Mandarin goby attacking clownfish

[MikeRowe2024]

My mandarin goby has been attacking my clownfish, has anyone else experienced this?
He’ll swim all the way across the tank, seemingly out of no where, and just go at the clown.
I was more worried about the clown attacking the mandarin, but I’m 100% certain the mandarin is instigating.
is this normal?

I’ll try to get a video next time I see it

 

[KrisReef]

Highly unusual but not totally abnormal. Your Mandarin is obviously mistaking the Clownfish for a huge pod. The orange coloration is similar to many of the exoskeleton coloration found in pods. Just like waving a red cape in front of a bull the orange flash of the Cllownfish swimming signals "food" to the Mandarin who is charging across the tank to eat a huge Thanksgiving feast. The Mandarin seems to have a healthy appetite and probably needs either contacts or glasses to correct its visual issues.

I Might get rid of the Clownfish before the Mandarin finishes it off?
(Can't wait to see the videos to confirm my theory.)

 

[MikeRowe2024]

At work most of the day today, but when I’m off I’ll be watching with a camera lol

 

[KrisReef]

At work most of the day today, but when I’m off I’ll be watching with a camera lol

Some people suggest setting the camera on video mode and walking away to capture fish behavior and aggression in a fish tank. Our fishes often change their behavior when we are watching.

I do hope the Mandarin will attack the Clownfish on camera, these unusual cases make for the best reminders that we don't know how a fish will perform until we drop it in the tank. Its also a bonus for those of us who have had Clownfish attack us when we put our hands in their tanks. Emotional payback of huge debts perhaps?

 

[MikeRowe2024]

Some people suggest setting the camera on video mode and walking away to capture fish behavior and aggression in a fish tank. Our fishes often change their behavior when we are watching.

I do hope the Mandarin will attack the Clownfish on camera, these unusual cases make for the best reminders that we don't know how a fish will perform until we drop it in the tank. Its also a bonus for those of us who have had Clownfish attack us when we put our hands in their tanks. Emotional payback of huge debts perhaps?

lol yeah the mandarins got my back fs

 

[1stMarineTankDude]

At work most of the day today, but when I’m off I’ll be watching with a camera lol

setup a camera and stream it! Sure to catch it that way.

 

[MikeRowe2024]

Thanks! If can’t get it tonight I’ll set up my Wyze. Just gotta find a way to hold lens in place, but that shouldn’t be too hard

 

[MikeRowe2024]

my roommate just fed the tank and I asked if he could watch for a little. This is what he sent me. I don’t know why he’s watching a week 14 PMT lol (Plz ignore dirty glass missed a maintenance week bc finals)

 

[MikeRowe2024]

my roommate just fed the tank and I asked if he could watch for a little. This is what he sent me. I don’t know why he’s watching a week 14 PMT lol (Plz ignore dirty glass missed a maintenance week bc finals)

gonna try for better video when im off still

 

[MikeRowe2024]

lol only took a few minutes of watching. Dudes a missile .