Extremely weird question

[littlefoxx]

@Jay Hemdal maybe youve seen this before??

So I have a female tomato clown. Shes becoming a problem, randomly decided she hates the puffer after 7 months no issues. I cant seem to get her out.

So I bought a beautiful maroon clownfish around the same size. This fish is in a large acclimation box. (Also was going to replace the tomato with maroons when caught and move my tomato to a biocube by herself).

Ive been waiting for the tomato to become engrossed with the maroon clown in the box and distracted for me to come in behind her with the net. Unconventional I know, cant catch her, tried all kinds of traps, tried a night ambush nothing! Trying to not rip the tank up for her….

Anyway she came up to the box and I was getting ready to swoop in and net her and the maroon clown starts twitching. Like bonding and showing submission twitching. I was so shocked that I missed my chance to net the tomato.

Anyway my question is:
Can these two bond?

Dont get me wrong Im not going to let the maroon loose anytime soon but the behavior made me wonder if it was worth a try with these two together?

 

[littlefoxx]

Got some videos. Still trying to get the twitching on video but havnt yet

 

[JumboShrimp]

Generally speaking, I've seen fish that get up close to another fish and play all lovey-dovey while it's 'intended victim' is in the acclamation box, but things change drastically when they can actually chase each other down and make physical contact.

 

[littlefoxx]

Generally speaking, I've seen fish that get up close to another fish and play all lovey-dovey while it's 'intended victim' is in the acclamation box, but things change drastically when they can actually chase each other down and make physical contact.

Thats exactly what I was I was concerned about… the crazy twitching from the maroon is what caught me off guard! Wish I had that on video.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thats exactly what I was I was concerned about… the crazy twitching from the maroon is what caught me off guard! Wish I had that on video.

That’s what I think - the tomato knows it can’t get to the maroon, but it’s waiting for a chance. The maroon is freaked out by that prospect.

I don’t think tomato and maroon clowns have been crossbred in aquariums yet…..but they evidently have in the wild:

https://reefbuilders.com/2012/11/28/wild-tomato-maroon-clownfish/

 

[littlefoxx]

That’s what I think - the tomato knows it can’t get to the maroon, but it’s waiting for a chance. The maroon is freaked out by that prospect.

I don’t think tomato and maroon clowns have been crossbred in aquariums yet…..but they evidently have in the wild:

https://reefbuilders.com/2012/11/28/wild-tomato-maroon-clownfish/

Yeah Ill stick to my plan of nabbing the tomato when shes all distracted

 

[CKW]

@Jay Hemdal maybe youve seen this before??

So I have a female tomato clown. Shes becoming a problem, randomly decided she hates the puffer after 7 months no issues. I cant seem to get her out.

So I bought a beautiful maroon clownfish around the same size. This fish is in a large acclimation box. (Also was going to replace the tomato with maroons when caught and move my tomato to a biocube by herself).

Ive been waiting for the tomato to become engrossed with the maroon clown in the box and distracted for me to come in behind her with the net. Unconventional I know, cant catch her, tried all kinds of traps, tried a night ambush nothing! Trying to not rip the tank up for her….

Anyway she came up to the box and I was getting ready to swoop in and net her and the maroon clown starts twitching. Like bonding and showing submission twitching. I was so shocked that I missed my chance to net the tomato.

Anyway my question is:
Can these two bond?

Dont get me wrong Im not going to let the maroon loose anytime soon but the behavior made me wonder if it was worth a try with these two together?

Yes! I also have a Tomato Clown. It is by far , the biggest pain in the “tank” I have ever experienced. Having said this, I really like him. Further I have enjoyed and cursed him for six years.
Give it a try. Who knows, it may well work out.

 

[littlefoxx]

Yes! I also have a Tomato Clown. It is by far , the biggest pain in the “tank” I have ever experienced. Having said this, I really like him. Further I have enjoyed and cursed him for six years.
Give it a try. Who knows, it may well work out.

The problem with her is she is attacking my puffer and only the puffer. He keeps his tail tucked cause she just darts across the dang tank to bite him! Otherwise I like her. But I dont want her to keep attacking him and making him stressed. He is a great puffer and way cuter than her

 

[CKW]

Mmmmmm perhaps it is time to divest yourself of the Clown or the puffer Personally I would keep the Puffer and build from there. I don’t have a lot of confidence that the Clown will change her habits.

 

[littlefoxx]

Mmmmmm perhaps it is time to divest yourself of the Clown or the puffer Personally I would keep the Puffer and build from there. I don’t have a lot of confidence that the Clown will change her habits.

Oh yeah shes on the list to go. I just cant freaking catch her!!! I have 2 traps in the tank (been in for like a month now). But when I saw this beautiful maroon I couldnt pass her up. So Im just waiting for the tomato to be distracted enough and snatch her up! Then release the maroon. I was always going to replace her with a pair of maroons! Im getting my biocube back up and running to move the tomato too. She was a rescue, had been in this one gallon box at a store for over a year cause she was so mean! She is fine with literally every other fish in the tank and was with the puffer. But she moved her spot to the middle of the tank for some reason and then she started attacking him.

 

[CKW]

Clowns are hard to catch. The last one i removed took me putting my hand in the tank and when he attacked my hand I netted him! When this one goes I will NOT get another. There are way too many really nice fish to pick from. Good luck

 

[Dom]

Have you noticed if the Tomato has placed eggs?

I have a mated pair. And when there are eggs, they both become very aggressive toward myself and the other tank inhabitants.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Good luck getting her out. IME fish removal is one of the most frustrating tasks in the hobby.

 

[littlefoxx]

Have you noticed if the Tomato has placed eggs?

I have a mated pair. And when there are eggs, they both become very aggressive toward myself and the other tank inhabitants.

I dont believe she has. I havent seen any eggs from her. Her aggression is only towards the puffer no one else. She will dart from one end of the tank to go after him and only him. This is an 8 foot long tank!

 

[littlefoxx]

Good luck getting her out. IME fish removal is one of the most frustrating tasks in the hobby.

Yep. Had to tear everything up for a grouper. Really trying to not do that for a dang clownfish

 

[littlefoxx]

So my extremely unorthodox way of trying to catch the Tomato worked! She was trying to go after the maroon in the box and I was able to nab her! Did a little switch a roo in the box. Maroon is free in the tank and tomato is in the box until I can figure out what to do with her.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

So my extremely unorthodox way of trying to catch the Tomato worked! She was trying to go after the maroon in the box and I was able to nab her! Did a little switch a roo in the box. Maroon is free in the tank and tomato is in the box until I can figure out what to do with her.

Congrats!

 

[JumboShrimp]

 

[littlefoxx]

This is my stunning maroon