Clownfish Trouble

[SharkBoy13713]

I started my reef tank about month and a half ago. Every part of the process went smoothly and I was just excited to get fish. I have a 24 gallon 3-1 rectangle by Lifegard Aquatics. I got my two Mai tai clowns a week ago. Though last 3 or 4 days I noticed the male having a ton of tattered fins due to the female bullying him relentlessly. I believe it has turned into fin rot and I am worried I will lose the male. I’ve done a lot of research on what I should do. I only have one tank so I can’t separate them but I am planning on getting a float box to put the female in. What else should I do to help him heal. I also believe I have been over feeding and my cleanup crew needs to be expanded. Have four zombie snails and four trochus. My local fish store said I didn’t need hermits but I’m thinking they would’ve been a good idea. With the tank being a 3 in 1 I’m also still working out a better filtration setup. Answers to any and all questions are welcome as I just need some guidance rather than some YouTube videos.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

#reefsquad

 

[Rocks reef]

I started my reef tank about month and a half ago. Every part of the process went smoothly and I was just excited to get fish. I have a 24 gallon 3-1 rectangle by Lifegard Aquatics.

First off, welcome to R2R and the reef tank life!

I got my two Mai tai clowns a week ago. Though last 3 or 4 days I noticed the male having a ton of tattered fins due to the female bullying him relentlessly. I believe it has turned into fin rot and I am worried I will lose the male. I’ve done a lot of research on what I should do. I only have one tank so I can’t separate them but I am planning on getting a float box to put the female in. What else should I do to help him heal.

Are the clowns the same size? If not, the larger one will become female and the bullying you are witnessing is part of the pecking order. The other clowns fins will heal. You can separate them if you chose, that will allow them to get 'used' to each other with out nipping at each other.

I also believe I have been over feeding and my cleanup crew needs to be expanded. Have four zombie snails and four trochus. My local fish store said I didn’t need hermits but I’m thinking they would’ve been a good idea.

You can add a few more nassarius (zombie) snails, I'd add maybe a couple cerith or nerites to the mix. Blue legged hermits do a good job with clean up and will assist at picking at algae.

With the tank being a 3 in 1 I’m also still working out a better filtration setup. Answers to any and all questions are welcome as I just need some guidance rather than some YouTube videos.

You can add some filter floss to the back chamber. Toss a small powerhead in the display and call it good. The filtration on that will be more than adequate unless you pack it full of corals and fish. If you aren't happy with the return pump, there are plenty of options to replace it with something that has more flow.

 

[Red_Beard]

I would add a little more cover in the tank to give the picked on fish somewhere safe to hide out and escape to. Some more rocks or an earthen flower pot on its side or pvc fittings pretty much anything reef safe that will give it something to hide in or under. At least until they can learn to get along. For the fins, ruby rally is a great general all purpose dip that i like to keep on hand. Tattered fins will heal in time though. Also +1 to what @Rocks reef recommended.

 

[SharkBoy13713]

First off, welcome to R2R and the reef tank life!


Are the clowns the same size? If not, the larger one will become female and the bullying you are witnessing is part of the pecking order. The other clowns fins will heal. You can separate them if you chose, that will allow them to get 'used' to each other with out nipping at each other.


You can add a few more nassarius (zombie) snails, I'd add maybe a couple cerith or nerites to the mix. Blue legged hermits do a good job with clean up and will assist at picking at algae.


You can add some filter floss to the back chamber. Toss a small powerhead in the display and call it good. The filtration on that will be more than adequate unless you pack it full of corals and fish. If you aren't happy with the return pump, there are plenty of options to replace it with something that has more flow.

Thank you, I am very glad this exists.

No, the clowns have already established male female roles. She is quite a bit bigger than him and still bully’s him. He try’s to submit when she does it and shakes but it doesn’t phase her. Have a little acclimation box I ordered. I am going to put her in there for a week or two and see if it helps.

Great, I will definitely get a few more zombies as one died yesterday. All the rock work in my tank is very porous, would nerites be able to fit into those small spaces? Definitely going to get hermits and check out the Ceriths.

I ordered some filter socks and a holder so will try those for a while and see how I like them. Had a jebao 8 but was too much flow even on lowest setting. Setup my new jebao 3 yesterday and the clowns seem to like it much more.

Thank you for all your help Rocks Reef!!!

 

[SharkBoy13713]

I would add a little more cover in the tank to give the picked on fish somewhere safe to hide out and escape to. Some more rocks or an earthen flower pot on its side or pvc fittings pretty much anything reef safe that will give it something to hide in or under. At least until they can learn to get along. For the fins, ruby rally is a great general all purpose dip that i like to keep on hand. Tattered fins will heal in time though. Also +1 to what @Rocks reef recommended.

I am currently away from the tank. When I am back home I will send some pictures of my current rock scape setup. He has spots to hide but she chases him relentlessly. Ruby rally, awesome, I’ll check it out. Never opposed to getting things in the off chance I may need them in the future. After the females solitary confinement is up if the bullying persists I will try a pot or pvc.

Thank you much for the response!!!!

 

[kevgib67]

I am currently away from the tank. When I am back home I will send some pictures of my current rock scape setup. He has spots to hide but she chases him relentlessly. Ruby rally, awesome, I’ll check it out. Never opposed to getting things in the off chance I may need them in the future. After the females solitary confinement is up if the bullying persists I will try a pot or pvc.

Thank you much for the response!!!!

You never know with clowns, my first two appeared to be bonded but after a year and 3 months. I came home to the male on the sand battered and the female dive bombing him. I put him in an acclimation box but he didn’t make it. To this day I don’t know why it happened. I bought another one that was about half the size of the female and have been together for just under three years.