Help needed after clownfish suicide.

jan4scuba · Mar 2, 2017

It's a sad day. I have 2 nano's each with 2 clownfish. One nano has a mated pair of bullet hole clowns and one jumped and I found it on the floor. They were really happy together. Very sad.

The other nano has a midnight clown that's terrorizing a smaller Wyoming white even though they were introduced together.

Can someone tell me if I can try and remove the Wyoming White and add it to the other nano with the bullet hole? They are about the same size.

And what should I add to the nano with the aggressive midnight clown.

Of course all this depends on whether I can even catch the Wyoming White since the tank is stocked with Euphyllias and Zoas and I don't want to tear down the tank.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Frop · Mar 2, 2017

Sorry for the loss. I hardly know anything about clownfish pairing. I just know mine use to pick on eachother a lot and they've calmed down. Now they just look like they go at it if they're trying to get the same thing of food

SUSIESON · Mar 2, 2017

Are they fighting over territory?
I'd try switching them but maybe move some rocks around when you do it.

eatbreakfast · Mar 3, 2017

Which bullet hole jumped, the male or female? The wyoming white sounds like it is a male, so should be able to be introduced to the bullet hole.

ahiggins · Mar 3, 2017

I think it should be fine

I was able to catch my clowns very easily after training them to eat from a pipet. Then I just scoop em up real quick after putting an empty pipet in the water lol

davocean · Mar 3, 2017

Intro in a specimen container so you can observe and easily pull if it does not look like a happy mix, w/out knowing the sex of each it's hard to say for sure.

MicroPico · Mar 3, 2017

Just a suggestion...how about removing the midnight from it's familiar surroundings & dominate role to put it into the bullet nano? It will lose it's edge and the bullet who is comfortable and settled would have the home turf advantage. You could even separate a corner of the tank with one of those clear tank dividers to help with the aggression. Then, your white could get a break & relax a little and become more confidant by itself in it's own nano. Could be worth a try.

davocean · Mar 3, 2017

With clowns it's not so much a territorial thing where a change in scape/scenery does much as much as it has to do w/ the sex of the clowns, and in a small tank there can only be one pair, must be male and female.

eatbreakfast · Mar 3, 2017

MicroPico said:
Just a suggestion...how about removing the midnight from it's familiar surroundings & dominate role to put it into the bullet nano? It will lose it's edge and the bullet who is comfortable and settled would have the home turf advantage. You could even separate a corner of the tank with one of those clear tank dividers to help with the aggression. Then, your white could get a break & relax a little and become more confidant by itself in it's own nano. Could be worth a try.

Dominant clowns will be female. Females are intolerant of each other.

jan4scuba · Mar 5, 2017

I believe the bullet that's left is the male since it was much smaller. The midnight is definitely the female. I will try catching the midnight with the pipette idea since she is more aggressive even about eating. She really mean and bites me when I add coral or move things around. Ideally that would mean the remains bullet and midnight work it out. The bullet has made a home in a huge hairy mushroom rock I've had for years. What do I add to the tank with the Wyoming?

MicroPico · Mar 5, 2017

jan4scuba said:
I believe the bullet that's left is the male since it was much smaller. The midnight is definitely the female. I will try catching the midnight with the pipette idea since she is more aggressive even about eating. She really mean and bites me when I add coral or move things around. Ideally that would mean the remains bullet and midnight work it out. The bullet has made a home in a huge hairy mushroom rock I've had for years. What do I add to the tank with the Wyoming?

From your first description, that was my thinking also. Hopefully it will work out that way. I wouldn't add anything to the Wyoming white for now until the midnight & bullet have paired up...in case it doesn't work out between the two, then you have a back-up plan & can pair the two males & one of them will then become a female. Just keep observing the midnight & bullet and let them work it out. I would only intervene if the situation gets dire. Sometimes it can get ugly until they decide it's a match (normal). Sometimes you can get a rogue that's just a mean jerk & intolerant of anything. Keep us posted and good luck.

jan4scuba · Mar 6, 2017

Thank you all for the responses. It's good to know you guys and gals are out there!!!!!

Rjramos · Mar 6, 2017

I use this homemade pairing container when trying to pair clowns. This one is made with 1 L bottle which would be right size for your nano's. I've made them also with 2 L but for bigger tank. Basically you place the fish you want to introduce in the container and watch how they interact . I've placed fish in the container for 2 wks without a problem. You need a syringe and pipette to feed through the screen. Good luck with the pairing.

jan4scuba · Mar 6, 2017

Does anyone have any tricks to catching a clownfish in a crowded nano. I'm trying the pipette method but so far no luck. I'm afraid of hitting my coral if I start chasing them.