Clownfish and Flame Hawkfish Aggression

[StacyMarie]

Hello all!

I have a 32 gallon biocube several years established. Two of the original fish were a pair of clowns that I sadly lost one of the clowns several months ago. Since then I have had the female clown left, a sapphire damselfish and a royal gramma. The clown has always been a bit territorial towards the other two but just sort of chasing briefly every now and then nothing of real aggression.

Yesterday I was excited to finally add to the stock again and I picked up a Valentini Puffer and a flame hawkfish. I did not think the hawkfish would be any issue at all the clown has always been very uninterested in fish that rest at the bottom she really just chases the damsel sometimes. I have had two different gobies over the years and she wouldn't even notice them.

I was very wrong. From the moment the hawkfish was put in she was obsessed to the point that they started fighting really intensely. He is slightly bigger than her and I actually think she "lost" because her fins were pretty ripped up and she was doing the submissive clownfish twitch a bit. He is aggressive at her when she charges but he really just wants to sit on the bottom.

They calmed down after the initial fighting and seemed to have a good night other than she just really wont leave him alone. If he moves at all she acts like she's chasing and just stays super close. And tonight after I fed them the aggression seemed to ramp up again on her end.

I currently have her in an acclimation box still in the tank I am just not sure what to do. I really didn't see this being an issue she has never paid attention to lower dwelling fish, I guess maybe since he is a bit bigger than her? I really don't want to have to take the hawkfish back he is really awesome. I don't mind setting up a tank for just the clown, but I really do love having a clown or two in my main tank. Do we think there would still be aggression if there were other clowns put in that were smaller? Again he obviously won the fight but doesn't seem to have any interest in initiating anything. I think if she would leave him alone there wouldn't be any issues.

Let me know any thoughts please thank you so much

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Sorry but I don't think these are good choices for a 32 gallon tank. You are really pushing the tank size limits with a puffer and a hawkfish together in there. Not to mention there is already a clown and damsel in that tank. Also 6 fish in a 32 is a very fully stocked tank. It just sounds like it will be a very aggressive environment, and they will get more aggressive as they grow and want more space.

I also question if a biocube filtration can handle this type of bioload, thats a of extra feeding and pooping. Puffers are messy eaters.

I don't know what your rockwork is like, but if you have that one arch or minimal rockwork that is popular these days, that makes the problem worse.