New Clown Pair

[Spartan_Neptune]

At what point do you have to split a new Clown Fish Pair? Iv had one Gladiator in the tank for 2 weeks and have just added another smaller. They have clearly established a Heirarchy but the aggressor keeps chasing the smaller clown. They settle for a bit, seem friendly then the chase and nipping starts again.

If I do need to get something to separate them what is the best thing to get? Or do I need let this run its course until they settle?

 

[Reef Jedi]

It sounds like they are still establishing dominance. This will continue till the small one gives to the bigger one and will stay a male. There’s a chance that this will continue for a while.

A very old school trick my LFS use to teach but I’m sure is frowned upon today and I’ll get flack for saying. Take both clowns and put them in a bucket. Swirl them around for a couple minutes with your hand so they huddle in the middle together. Then put back in the tank at the same time together. Every time I’ve seen this it’s become an instant pair.

 

[dinosaur_1552]

Sounds they are in the middle of establishing their relationship, male sometimes needs to get a few proper beating to accept he's gonna be inferior for the rest of his life.

If they seem to have a connection, for example they mostly swim together and sleep vaguely in the same place, then I would assume it's gonna be eventually ok, ofc nothing is guaranteed and accidents can happen.

As jedi says, stressing them out together might work as well, I never heard about the bucket method, but I had pairs fighting for months who then instantly bonded when they got treated in a hospital tank, I would try something like this first instead of separating them if things don't go overly well.