefers that didn’t want them lol.

I do have gloves- but honestly I don’t like using them. I feel like I can’t “feel” things with them on- but that’s probably the best suggestion.

what’s people’s thoughts on rehoming him? I would be open and honest as to why I’m giving him away- but just don’t want to give it to someone that will eventually not want it either lol. Or should I just tuff it out and keep this gal.

 

[Azedenkae]

I have a pair of “regular” clowns. They are non-biters lol. Not aggressive at all. When they have eggs they are a bit aggressive towards anything that comes close to the eggs- they chase them away but don’t bite anyone. But other then that they are “nice” fish

this clarki was givin to me because he “didn’t like other clowns” (as expected) so I’ve had him away from other fish in the frag tank. He’s with a domino damsel that was also given to me because he was over grown in a nano tank. The clarki clown and domino damsel get along.

At first “she” was fine. But later started attacking my hands. (Sorry I call all mean fish a he and nice fish a she lol- but your right it is for sure a full grown female)

ive only had one other fish that bits hands- it was also a clown. This was in 2002-2003. I’ve never been a huge fan of clowns or damsels as most damsels have been jerks lol. Everyone I have had was ones I “saved” from other reefers that didn’t want them lol.

I do have gloves- but honestly I don’t like using them. I feel like I can’t “feel” things with them on- but that’s probably the best suggestion.

what’s people’s thoughts on rehoming him? I would be open and honest as to why I’m giving him away- but just don’t want to give it to someone that will eventually not want it either lol. Or should I just tuff it out and keep this gal.

She's such a beauty. Yeah re-homing is a bit of an issue if people don't fully grasp the understand that clowns can be super aggro. Imo either give it to someone who seems to be experienced and understand what s/he is taking on.