I keep losing Ocellaris :(

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Hmmm. here pics are helpful. Could be Brook, flukes, parasites or aggression which imposes stress..

Posted pics

 

[Llyod276]

I have 3 clowns, two blacks and one orange. The blacks are paired and the orange is not. It was but his buddy died from tailrot. I've yet to read a forum where black and orange pair up or mate. Try pairing same colors and also dont try it in a small tank. They are aquatic peacocks you gotta let em swim...

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have 3 clowns, two blacks and one orange. The blacks are paired and the orange is not. It was but his buddy died from tailrot. I've yet to read a forum where black and orange pair up or mate. Try pairing same colors and also dont try it in a small tank. They are aquatic peacocks you gotta let em swim...

Tailrot or aggression ?

 

[Llyod276]

Tailrot or aggression ?

Tailrot. He was swimming really oddly. Vertically. Didn't have a qt tank and it was way too late, sometimes you just know when they turn into crabfood. Sure as feces, he was belly up by 530 am. I noticed at 830pm. I think maybe the anem stung him... all the other fish are fine. But yeah ever since the survivor won't go near the anem...

 

[Llyod276]

Tailrot. He was swimming really oddly. Vertically. Didn't have a qt tank and it was way too late, sometimes you just know when they turn into crabfood. Sure as feces, he was belly up by 530 am. I noticed at 830pm. I think maybe the anem stung him... all the other fish are fine. But yeah ever since the survivor won't go near the anem...

 

[Llyod276]

See the loss of color. And the white membrane. All gone.

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Based on the timeline in the original post and what seems to be agression as the consensus from the replies, what are the chances that the orange Ocellaris has turned female already?

 

[Dbichler]

Unless these were old clowns to begin with its highly unlikely one is female already. Usually a year up to two years before sex change can happen. Yes sex change can happen in a month but only on a mature clownfish. Pairing can happen prior to sex change but that is often misconstrued with mating.

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Unless these were old clowns to begin with its highly unlikely one is female already. Usually a year up to two years before sex change can happen. Yes sex change can happen in a month but only on a mature clownfish. Pairing can happen prior to sex change but that is often misconstrued with mating.

That's good news I guess as I'm leaning towards getting a bigger one to try and stop the aggression, but wasn't sure if it has changed sex or not.

My logic says, that's the safer option to avoid it bullying a smaller or similar sized one. Would I be correct in my logic and assumptions?

 

[cool2burn]

Add a maroon clown it will put whatever in its place.

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Add a maroon clown it will put whatever in its place.

Hehehe... I'll prob struggle adding anything else after that... I might get an iso container to have on hand just incase.

I'm hoping the clown learnt its lesson as it's been very chummy and hanging out with the bicolour blenny today... lol

 

[Llyod276]

Because I'm mixing species similar size seems more prudent. But idk for sure. Right now they're all friends. But as we know when critters grow older they become less tolerant.

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Because I'm mixing species similar size seems more prudent. But idk for sure. Right now they're all friends. But as we know when critters grow older they become less tolerant.

I thought u had paired black ones and a single orange? Or did I get that wrong?

Besides I thought they are all Ocellaris, so they are just different colours of the same specie... I'm assuming that's how designer clowns came about in captivity.

Sorry, I know I ask alot of questions, but it's all very educational for newb

 

[lmm1967]

you have too small of a tank for an aggressive fish - and some clowns are overly aggressive.

Trade the devil clown in and get a couple that have been together for a bit.

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

you have too small of a tank for an aggressive fish - and some clowns are overly aggressive.

Trade the devil clown in and get a couple that have been together for a bit.

Well noted and def worth considering

 

[Llyod276]

I do have three, an just last night the black ones were beginning to host the anem, so the game may change once they establish turf. But if there is a normal, my fish may be the exception. But smaller fish have a tendency to school.

 

[Tankkeepers]

Salinity 1.025
Phosphate 0.25
Nitrate 25
Temp 78F
Fishless Cycle completed Aug 2020
Tank size 14g breeder
Wave maker 530gph
*Added fuge and skimmer this weekend

All fish healthy, energetic, eating, swimming actively.

LFS said the orange Ocellaris could potentially be bullying, hence the 1st black Ocellaris got killed in 2 weeks as it was smaller, then this last one took longer as it was same size as orange.

LFS suggested adding a slightly larger black Ocellaris so it wont be bullied. But the ultimate goal is for them to pair.

Is that nitrate 25 or 2.5? If its 25 nitrate is the problem drop that to around 5 and then try again fish dont handle going from low to high nitrate water very well and it usually kills their liver

 

[Tankkeepers]

Also aggression between clowns is common they will fight eachoth to see who becomes the female and who becomes the male and sex change can happen in the first year my old pair started breeding at 1 year and 2 months old had them at 3 months old

 

[Tankkeepers]

Also if tje male is not doing its job the female will kill it

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Is that nitrate 25 or 2.5? If its 25 nitrate is the problem drop that to around 5 and then try again fish dont handle going from low to high nitrate water very well and it usually kills their liver

Nitrate is at 25, I added a fuge with chaeto and a skimmer over the weekend. Currently in ugly stage and trying to manage nutrient levels and bring them down.