Clownfish aggressive behaviors. Is it normal?

[ssagar89]

Hi All, so these clowns have been bought when they were juveniles. The sizes were one was smaller than the other. Recently, the bigger one has started chasing and bullying the smaller one. They both eat normally. I tried to isolate the bigger one in a breeder box but still the same after isolating it. Is this normal or should I return them to LFS? Video attached for reference.
Any recommendation and advice will be helpful.

 

[Peach02]

I can’t see the video but some chasing is normal especially as they come to maturity and one is turning to female. Is the one being chased ‘shivering’ when it’s cornered and is any damage being done?

 

[ssagar89]

Shivering is not happening. Fins were a bit damaged.

 

[Peach02]

Ok and how long has this been happening for? Are they the same type of clownfish?

Shivering is not happening. Fins were a bit damaged.

 

[ssagar89]

For 2 months. Yes they are the same.

 

[Peach02]

Hmm how badly are the fins damaged, is it persistent and are they both getting food?

 

[Katrina71]

You may have to re-home one if the bullying is bad. Usually one establishes dominance, and the mating begins.

 

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Hi All, so these clowns have been bought when they were juveniles. The sizes were one was smaller than the other. Recently, the bigger one has started chasing and bullying the smaller one. They both eat normally. I tried to isolate the bigger one in a breeder box but still the same after isolating it. Is this normal or should I return them to LFS? Video attached for reference.
Any recommendation and advice will be helpful.

It looks a bit like habitat aggression but it is probably just dominance as in one of the turning female and showing its dominance toward the other clown.

 

[Twink_w_a_Reef]

They definitely get aggressive but if they’re getting this aggressive towards the other Clown you might have to separate... my clown ‘Esau’ is a little devil. That thing comes after me and tries to bite me almost EVERY time I put my hand in the tank. But he’s never mean to his mate or other fish...

 

[...]

They definitely get aggressive but if they’re getting this aggressive towards the other Clown you might have to separate... my clown ‘Esau’ is a little devil. That thing comes after me and tries to bite me almost EVERY time I put my hand in the tank. But he’s never mean to his mate or other fish...

Same with me, it's a challenge cleaning the sand during a water change and the orange one (Damien) is like an angel but the black one (Jaws) wants me to go to hell (Sorry if your are Christian). I thought ocellaris were friendly!

 

[DeniseAndy]

It is normal for the chasing and "aggression". It is the more dominant clown becoming female and establishing their roles. It dies down once they begin to mate. However, that can take time. Make sure the subordinate one has hiding places and can get away from the aggressor.
If it turns too violent, separate. Normally, they settle down. My female still goes after the male every now and then because she can.

 

[Mmun]

Hi All, so these clowns have been bought when they were juveniles. The sizes were one was smaller than the other. Recently, the bigger one has started chasing and bullying the smaller one. They both eat normally. I tried to isolate the bigger one in a breeder box but still the same after isolating it. Is this normal or should I return them to LFS? Video attached for reference.
Any recommendation and advice will be helpful.

Yes one will turn into a female and also dev an attitude. In general clownfish are aggressive. The Nemo ones the least. Maroons are probably the worst. Couldnt see video

 

[Twink_w_a_Reef]

Same with me, it's a challenge cleaning the sand during a water change and the orange one (Damien) is like an angel but the black one (Jaws) wants me to go to hell (Sorry if your are Christian). I thought ocellaris were friendly!

Nah it’s fine we say things like that too. Yeah I thought they were friendly and Esau was my buddy till he started hosting an anemone and got a lover... now he never comes to thanksgiving dinner and is always out on the streets with that ‘friend’ of his

 

[NanoMixer]

I FOUND A SOLUTION: Just wanted to add to this thread in case anyone stumbles across it. My pair has been in the tank five months together since they were pretty small. They must have matured because now they’re trying to establish who is going to be who in the relationship. The less dominant one isn’t giving up, and is pretty haggard, and hasn’t been allowed to even eat. A lightbulb went off when I read another thing about a female having multiple males around in the wild so wouldn’t just pick on ONE, so I decided to head to YouTube! There’s an hour long video of a pair of clowns in a nem. I propped it up against the side of the tank where her hairy mushroom host is, and it’s totally working! She still goes back to our smaller one to argue and peck at him, but also diverts her attention to the video enough that he can rest and isn’t just flopping at the top of the tank desperate for reprieve. Worth a shot for anyone going through this until the pair establishes who is boss! Photo shows iPad on the other side of the tank, and of them coexisting next to each other now.