My clown fish is killing all my fish please help!

The guppy guru · Apr 28, 2020

Hey everyone I have a ocellaris clown fish in my 55 gallon reef and he has been terrorizing everything in the tank, the anglefish, black molly, bangai cardinal and my coral banded shrimp. He has already killed off my school of 6 guppies and I am afraid he will finish off the rest of my fish. I have him separated right now but I am afraid that he will find a way out and kill of the rest. Please help.

The guppy guru · Apr 28, 2020

Please help

Pablopufferfish · Apr 28, 2020

The guppy guru said:
Please help

Do have a QT system or some type of separation system(like a sump)?

Fred2482 · Apr 28, 2020

Wow, I know clowns can be a little mean but that's crazy.

Is the clown or any of these fish new editions?

Big G · Apr 28, 2020

Clownfish are after all from the damsel family. They can be real mean. Heck, we even had a member report that his Clownfish bit him on the eye as he was leaning over the tank to do some maintenance. Re-home the fish.

bigdrew · Apr 28, 2020

I have two cinnamon clowns and they are ferocious. The one attacks my hand when I put it in the tank. I hear ya. It’s time to re-home.

The guppy guru · Apr 28, 2020

Fred2482 said:
Wow, I know clowns can be a little mean but that's crazy.

Is the clown or any of these fish new editions?

Yes the clown is a new addition I added him in about two weeks ago

The guppy guru · Apr 28, 2020

N

Pablopufferfish said:
Do have a QT system or some type of separation system(like a sump)?

o unfortunately I do not have a quarantine system and my tank runs on a canister filter.

The guppy guru · Apr 28, 2020

bigdrew said:
I have two cinnamon clowns and they are ferocious. The one attacks my hand when I put it in the tank. I hear ya. It’s time to re-home.

I wish I could do that but only my LFS wants to take him and I need to find a day that I’m not busy or the LFS is open.

Pablopufferfish · Apr 28, 2020

The guppy guru said:
N

o unfortunately I do not have a quarantine system and my tank runs on a canister filter.

Time to re-home him.

Pablopufferfish · Apr 28, 2020

The guppy guru said:
I wish I could do that but only my LFS wants to take him and I need to find a day that I’m not busy or the LFS is open.

Any buckets on hand?

The guppy guru · Apr 28, 2020

Big G said:
Clownfish are after all from the damsel family. They can be real mean. Heck, we even had a member report that his Clownfish bit him on

clowns can indeed be aggressive and mean I had heard story’s but, mine just takes the bag.

The guppy guru · Apr 28, 2020

Pablopufferfish said:
Any buckets on hand?

I have a bucket but right now it’s occupied with a large sailfin molly.

The guppy guru · Apr 28, 2020

The guppy guru said:
I have a bucket but right now it’s occupied with a large sailfin molly.

Ps I’m acclimating the fish to go into my freshwater tank. I’m trying to save him from the clown before it’s to late.

Pablopufferfish · Apr 28, 2020

The guppy guru said:
I have a bucket but right now it’s occupied with a large sailfin molly.

Oh, hmmmmm....
Can you consider buying a mushroom box from BRS? They’re great for isolation within your tank. Too bad they’re out of stock.

lefkonj · Apr 28, 2020

I say find it a new home. Be pretty tough to get it to behave again after all of that.

Pablopufferfish · Apr 28, 2020

lefkonj said:
I say find it a new home. Be pretty tough to get it to behave again after all of that.

He is being re-homed but the dilemma is it’s going to take a while to re-home him. So we’re trying to find a way he can be isolated for this period time(so he doesn’t terrorize the other fish).

2000se · Apr 28, 2020

Go to home depot / lowes and buy a 5 gallon bucket. Pull 3 - 4 gallons out of your display and put it in the bucket. (obviously replace those gallons with fresh saltwater in the main tank) Add a little 50 watt heater and either a small power head or an air pump to agitate the water surface.

Done. Simple temporary QT. Now, if you can afford to move 1or 2 small rocks from your display to the bucket that will help with ammonia. If you cannot then your going to either need to use Prime or do a good water change in the bucket about every 3 days. Stay on top of checking the ammonia if you don't put the rocks in there.

At that point you have bought yourself a little time to figure out what to do with the fish.

Pablopufferfish · Apr 28, 2020

2000se said:
Go to home depot / lowes and buy a 5 gallon bucket. Pull 3 - 4 gallons out of your display and put it in the bucket. (obviously replace those gallons with fresh saltwater in the main tank) Add a little 50 watt heater and either a small power head or an air pump to agitate the water surface.

Done. Simple temporary QT. Now, if you can afford to move 1or 2 small rocks from your display to the bucket that will help with ammonia. If you cannot then your going to either need to use Prime or do a good water change in the bucket about every 3 days. Stay on top of checking the ammonia if you don't put the rocks in there.

At that point you have bought yourself a little time to figure out what to do with the fish.

That’s a pretty good idea. Just go to Home Depot/Lowe’s at your own risk.

lilgrounchuck · Apr 28, 2020

Maybe it’s because he’s solo? Mine were super aggressive for a few months. They’d attack my hands as soon as my finger hit the water. Once one of them went female it all stopped. They still get a bit ornery when someone (me) vacuums the corner they made their home, but otherwise they couldn’t care less about the comings and goings of the rest of the tank now.