Fish won’t let me clean aquarium without attacking my hand/brush

alyrchd · Mar 16, 2023

I have a green hair algae problem meaning i have to constantly brush them off. Before my clownfish was fine with it.
today he decided to attack whatever i tried cleaning the algae with. how am i supposed to do the maintenance if he doesn’t let me??
does anyone have any tips????

Matty Ice · Mar 16, 2023

My clowns started attacking me recently too. It didn’t hurt but startled me when I was trying to place a coral. I got a pair of shoulder length gloves. Probably better in the long run so I don’t accidentally introduce anything into the tank from my hands and arms.

pap2 · Mar 16, 2023

clowns are like that. mine bite me all the time

LPS Bum · Mar 16, 2023

My Tomato clown is the meanest fish on the planet. Always attacking me.

I put a big net in the tank (near my hands) while doing water changes, and it works. Long gloves are another good idea.

olonmv · Mar 17, 2023

Get a Mexican turbo snail. He’ll do all the GHA cleaning for ya!

jstabile316 · Mar 17, 2023

Bro it’s a lil clownfish they don’t hurt.

mfinn · Mar 17, 2023

I have a 24 year old GSM clown that has drawn blood in the past when I have to reach into the tank. Now I try and remember to have a rubber glove handy.

exnisstech · Mar 17, 2023

Have your partner friend etc keep them at bay with a net or piece of eggcrate while your cleaning. My clowns bite but it's more startling than painful. It's the ones that draw blood that really annoy me.

nejohnson · Mar 17, 2023

You really should be wearing gloves when you put your hands in the tank.

Lavey29 · Mar 17, 2023

I leave my hand in the water and let my cleaner wrasse give me a manicure.

Enderg60 · Mar 17, 2023

A long time ago I had a friend with a HUGE maroon clown that would draw blood if you got close to her anemone. That part of the glass stayed dirty.

scottkoji · Mar 17, 2023

I have a clown that does this as well. It doesn't hurt but it scares me every single time! I try to do all my maintenance when the lights are off. I don't get bit and everything seems a little less stressed.