New pair aggression

ReefSapper · Dec 3, 2020

I know this may be a tired topic to many but i wanted to ask a couple of specific questions regarding aggression in my most recent pair of clown fish. A little background for starters, i have paired clowns in the past and always had a little bit of aggression so i am not super concerned yet. I bought 1 flurry and 1 phantom from my favorite LFS who sources their clowns from sea & reef in Maine. The flurry is slightly larger which i wanted but both are still relatively juvenile. My tank is an SCA 50 cube, it has been running for about 3 weeks but the rock has been curing for about 3 months prior. I have been and am continuing to use Microbactor7, these are the first 2 fish in the tank and lights will still be off for another couple months. The Flurry is dead set on nipping at this time (it has only been a day) but my concern and whats new to me is the phantom shows zero interest in getting away, he just continues to hang out and get bullied even with the seemingly endless space to catch a breather. The main factor that is different now than in the past...much higher flow (2 MP10's on either side of the back wall but both set to minimum constant flow) which both seem to want to swim right into the highest flow area of the tank. I am hesitant to turn them off because i want them to figure it out but perhaps i am being stubborn and that would allow the phantom to get away easier? No signs of fin damage yet so i am not going to rehome either but how long do you let it go if it remains constant like this and if so do you recommend removing the bully or the bullied? Thanks in advance, sorry for the long winded thread.

Nigel35 · Dec 3, 2020

My clown pair is going through that right now... lol... I Wouldn't stress to much about it. If their is no fin damage than it probably is just asserting dominance. I'm sure you have heard that when clownfish have like a seizure it means that they are submitting to the female clown. Similar situation I would think. If it gets worse than I would probably separate them.

ReefSapper · Dec 3, 2020

Nigel35 said:
My clown pair is going through that right now... lol... I Wouldn't stress to much about it. If their is no fin damage than it probably is just asserting dominance. I'm sure you have heard that when clownfish have like a seizure it means that they are submitting to the female clown. Similar situation I would think. If it gets worse than I would probably separate them.

Yeah thanks Nigel, my thoughts as well just wanted to make extra sure as this pair is a bit more expensive than pairs I've had in the past lol. I'll keep a close eye over the next few days but I'm confident things will be ok. Neither one of them have done much to explore the tank they are at the front of the glass swimming top to bottom but its still a very fresh environment for them, they should settle in. Eating like pigs so thats always good

OrionN · Dec 4, 2020

Pure breed clownfish have submissive/dominant behaviors that are recognized by the other clown fish. The mutts that are sold as fancy designer clownfish are all mixed up, especially when the two clowns are not of the same mixture. It is like communication with different languages, they don't really understand each other so the pairing can really be rough at times. The smaller male can really get beat up.

ReefSapper · Dec 4, 2020

OrionN said:
Pure breed clownfish have submissive/dominant behaviors that are recognized by the other clown fish. The mutts that are sold as fancy designer clownfish are all mixed up, especially when the two clowns are not of the same mixture. It is like communication with different languages, they don't really understand each other so the pairing can really be rough at times. The smaller male can really get beat up.

Makes sense Orion, i had never heard that before. Everyone always told me as long as they are both truly ocellaris clowns the color morphs wouldn't matter but you learn something new everyday! This morning the aggression is still there but might be calming a little bit still no signs of fin damage so all is well for now.

OrionN · Dec 4, 2020

I used to raise clowns. Ran out of room and put about 30 of my best babies in my 320 DT. After a few months they paired up, without fail they paired up to similar cross.

They were all racist, and discriminated against each other.

Cbones1979 · Jan 5, 2021

So I lost one of my clowns (larger femal saddleback). I have a normal small ocellaris, do I have to get another one just like him? Or can I add a morph with some white on him?

ReefSapper · Jan 5, 2021

You can add any ocellaris morph, just dont add a different type (perc or maroon). They dont always pair but you will most likely be fine.

CarltonCay · Jan 5, 2021

Are you testing your water every few days to make sure the tank isn't in a cycle?

Aside from that, the tank is bare. Clownfish host in corals. The aggression will subside when you get something for it to host, like an Anemone.