Do any of your fish do this?

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Tinnerito

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I have this tiny ocellaris clownfish in one of my systems who is 1 year old, and recently he picked the hobby of biting my hand whenever I want to feed my sea sponges. The first week or so I barely felt it, and would just laugh on how cute the little guy was. But I swear that tiny devil has been training his mouth because as of today, his bites hurt, and I mean that as in they bring me physical pain and redness in my skin. That 1 inch fish! Not only that, but he is fearless. Doesn't abuse any tankmates which is good, but no matter how hard I try to shoo him away, grab him, or try and chase it with my hands, he gives absolutely 0 reaction, and continues not anymore nipping, but aggressively chewing on my hands. And although it hurts, I love to talk about this to friends and family, and I have it admit it is pretty funny.

20250105_221213.jpg

This one is from just this evening.

Do you have any over-strengthened livestock? I'd love to read your stories, and learn about your interesting fish experiences. :)
 
I know a ton of people on here and in the hobby that have clownfish that bite them. I however have Hewbie my porcupine puffer that bites me while my clowns are angels and more scared of my hands!:rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:
 
Side note I’d much rather have clownfish biting me than my 8 inch pufferfish with a beak lol!
Yikes. I got a 1cm hole bit into my finger by a box puffer once at a public aquarium when I was younger. I can't imagine that pain every day :grinning-face-with-sweat:
 
Yikes. I got a 1cm hole bit into my finger by a box puffer once at a public aquarium when I was younger. I can't imagine that pain every day :grinning-face-with-sweat:
It doesn’t happen daily but it does happen especially when I’m not paying attention to where here is at. And yes it hurts like a mother puffer.
 
Clown fish are notorious for doing this. Especially when they have an established territory.

Short of figuring out how to administer food without getting your hands wet, this won't stop. Good news, there are plenty of options that keeps your hands out of the water. Which is a good thing all the way around.
 
Yikes. I got a 1cm hole bit into my finger by a box puffer once at a public aquarium when I was younger. I can't imagine that pain every day :grinning-face-with-sweat:
To be fair though he doesn’t do it aggressively like clownfish do or because I’m in his territory. Puffers are like puppy dogs and babies in the sense that they use their mouths to explore things because he doesn’t have hands. Then as soon as he lets go/realizes my hands aren’t food his eyes say, “Sorry Mom!” Therefore I can’t stay mad at his adorable face who also tolerates me petting him and is incredibly personable and smart.
8E258451-5085-4C05-9F6A-59FF6323CB00.jpeg
 
Clown fish are notorious for doing this. Especially when they have an established territory.

Short of figuring out how to administer food without getting your hands wet, this won't stop. Good news, there are plenty of options that keeps your hands out of the water. Which is a good thing all the way around.
I have a tank cycling right now with a good quality wavemaker I'd like to move my sponges into soon, which I can simply place the food in front of the return. Target feeding my sponges right now costs a soaked arm, and a lot of bites lol.
 
To be fair though he doesn’t do it aggressively like clownfish do or because I’m in his territory. Puffers are like puppy dogs and babies in the sense that they use their mouths to explore things because he doesn’t have hands. Then as soon as he lets ago/realizes my hands aren’t food his eyes say, “Sorry Mom!” Therefore I can’t stay mad at his adorable face who also tolerates me petting him and is incredibly personable and smart.
8E258451-5085-4C05-9F6A-59FF6323CB00.jpeg
Love his face! My clown doesn't seem to be doing it out of territoral instincts, since he doesn't bite me at all while I'm feeding him. Once he sees me feed the sea sponges and not him however he gets cranky
 
I have a niger trigger that will come in and gently nip me, bump my arm repeatedly when I'm working in the tank. I can place my hand in the tank and he plays a game of catch me if you can. He swims really fast in-between my hand and the glass over and over again.
 
I have a niger trigger that will come in and gently nip me, bump my arm repeatedly when I'm working in the tank. I can place my hand in the tank and he plays a game of catch me if you can. He swims really fast in-between my hand and the glass over and over again.
That’s freakin awesome
 

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