Clownfish aggression in new tank

[runninlines]

Hey Everyone,

I recently upgraded from my IM 20 gallon to a IM 75EXT and as a result moved my inhabitants over to the new tank.
Initially it was just two clowns and a yellow watchman goby, about two weeks later I added a royal gramma (with no issues).
Two days ago I introduced two new fish to the tank (a flame hawk and a midas blenny) and as a result the clown pair has been endlessly harassing the flame hawk.
I tried rearranging rocks, the mirror trick, lights out, etc. and nothing has worked so as a result I had to sump one of the clowns (the male).
Since putting the male in the sump, the female won't go near the flame hawk...
I guess my question is should I keep them separated for a few weeks and try reintroducing? I'm not terribly worried about clown to clown aggression (they're a breeding pair and have been breeding pretty much monthly for at least 3 years now). Just trying to understand what my game plan should be. Trying to reduce as much stress on the flame hawk as possible (and potential damage to the clowns as they're starting to get tattered fins).

Thanks!

 

[Tahoe61]

Well that sucks.

I would try both clowns in a breeder box or the sump. I would not keep the clowns separated for long, the female may not want him back.

The mirror trick usually works like a charm for me, so I am surprised that didn't do the trick.

The issue with the Hawk is it's coloration.


Good Luck

 

[Cthulukelele]

I'm sorry you're dealing with that. Clowns can be psychotic sometimes especially with conspecific fish who don't like boundaries like a Flame Hawkfish like @Tahoe61 mentioned.

I will say if you do sadly have to rehome the fish, longnose hawkfish exhibit similar (but not quite the same) behavior while being significantly less "threat" shaped to the clowns if you decide to try again

 

[LOZReefer]

I would put both the male and female clown in a acclimation box within the display. Let the flamehawk get settled in and hopefully a week or two later you can let the clowns out of the box and keep an eye on things.

 

[mpatterson42]

I would put both the male and female clown in a acclimation box within the display. Let the flamehawk get settled in and hopefully a week or two later you can let the clowns out of the box and keep an eye on things.

Agreed, sometimes they just need a good timeout.

 

[runninlines]

Well that sucks.

I would try both clowns in a breeder box or the sump. I would not keep the clowns separated for long, the female may not want him back.

The mirror trick usually works like a charm for me, so I am surprised that didn't do the trick.

The issue with the Hawk is it's coloration.


Good Luck

Thanks, I'll try to catch the female later today and put her in the sump. I'm thinking I may rearrange the rocks again and see if I can get things straightened out.


Crazy part is I feel like the hawk is just egging them on by not going to the other side of the tank (it's a 36"x24"24"). He keeps trying to stay in their area of the tank and when the clowns cornered him, he just whoops up on the female.

I feel like I have a solid square foot of the tank that most of the fish don't go into (other than the royal gramma but he's been a sweetheart and shows absolutely no aggression).

 

[runninlines]

I should have also mentioned if rehoming needs to be done I'll most likely rehome the clowns. The female is an absolute psycho and draws blood every time I put my hands in the tank (makes it easy to net). For the most part she leaves all the other fish completely alone.

I am shocked at how much the aggression dropped the moment the male was in the sump though I wouldn't have expected that.