Clown aggression

[oakcityreefer]

I have two black clowns that have been living together for the last two months, Johnny and June. The larger of the two has become extremely aggressive towards the smaller one. To the point that the smaller one has some fin damage. I was able to catch the aggressor and put them in a large acclimation box inside the tank.

1. Is just putting it in an acclimation box enough separation to end or lessen the aggression?
2. How long should I keep the fish in time out before putting it back into general population?

 

[Freenow54]

I have two black clowns that have been living together for the last two months, Johnny and June. The larger of the two has become extremely aggressive towards the smaller one. To the point that the smaller one has some fin damage. I was able to catch the aggressor and put them in a large acclimation box inside the tank.

1. Is just putting it in an acclimation box enough separation to end or lessen the aggression?
2. How long should I keep the fish in time out before putting it back into general population?

The smaller one is changing sex from female to male . So June is the big Karen here I do not know how long that takes , If you find out I am sure a lot of People would be Interested

 

[christinna77]

The smaller one is changing sex from female to male . So June is the big Karen here I do not know how long that takes , If you find out I am sure a lot of People would be Interested

As far as I know, clownfish can't change from female to male.

The larger one, the female, is just being aggressive toward the smaller one, the male. OP, you can try temporarily putting her in timeout (I'd say 1-2 weeks) and see if that helps, but unfortunately bonds don't always work out and she may never accept him.

 

[BigDangler]

As far as I know, clownfish can't change from female to male.

The larger one, the female, is just being aggressive toward the smaller one, the male. OP, you can try temporarily putting her in timeout (I'd say 1-2 weeks) and see if that helps, but unfortunately bonds don't always work out and she may never accept him.

Lies, She'll bully him to comply, Just ask my wife!!!!!!!!!! haaahhhhh she gonna kill me...

But yes, the female is the bigger one and usually shows some kind of aggression towards the smaller male.. the male will shimmer and shake towards her but... they're clowns.. it's what they do.. the just clown around all over the place...

 

[Dom]

I have two black clowns that have been living together for the last two months, Johnny and June. The larger of the two has become extremely aggressive towards the smaller one. To the point that the smaller one has some fin damage. I was able to catch the aggressor and put them in a large acclimation box inside the tank.

1. Is just putting it in an acclimation box enough separation to end or lessen the aggression?
2. How long should I keep the fish in time out before putting it back into general population?

This is normal clown behavior while establishing the dominant and submissive of the pair.

 

[Nasito]

Normal, they deciding who is going to be Nemo

 

[oakcityreefer]

This is normal clown behavior while establishing the dominant and submissive of the pair.

Is there a chance she will kill him?

I have another pair of plain ole ocellaris clowns too. They also went through a stage where the female would pop the male a few times. But they never got so rough he had fin damage and when the male went to the other side of the 6 foot tank she didnt chase. The black female has caused fin damage and will chase him to the other side of the tank. I lost a Royal Gramma to aggression so I just want to make sure Im doing all I can do.

 

[Dom]

Is there a chance she will kill him?

I have another pair of plain ole ocellaris clowns too. They also went through a stage where the female would pop the male a few times. But they never got so rough he had fin damage and when the male went to the other side of the 6 foot tank she didnt chase. The black female has caused fin damage and will chase him to the other side of the tank. I lost a Royal Gramma to aggression so I just want to make sure Im doing all I can do.

Based on independent recollection only, I do believe there have been cases where the dominant killed the submissive.

I suppose you could try isolation.

 

[exnisstech]

I have seen death and it's why I rarely add two at once. I like to grow one out to female then add a tiny male. When I did add two juveniles I purchased the largest most aggressive one in a group and went to another store and purchased the smallest most docile from a group and the pairing went well. Many people including LFS emolyees say add two and let them figure things out which often works but sometimes it doesn't.

 

[spiffynidd]

Have you tried moving all the rocks around, or at least re-scape the area around her territory? I've had that work with clown bullying, she was so upset about her rock, she forgot about her target for a few days.

 

[Dom]

Have you tried moving all the rocks around, or at least re-scape the area around her territory? I've had that work with clown bullying, she was so upset about her rock, she forgot about her target for a few days.

This can be effective.

But the aggression is related to establishing the dominant. It isn't territorial, so I don't know that it will work.