Aggressive clownfish

Mcdonalds · Apr 23, 2022

Hey, so I recently added a yasha goby to my tank, and it’s been ok for about a week until my clownfish pair started nipping and chasing it around. The tank is 24g and I’ve had the clowns for a year. I caught both the clownfish and placed them in a breeder box for about 3 days. They continued to chase and be aggressive after being released, but just the female this time. What should I do? (Should I also catch the male clown?)

blaxsun · Apr 23, 2022

Clownfish are a**hats. You may have to find a new home for the goby.

vetteguy53081 · Apr 23, 2022

Mcdonalds said:
Hey, so I recently added a yasha goby to my tank, and it’s been ok for about a week until my clownfish pair started nipping and chasing it around. The tank is 24g and I’ve had the clowns for a year. I caught both the clownfish and placed them in a breeder box for about 3 days. They continued to chase and be aggressive after being released, but just the female this time. What should I do? (Should I also catch the male clown?)

Clowns can be territorial and especially the larger one being female shows a hierarchy in which she will protect an area or the whole tank as her own generally eating all the food and chasing others away including her male counterpart. This may subside but keep an eye on her. You can isolate her or both in an acclamation box for a week or two to give them a time out and allow the goby to settle in to the tank

Mcdonalds · Apr 23, 2022

blaxsun said:
Clownfish are a**hats. You may have to find a new home for the goby.

They really are… I also had to get rid of my possum wrasse because of the same two fish. I might not get more fish for the tank

dale347 · May 3, 2022

My clown fish harassed a goby until he starved nearly to death. I had to give him away before he died. I tried rearranging rocks, moving the host, everything. Sorry!! Clown fish are great but not with anything smaller than them. Heck, they will come after my hands if I get too close to their area. They are fearless!!