Clownfish aggression and more aggressive fish

[Redbird5]

I had two ocellaris clownfish and the little butts would nip me, they were too small to break the skin, but I read that if they have more aggressive fish and they don't feel like the alpha in the aquarium they will leave things be. Is this true?

 

[TX_REEF]

not in my experience. Clownfish, especially maroon clowns, do not back down for anyone once they are established. I wear gloves when I am working in my frag tank for that reason, the maroon clowns in there are beautiful but vicious. perfect example of the fearlessness:

 

[Redbird5]

not in my experience. Clownfish, especially maroon clowns, do not back down for anyone once they are established. I wear gloves when I am working in my frag tank for that reason, the maroon clowns in there are beautiful but vicious. perfect example of the fearlessness:

I'm only talking ocellaris clownfish. I know the others are mean. Ocellaris are supposed to be calmer than the rest.

 

[TX_REEF]

not in my experience. Clownfish, especially maroon clowns, do not back down for anyone once they are established. I wear gloves when I am working in my frag tank for that reason, the maroon clowns in there are beautiful but vicious. perfect example of the fearlessness:

I'm only talking ocellaris clownfish. I know the others are mean. Ocellaris are supposed to be calmer than the rest.

Ocellaris are generally less aggressive, yes - but still territorial.

 

[ya_boii]

Ocellaris are definitely a mixed bag. If they have a well established territory, they tend to be more aggressive. This would absolutely include a host anemone. However, depending on the other fish kept with them AND their individual temperament, they can chill out or not. My ocellaris trio are pretty chill with the bigger/less aggro fish, however, they still keep an eye on any one getting too close to their nem. They absolutely don't let any of the damsels within a radius of their nem, though there's a royal Gramma hiding out right next to the nem that they don't mind at all.

All this is to say, clowns have a lot of personality, and aggression tends to come and go towards different fish at their discretion

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I personally never had any agression issues with my picaso clowns. Clowns are going to do clown things. Sometimes they will be aggressive towards any fish you put in a tank while other times they will do nothing wrong.

 

[Redbird5]

I personally never had any agression issues with my picaso clowns. Clowns are going to do clown things. Sometimes they will be aggressive towards any fish you put in a tank while other times they will do nothing wrong.

It wasn't the fish they were aggressive towards, it was my hand when I used the turkey bastor to feed them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

It wasn't the fish they were aggressive towards, it was my hand when I used the turkey bastor to feed them.

Often a female will do this, chase the smaller often a male, chase fish from its favorite area of tank, try to steal all the food and as mentioned bite your hand whether cleaning or feeding. This is referred to as clownfish hierarchy

 

[Redbird5]

Often a female will do this, chase the smaller often a male, chase fish from its favorite area of tank, try to steal all the food and as mentioned bite your hand whether cleaning or feeding. This is referred to as clownfish hierarchy

I'm not sure how I can establish my hand as the alpha clownfish whenever I go into the aquarium. With my shrimp I've used the turkey bastor to spray water at them when they get too close. They're like spiders to me, cool from a distance but they need to keep their distance from my hand bc I don't want them touching me.

 

[BryanM]

I'm not sure how I can establish my hand as the alpha clownfish whenever I go into the aquarium. With my shrimp I've used the turkey bastor to spray water at them when they get too close. They're like spiders to me, cool from a distance but they need to keep their distance from my hand bc I don't want them touching me.

The only way this is likely to change is rehoming the clowns. If that's what they do that is what they will likely always do.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'm not sure how I can establish my hand as the alpha clownfish whenever I go into the aquarium. With my shrimp I've used the turkey bastor to spray water at them when they get too close. They're like spiders to me, cool from a distance but they need to keep their distance from my hand bc I don't want them touching me.

Separation/isolation rarely works and is habitual. They do this when least expected and will startle you out of no where. My remedy to this was wear aqua gloves and they could bite all day and I never knew it.

 

[Redbird5]

The only way this is likely to change is rehoming the clowns. If that's what they do that is what they will likely always do.

I've lost all my fish to velvet so I'm waiting the fallow period and researching the fish I'd like to keep myself occupied. I think in a few weeks I'll start looking to buy fish to quarantine and when the fallow period is done add them to the aquarium. However, that won't be until January or late December.

 

[X-37B]

Do they have a nem?
I have not had any pair that was mean as long as they had a nem.
Even a breeding pair would not go far from the nem.
My Maroon Clown in my 150 never chases any fish but there are 10 other fish in the system.
This ocellaris Clown from my frag system got big and would try to bite my hand anytime I got close to its frogspawn.
It just shows how each fish can act different in various systems.

 

[Redbird5]

Do they have a nem?
I have not had any pair that was mean as long as they had a nem.
Even a breeding pair would not go far from the nem.
My Maroon Clown in my 150 never chases any fish but there are 10 other fish in the system.
This ocellaris Clown from my frag system got big and would try to bite my hand anytime I got close to its frogspawn.
It just shows how each fish can act different in various systems.
I only have RFA. The clownfish ignored it and never hosted.

 

[X-37B]

Get a long tentacle or a magnifica.
My old 30 with a pair of breeding false perculas. This is a mag.

 

[X-37B]

Current naked clowns in my 35.
Not breeding yet as they are still small.

 

[X-37B]

Maroon in my 150.

 

[Marquarium]

I've been bit hard by 2 fish in my ~4 years doing Saltwater so far.

One was a grouper, not shocked by that and learned my lesson. He was in his own tank he was that mean. Broke skin and hurt but I think the shock was worse.

The other was a maroon clown. All other types of clowns have been aggressive and curious but never bit me. This maroon clown's bite was surprisingly painful. And this tank had super stocked with even a shark, stingray, eels, and more in it so it's not like they could've thought they were the alpha. He survived 2 major tank crashes so maybe he was angry I was doing a bad job

 

[BryanM]

I've lost all my fish to velvet so I'm waiting the fallow period and researching the fish I'd like to keep myself occupied. I think in a few weeks I'll start looking to buy fish to quarantine and when the fallow period is done add them to the aquarium. However, that won't be until January or late December.

Sorry to hear that.

That said, I thought you currently had this issue - If you want a clownfish pair that LIKELY will not nip and chase your hand I would recommend ORA captive bred clowns. My bonded pair has never once tried to bite me, and my hands seem to be in my tank dang near daily.

I got mine oddly through BRS.

 

[MikeReefs]

I have a huge pair of ocellaris clowns. Female is almost 4in never once has it showed any aggression to my hand. Maybe cus I raised them since they were the size of the finger tip. They did get way more territorial towards fish once they started spawning but never me. I could prob steal all their eggs and they wouldnt do a thing. It’s surprising to me yours attacks. But to answer your question the female clown will likely always think she’s the alpha of the tank. But once they establish themselves to a nem, pvc pipe or whatever it is they host they don’t wonder too far away from it. The only time you see them leave their host is to eat. Even if they are not the true alpha they are to the part of the tank their host/eggs are in and they spawn continuously