NEED HELP, Big clown fish troubles !!!

[Nick17]

Hi guys, so I'm cycling my 36 L Ocean Free tank with a pair of clownfish (don't ask why, it was a big mistake) So, all has been good and I've had the pair for one week, but, the past few days I've found that the bigger clown is like really bullying the other one. I don't know if it's normal, but the smaller clown will hide in the corners and caves for most of the day while the big clown chases the other clown and seem to bite him, and now I'm noticed that the small clown has some of his fins bitten. The small clow is also looking very stressed, it has changed colour completely and is now a pail orange/white. The big clown refuses to let the small one eat. I drop a few pellets in and it will chase the small clown away while eating all of the food. I haven't fed the small clown in 2 days now . The small clown keeps shaking a lot as well as breathing fast, I have no clue what is going on, My big clown is really healthy, like it's always swimming around looking good and it's colours are really bright. Look, I don't know what to do because my small clown is starting to look in really bad shape, please help me !!!!!!

 

[chodyb]

I believe this is normal behavior with clowns it's kind of part of the dance they do. the female will harass the male for sometime. the smaller male will do a shake vibration when close to the female. I would just keep an eye on both if it gets worse maybe separate them put the smaller male I'm a quarantine box.

 

[pgammon]

+1, there will be some squabbling for dominance purposes, but I too might put him in a box, I've read rearranging the tank might help.

 

[BummersReef]

Little one has got to eat! Whatever you need to do to get him some food you gotta do ... Try the box

 

[BRB]

I HAVE TWO TOMATOES... THE LARGER CHASED MY DAMSELS AROUND BUT ONLY CHASED THE AGGRESSIVE ONE AND NOW LEAVES IT ALONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE LEARNED TO KEEP TO THEIR AREA... THE LARGER CLOWN DID CHASE THE SMALLER ONE AND THE SMALLER DID SUBMIT OVER TIME AND DID HIS LITTLE DANCE BUT NEVER NOTICED MISSING FINS FROM ANYONE... POSSIBLY THE DAMSELS MISSING FINS BUT THEY SEEM FINE NOW...

 

[happyhourhero]

Go buy some frozen cyclops. Great clown food and the small one will for sure eat it.

 

[Mbnym74]

I just introduced a black and white clown in my tank and I already had 2 clowns and he was immediately getting bullied so I took a small plastic critter cage with top that has slits for air and out the new clown in it and put that in the tank for 2 days ( I put a small amount of food in there for him)and I just let him out last night at feeding time and he was doing a lot better, a lot less aggression towards him. The guy at my lfstold to try it.

 

[cj in sac ca]

Clowns can get nippy with each other and other fish. As far as him not eating I'll bet he is still getting some from the rocks where the larger one isn't eating all of it. Even though your cycling there is still editable things on the rocks for him to eat. Good luck post pics and show off that tank.

 

[Nick17]

Hi, so I managed to get a piece of food near the small clown this morning while the big clown was at the bottom of the tank. The small clown didn't even touch the food, it usually goes crazy when I put some in, I have no idea what's happening, I don't have a quaritine tank at the moment, any suggestions, it's now been 3 days since he last ate and he is still getting bullied

 

[BummersReef]

don't they make a little box acclimation thing that will suction cup to a tank glass? I think they do ... that will separate the little one at least enough to get him to eat. Biggest worry is the eating at this point IMO

 

[melypr1985]

Hi Nick! It sounds like your clowns are doing their normal thing. The shaking you see from the small one is what I call the "submission shimmy". He's submitting to the dominant female of the pair. That's normal. It's also normal for the female to be somewhat abusive toward the male, though it shouldn't go so far as to damage the male. Since your reporting damaged fins and lack of eating, I would separate the two clowns using an acclimation box of some sort. They make those net boxes that you can (as mentioned above) suction to the glass. This will let them see each other and interact but not harm each other. Keep him there until he's eating well again and has regained some strength then let them back together. If the female continues the over-the-top behavior again, it may be time to trade the male in for a different one. It's not a guarantee that any two clowns will get along, just rare-ish when they dont especially if we know they are a male and female - or two juvis. Good luck!

 

[Nick17]

The little clown just died today The big clown was "eating" it . Is it okay to just have one clown in the tank for now? When should I get another one and should the clown be bigger or smaller?

 

[melypr1985]

The little clown just died today The big clown was "eating" it . Is it okay to just have one clown in the tank for now? When should I get another one and should the clown be bigger or smaller?

Awe, I"m sorry for the loss sweetie. It's perfectly ok to have just one clownfish. When your ready to get a new one, always go for a smaller one.... preferably a juvenile that you know hasn't transitioned into a female yet.