My clown fish is biting me

[5Dsofdodgeball]

I have a pair of clown in my tank. In the last week the male clown fish has started to aggressively charge and bite my hand/ arms when my hand is anywhere near their territory in the tank. Kind of a pain when placing corals.

I don’t think it’s a problem, in fact we think it’s pretty funny at my house, just wondering what causes this sudden aggression towards me.

He doesn’t seem to show any aggression towards other fish- just me. I’ve had the pair for about 2-3 months

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I have a pair of clown in my tank. In the last week the male clown fish has started to aggressively charge and bite my hand/ arms when my hand is anywhere near their territory in the tank. Kind of a pain when placing corals.

I don’t think it’s a problem, in fact we think it’s pretty funny at my house, just wondering what causes this sudden aggression towards me.

He doesn’t seem to show any aggression towards other fish- just me. I’ve had the pair for about 2-3 months

You nailed it, territory thing. They are meanies, but soooo cute

 

[Jvesche20]

I had the same thing with my maroon clown. It hosted a nem and if I were to go near that fish I would get bit. If I was feeding my fish or cleaning the glass I would get bit. It actually kinda hurt and it wasn't one bit it was over and over. I learned if I put a rubber glove on the fish doesnt try and bite me. Ended up getting rid of the clown and the nem as the nem was growing too big and the clown was trying to kill my other clowns.

 

[Idoc]

Mine jumps out of the water to get my hand. About a month ago, she jumped out id the tank trying to get me. I know it didn't help with their little sensory brains, but i made her lay on the floor a couple minutes to think about what she had done. If nothing else, it made me feel better about it since she had been getting closer and closer to being tossed in the sump or toilet... that decision was going more toward the toilet with the more blood she was drawing with her bites. Somehow, the flop onto the floor had calmed her a bit. But, I'm now wearing long gloves to work in the tank! I freakin' hate her...

 

[Dragon52]

Every clown I've had has done this, my current one will attack anything I use wether cleaning or adding something to the tank.

 

[FragileReefer]

i started wearing purple nitrile gloves when doing major maintenance and my clowns stopped biting me. i went to just grab something with my tweezers without gloves this week and my female jumped out of the water to get a piece of my hand. im glad ive found a reprieve from the constant nipping.

 

[Peace River]

This is part of the mystery and misery of these amazing creatures! I have found that hand feeding can help mitigate this behavior - good luck!

 

[TracyLynn]

My female snowflake just recently started attacking me, no blood yet, but I have these little read blood marks on my arms. In my case, I think she’s getting ready to lay eggs, as both have started some new little wiggle swiggle dances on an object in their territory. Odd that it’s your male being the aggressor (In my very novice opinion) I always thought the females were the bosses.
Good luck - your comrade in pain -Tracy

 

[5Dsofdodgeball]

Mine jumps out of the water to get my hand. About a month ago, she jumped out id the tank trying to get me. I know it didn't help with their little sensory brains, but i made her lay on the floor a couple minutes to think about what she had done. If nothing else, it made me feel better about it since she had been getting closer and closer to being tossed in the sump or toilet... that decision was going more toward the toilet with the more blood she was drawing with her bites. Somehow, the flop onto the floor had calmed her a bit. But, I'm now wearing long gloves to work in the tank! I freakin' hate her...

I had no idea they could draw blood. Mine barely hurts- I guess it becomes a non laughing matter after a while!

 

[Peace River]

I had no idea they could draw blood. Mine barely hurts- I guess it becomes a non laughing matter after a while!

Yep! Some nibble, some bite - although you're more likely to do real damage to yourself when you yank your hand out of the tank when the nip surprises you and for a split second you think you may have a shark in your tank!!!

Um, not that I've ever done this, but it may have left a mark! ;Shamefullyembarrased

 

[Rp.McMurphy]

My clowns leave me alone, but I had a starry blenny that would come out of nowhere and get me. Didn't hurt but always scared the dickens out of me and made me splash water all over the place, followed by a few minutes of shame by getting scared by an itty bitty fish nibble.

 

[Orko]

Mine jumps out of the water to get my hand. About a month ago, she jumped out id the tank trying to get me. I know it didn't help with their little sensory brains, but i made her lay on the floor a couple minutes to think about what she had done. If nothing else, it made me feel better about it since she had been getting closer and closer to being tossed in the sump or toilet... that decision was going more toward the toilet with the more blood she was drawing with her bites. Somehow, the flop onto the floor had calmed her a bit. But, I'm now wearing long gloves to work in the tank! I freakin' hate her...

I had a large Tomato Clown that did the same thing she would bite me and draw blood every time she would bite my arm fingers. I tore down most of my reef to catch her n a 5 gal bucket to the lfs and so lady asked what I was going to do with the pretty fish I said going to trade her in ... she asked what I was going to get for her and I had no idea she asked what I wanted fr the fish I was lke you can have hwe and he bucket to!!! NEVER will get a tomato Clown again...

 

[Jesterrace]

Makes me glad I got rid of my Snowflake Occ. I could see having a different Occ or Percula variety in a small dedicated setup, but never in a larger or community tank. Gave me no small joy to see that Snowflake Occ get the crap kicked out of it by my Melanurus Wrasse, little punk tried to bully it one time too many and boy did he let that brat have it.

 

[Jacked Reefer]

I named my clown beetlejuice because he is a ghostly plague on my tank that has only one goal. Inconvenience me. He bites my hand, and recently has started attacking the turkey baster and knocking it into corals and my mangroves, he even attacks frags I move. All i get in return is a 50 dollar fish who sits in the corner unless i'm putting something in my tank. I want to sell him SOOOOO bad but my mother has gotten attached.

 

[lpsouth1978]

My Spotcinclus clowns are non aggressive so far. The female is about 3" and the male is about 2" and have been in the tank for months. The worst I ever had was a 5" Gold Stripe Maroon. She was in a 125 and it didn't matter where in the tank you were working, she was out for blood. The worst part was that she had a knack for biting the webbing between my fingers. Let me tell you, a bite from a 5" clown, on the webbing of the fingers, HURTS. I was always terrified to do anything in the tank.

 

[Idoc]

I had no idea they could draw blood. Mine barely hurts- I guess it becomes a non laughing matter after a while!

Yes, most are nips but several have drawn blood. She likes to go for the area between my fingers where the skin is softer... that's where she draws blood occasionally! If she can't get to my hand outside the tank (near the top), she'll splash water into my face. I'm prayng for "fish selective" velvet to hit my tank!

 

[Jesterrace]

Yes, most are nips but several have drawn blood. She likes to go for the area between my fingers where the skin is softer... that's where she draws blood occasionally! If she can't get to my hand outside the tank (near the top), she'll splash water into my face. I'm prayng for "fish selective" velvet to hit my tank!

Why not just trap and remove.

 

[siggy]

 

[Idoc]

Why not just trap and remove.

Because she's just too dang pretty! So, I'll just wear a glove...

 

[slocal]

Haha, my little guy straight up goes for the "finger crotch", too. Every time.

I find it rather hilarious, but that would change if he managed to break skin.