Training human aggression out of clownfish?

[shimmer]

I am curious on any experiences you have had with training out aggressiveness towards owners from clownfish.

I want clownfish, but I require a tank I can put my hands in freely for maintenance. Have had no natural luck finding docile ones.

My gf is a dog trainer, and by extent that means I also have to be, I trained our puppy mostly, because she was so busy, and I've helped with many board and trains. I know they're completely different animals with different hierarchy, but it's so easy to do when you calmly and repeatedly assert yourself as the dominant one.

Was wondering if this has ever worked in this scenario.

The only ways I can even think to do it would be quick and somewhat intense swatting anytime she came near my hand looking to bite(negative) and feeding a food they enjoy, in a different section of the tank, when she does leave me alone(positive).

I would get when juveniles so I could start the positive reinforcement before the aggression shows up.

Curious on any studies or even anecdotes about this?

I love clownfish but I want a peaceful tank that I'm not afraid of.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

@tbrown might have the answer for this!

 

[Dust Bowl Corals Verified Sponsor]

@tbrown might have the answer for this!

beat me to it!

 

[NC AL]

I want clownfish, but I require a tank I can put my hands in freely for maintenance. Have had no natural luck finding docile ones.

The only ways I can even think to do it would be quick and somewhat intense swatting anytime she came near my hand looking to bite(negative) and feeding a food they enjoy, in a different section of the tank, when she does leave me alone(positive).

I would get when juveniles so I could start the positive reinforcement before the aggression shows up.

Curious on any studies or even anecdotes about this?

I love clownfish but I want a peaceful tank that I'm not afraid of.

Man, I hate it that clownfish have such a bad reputation. It really must be hit or miss. They are beautiful fish and probably the best value when considering health and color. I bought two when I got back into the hobby 3-4 years ago. They are awesome. Friendly to all of my fish and me. Heck I can probably even pet them at feeding time. They are plain old boring clownfish. I have no idea if they were wild caught or bred.

My oldest son has 2 wyoming clowns. Those fish are MFs. Those are the only two fish he can keep in his tank. They have attacked every fish we have added. They bite him during maintenance time.

My son does his own maintenance and cleaning, but during wrestling season I have had to help him out some with his limited free time. I have started thumping them when they get close to me. This is only anecdotal, but they seem to have started to attack me less.

 

[fish_collector]

The short answer is no.

 

[GoAskAlice]

I hate to see these posts about "training" a clownfish or "thumping" them. The fish are exhibiting their natural behavior. I have a pair of oscellaris clowns. Yes, when doing maintenance if my hand gets too close to their host anemones the female darts out at me and would probably bite me if I didn't just flick my fingers in her direction which sends her retreating back into the anemone. I don't see it as any big deal. Honestly, they're just little fish.

 

[GoAskAlice]

Another thought--wear gloves when you have your hands in the tank instead of whacking the fish.

 

[tbrown]

I never recommend my training method! And no, it wasn't on purpose but it worked!

As far as thumping them, I have a pair in my sump - I've never thumped them but I did "chase" the female and pretend to catch her whenever she would charge my hand. It took 2 or 3 days of this cat and mouse game, but now she comes up to me and actually lets me pet her with my finger.

It's not training so much as playing their game. Similar to socializing dogs and chickens - you let them understand you're part of their "group" and they begin accepting you in their space.

 

[tbrown]

For those of you that don't know the story...

I had a Clownfish bite me and it surprised me so I yanked my hand out of the tank - with her still attached! She went flying. I scooped her up and plopped her back in the tank. She survived and hasn't bit me since! She's going on 5 years with me now, maybe 6...

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I always used a turkey baster with my clowns. Whenever I would stick my hands into my tank, my clowns never bothered me.

 

[GarrettDie4U]

Lol never knew this and still gonna stick my hands in the tank tonight

 

[tbrown]

Lol never knew this and still gonna stick my hands in the tank tonight

Not all clowns attack. Some females (and occasionally the males) decide your hand is a threat to the sanctity of their world and so they attack with viciousness.

@OrchidMiss has had blood drawn on multiple occasions.

 

[Freenow54]

I am curious on any experiences you have had with training out aggressiveness towards owners from clownfish.

I want clownfish, but I require a tank I can put my hands in freely for maintenance. Have had no natural luck finding docile ones.

My gf is a dog trainer, and by extent that means I also have to be, I trained our puppy mostly, because she was so busy, and I've helped with many board and trains. I know they're completely different animals with different hierarchy, but it's so easy to do when you calmly and repeatedly assert yourself as the dominant one.

Was wondering if this has ever worked in this scenario.

The only ways I can even think to do it would be quick and somewhat intense swatting anytime she came near my hand looking to bite(negative) and feeding a food they enjoy, in a different section of the tank, when she does leave me alone(positive).

I would get when juveniles so I could start the positive reinforcement before the aggression shows up.

Curious on any studies or even anecdotes about this?

I love clownfish but I want a peaceful tank that I'm not afraid of.

I am thinking of electrical shocks tough to spray them with water . But that's a thought take them out of the Tank look it right in the eye and say BAD FISH! other than that I got nutin

 

[christinna77]

How about trying actual positive reinforcement training with a clicker? Something that makes a consistent sound each time, always paired with food (at the beginning).

For example, if I put my hand in the tank and the clown ignores me -> click -> reward with some food it really loves. If the clown charges or bites -> no click, no food. Over time you could fade out the food and use just the click to reinforce calm behavior.

 

[amygetsalife]

I got nothing. Moved my pair into what was a 10 gal invert QT tank and gave them a 4" pot to host. Can do that tank with tools. The big tank is so much more fun without them.

 

[Ziggy17]

My clowns don’t give a rat’s butt about my hand. They don’t even acknowledge it’s there. They do not share the same respect for the syphon though. They go after that like it’s a mortal enemy.

 

[Evil1]

This is hysterical!! I once yes I said once had a 3 strip damsel that was quite large. You couldn’t even put your finger in the tank without it attacking and yes it drew blood on many occasions. Soooo I netted it and ate it with some fava beans and a nice bottle of Chianti

 

[MC Blowfish]

I've seen the larger clowns attack people's hands. My ocellaris clowns don't bother me at all. Depending on what I'm doing in the tank, they'll get curious. If I'm removing algae from the glass, they will swim around me. If I'm doing a water change, they will swim as far away from me as possible.

 

[tbrown]

I've seen the larger clowns attack people's hands. My ocellaris clowns don't bother me at all. Depending on what I'm doing in the tank, they'll get curious. If I'm removing algae from the glass, they will swim around me. If I'm doing a water change, they will swim as far away from me as possible.

I've got 5 Ocellaris - 2 females, 3 males. The standard female is the one that went flying. The mocha female also used to attack my hands but not until after she transitioned to female. Now, she just comes out and runs against my hand when I'm removing algae or BTAs.

 

[MC Blowfish]

I've got 5 Ocellaris - 2 females, 3 males. The standard female is the one that went flying. The mocha female also used to attack my hands but not until after she transitioned to female. Now, she just comes out and runs against my hand when I'm removing algae or BTAs.

Hopefully mine don't decide to attack my hands too.