Should I even try again

[elkman]

I’ve had a very difficult time with keeping two clown fish in my 20 gal one of them always dies, I tried it about nine months ago. They always died and I tried it like three weeks ago. The new one I just found stuck to the power head. Any tips or should I just get a different fish?

 

[SaltyBlue]

Wondering if the fish are healthy when you put them in, and if your tank is established and cycled etc

 

[painter1982]

I keep two skunk clowns in my 13g bta tank. The bubble tips keep multiplying and the clowns keep laying eggs. It’s not because your tank is too small. Must be something else going on.

 

[elkman]

Wondering if the fish are healthy when you put them in, and if your tank is established and cycled etc

Possibly the tank wasn’t established when I did it nine months ago but it’s for sure established now it’s been around for over a year, the clown Fish always just kill each other. It seems. I don’t see any chasing or anything, but that’s all I can assume since the clown Fish always die

 

[Reefara]

That’s definitely not normal. clowns are pretty hardy, id assume parameter wise it was bad.
what clowns are you adding tho?


reefara.com/learn/clownfish-tank-setup-guide

 

[Mebbid]

Adding clowns, you're going to have to get 2 that are already paired to increase success. They are vicious little jerks. Either they are gonna beat the tar out of each other to claim dominance, or they are already both females and will never coexist peacefully.

 

[Reefara]

Adding clowns, you're going to have to get 2 that are already paired to increase success. They are vicious little jerks. Either they are gonna beat the tar out of each other to claim dominance, or they are already both females and will never coexist peacefully.

Or if he already has a bigger clown… just grab a juvenile. He’ll submit immediately.

 

[vlangel]

Or take your one clown back to lfs or rehome it and buy 2 that are together already and put them in together.

 

[The Ugly Phase]

i bought these as a pair and they are always together

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

IMO you did the same thing twice and got the same result twice, I never go for 3 times, Einstein said something about that. Its time to stop, back up, and figure out whats happening. Its easy enough to keep clowns alive, so why can't you? Is it disease? Is it a poor tank set up? Can we see a picture of the tank? Are you qt'ing? We need more info

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Where are you getting the clowns from?

What does your acclimation process look like?

 

[Dom]

Friend, you will have to give us more to go on. You haven't told us much more than "one clown fish always dies".

When I got into the hobby about 20 years ago, I started with a pair of Tomato clowns, and I still have them. So it is likely something in your process.

Lets start with your setup. A picture can tell us a lot. If you would, please post a few full tank pictures from different angles. Also, pictures of the fish provide good information too.

Do you test your water? If so, please post your latest test results.

Generally speaking, Clown fish can become extremely aggressive, and at times, violent, when establishing who will be the dominant female of the pair and who will be the male. I know people who have lost a Clown fish during this.

Another thing about Clown fish; they are very territorial, particularly when they are protecting eggs; they will attack your hands.

In the end, Clown fish can be real jerks, so, that may be the problem.

 

[Fish Fan]

Without a lot to go on, this sounds like aggression to me if the original Clown and other fish are doing well. Clowns can be very, very aggressive, especially to any new fish added after they have been in the tank for sometime. Often times you may not see the aggression, sometimes they behave when you're watching them, but act aggressively when you're not around. Some suggest setting up simple video camera, like your phone, to observe them for aggression when you're not in the room.

It really might be best to rehome your original Clown and add an already established pair, if you really must have a Clownfish pair.

Good luck!