Oscellaris clown nipping at scooter blenny

[Bob Escher]

so I watched today as my clownfish ( I think only one out of the two) nipping at the scooter blenny. It's only about twice the size of the blenny. Any ideas why
Thanks

 

[Tahoe61]

Because it's clown and clowns are a close cousin to damsels. Clowns become territorial as they mature. My adult female used to drag my large YWG around by the tail.

 

[eatbreakfast]

^exactly. There can be a lot of variance as far as aggression goes between different specimens of clowns, but at the end of the day, they are still damsels, and can be aggressive.

 

[Bob Escher]

Here I hoped the blenny seems to be ok. But should I worry?

 

[Tahoe61]

My goby learned to defend himself from the clowns. Adult clowns can and will kill other fish they perceive intruding on their territory. The smaller the the more likely hood of conflict.

 

[Doob]

My goby learned to defend himself from the clowns. Adult clowns can and will kill other fish they perceive intruding on their territory. The smaller the the more likely hood of conflict.

The smaller the clown, or "intruder"?

EDIT: sorry, dumb question

 

[Bob Escher]

The blenny is a little thing and the clown is probably twice his size at 2 inches
So I'll just watch for now. Because there's a watchman goby in there that is just as small and a small pajama Cardinal fish and one Chromis that are smaller than him

 

[helen ann]

Because it's clown and clowns are a close cousin to damsels. Clowns become territorial as they mature. My adult female used to drag my large YWG around by the tail.

Well that isn't nice! :rolleyes:

 

[Doob]

The blenny is a little thing and the clown is probably twice his size at 2 inches
So I'll just watch for now. Because there's a watchman goby in there that is just as small and a small pajama Cardinal fish and one Chromis that are smaller than him

I believe that introducing clowns to the system last is supposed to reduce the likelihood of aggression too, didn't you start with clowns?

Maybe putting the clowns back in the QT for a couple weeks, then reintroducing will help.

Wait for someone with experience to back me up though! Haha

 

[Doob]

Because it's clown and clowns are a close cousin to damsels. Clowns become territorial as they mature. My adult female used to drag my large YWG around by the tail.

Finally! A justification for that grumpy face!!

 

[Tahoe61]

The smaller the clown, or "intruder"?

EDIT: sorry, dumb question

Smaller the tank, lol sorry.

I have not had any success decreasing the aggression when challenged with a vicious adult female clown. The clowns always goes back to killing most inverts and all fish, but this has been in 20-30 gallon tanks. Basically other fish need to be able to flee an aggressive clowns territory.