Unruly Clown

[Nate G]

Any tips on dealing with a territorial clown fish. She does fine with other fish, but not with me when I am caring for the tank. She makes it impossible to install new coral by attacking my hand. Any assistance would be superb

 

[ngvu1]

Use aquarium glove. They don't really hurt just startle me a bit. When 1 of the clowns I "had" did that to me while I was fragging, I dropped the frags a few times. I got mad, so I chased her around like the shark chasing nemo. After that every time I put my hand in the water, the first time I did would be scaring the sh...t out of that clown then got back to work. After a while I donated that clown because she was so stubborn and would not learn the lessons.

 

[veselym]

try using a net to distract her or a turkey baster with one hand and then place a coral with the other

 

[Reefing Madness]

It is what it is. Mine drew blood from me when I was in the tank. She hated me. They are very mean fish.

 

[reef_grrrl]

I smack one of mine on the head with my finger when she tries to bite lol. She once jumped out of the water and bit my face.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Yep, that sums up the female clowns for you. Someone else mentioned this issue: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/clown-fish-aggression.215327/#post-2467832

 

[mikesilverado8888]

Any tips on dealing with a territorial clown fish. She does fine with other fish, but not with me when I am caring for the tank. She makes it impossible to install new coral by attacking my hand. Any assistance would be superb

What kind is it?

 

[Nate G]

Snowflake

 

[maroun.c]

They can be very mean, my 15 years old maroon clown is jus tthe best example of how mean they can get.

 

[Reefrookie220]

Take it out of you tank for a couple days before reintroducing and move the fishes territory around a bit. Make it feel like the new guy again.

 

[mikesilverado8888]

Snowflake

That's wired my snowflake never does any like that

 

[DeniseAndy]

Mature clown females with a nem or decided territory (coral or rock) will be extremely territorial. With a male and egg laying even worse. Just part of who they are.