Harlequin tusk predation?

Seancj

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This tusk and this pair of orange skunks have been together in this tank for over a year. The tusk was only 2" and the clowns were ity bitty. This behavior from the tusk started a few nights ago, and I'm not sure why.
Is he trying to eat the clowns or just putting them in their place for some reason? He bothers no other fish in the tank, including damsels that are much smaller than these clowns.
The tank is an 8 foot, 360 gallon. The pink skunks never stray further than 6" from their nems.
 
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tbrown

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Hard to tell but it almost looks like the Clown is "chasing" him around and the Tusk is saying "Try me, punk!"

clint eastwood GIF
 
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Seancj

Seancj

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Hard to tell but it almost looks like the Clown is "chasing" him around and the Tusk is saying "Try me, punk!"

clint eastwood GIF
It's definitely the tusk going out of his way to pester the clowns. He has aggressively lunged at them a few times and I think he would have grabbed them if not for the anemone.
I didn't see it last night, so fingers crossed it has subsided.
 

Mongo1.0

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This tusk and this pair of orange skunks have been together in this tank for over a year. The tusk was only 2" and the clowns were ity bitty. This behavior from the tusk started a few nights ago, and I'm not sure why.
Is he trying to eat the clowns or just putting them in their place for some reason? He bothers no other fish in the tank, including damsels that are much smaller than these clowns.
The tank is an 8 foot, 360 gallon. The pink skunks never stray further than 6" from their nems.
Looks like the clowns are standing their ground...while in the anemone.
 

Largeangels

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None of my harlequins have ever shown that behavior towards my clowns or other smaller fish.

Do you feed often?
 

SeaWhatYouSave

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IMO, if the tusk was hungry, it would go after any of the other small unprotected fish in the video, like the damsels. This seems more likely to be some sort of territorial or dominance fighting. Maybe it's because the tusk and clownfish are both white and orange with stripes?
 

tautog83

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Reminds me of my flame angel and starcki damsel some days they swim fine together then other days the flame cant stand if he swims at his eye level and the starcki just kind of swims away from him. Id keep an eye on it , what does he do when the clowns come out to eat? He may just want that spot for himself
 

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