So I just got two young Ocellarus clowns, both very small but one significantly bigger, and they're still in QT at the moment (I've been doing tank transfer). They'll be ready for the 32 gallon display tank by May 2 at the soonest since they haven't shown any symptoms of anything so far and are eating eagerly.
But the one issue is that the larger one is always following around the smaller one and nipping its fins, to the point now that it's back fins have quite a few notches in them, not life threatening at this point, but definitely noticeable and worsening. I know clownfish do this when pairing sometimes but I'm not sure to what extent, or if it means they are pairing successfully or rather rejecting each other. The smaller one is always trying to swim away from the big one.
So I'm wondering two things:
1. Would it be helpful to move the small one into the display first to give him longer to get settled in before the bully shows up? Or would that interrupt their pairing process in any way with them being apart?
2. Is there anything I can do medication wise to aid in the healing of the little one's fins? Or to otherwise lower aggression and get them more accepting of each other?
But the one issue is that the larger one is always following around the smaller one and nipping its fins, to the point now that it's back fins have quite a few notches in them, not life threatening at this point, but definitely noticeable and worsening. I know clownfish do this when pairing sometimes but I'm not sure to what extent, or if it means they are pairing successfully or rather rejecting each other. The smaller one is always trying to swim away from the big one.
So I'm wondering two things:
1. Would it be helpful to move the small one into the display first to give him longer to get settled in before the bully shows up? Or would that interrupt their pairing process in any way with them being apart?
2. Is there anything I can do medication wise to aid in the healing of the little one's fins? Or to otherwise lower aggression and get them more accepting of each other?