Training human aggression out of clownfish?

[bjsreefer]

Whaaat? *Face Palm*

You're right. Maybe a bit intense. But I just keep getting this sense of satisfaction among reef keepers annoyed by this fish's behavior that they can get the upper hand. Well of course you can.

Unless you have a very weird access for your tank, you ALWAYS have the upper hand… since it comes from the top and all

 

[Paul B]

I have a pair of these Fireclowns for 35 years and I still need to wear gloves when I put my hand in the tank. They are not getting any more docile.

 

[Sam7]

I have a pair of these Fireclowns for 35 years and I still need to wear gloves when I put my hand in the tank. They are not getting any more docile.

Wow ...look at those teeth. Little beasts

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Unless you have a very weird access for your tank, you ALWAYS have the upper hand… since it comes from the top and all

There are those front-opening Red Sea tanks...

 

[Boehmtown]

A single clown in a tank has never bit me. Also try a small local breeder. Guy I got mine from hand raises them, spends time with them from the jump. Small batches. Don't know if it helped but I have 2 absolute sweet hearts. I've moved them between tanks a few times. They practically swim in the cup. Just go to there little areas when my hands are in the tank. Not really scared of me at all. I also stated them in a small 5 gallon on our kitchen counter , so they were kinda forced to be around us

 

[Sam7]

A single clown in a tank has never bit me. Also try a small local breeder. Guy I got mine from hand raises them, spends time with them from the jump. Small batches. Don't know if it helped but I have 2 absolute sweet hearts. I've moved them between tanks a few times. They practically swim in the cup. Just go to there little areas when my hands are in the tank. Not really scared of me at all. I also stated them in a small 5 gallon on our kitchen counter , so they were kinda forced to be around us

How long you had them?

 

[Boehmtown]

How long you had them?

3 years total. The last year together. I started them separate in small tanks. Cause I hate aggressive fish so I wasn't planning on keeping them together. I feel like once they settle in and grab a territory they just get defensive of it. And if it's a small tank
Their whole territory is the tank.. But I wanted one bigger tank so I put them together, mostly because the smaller male one, is like you can pet him friendly, he seemed like he came like that. I've had a few other pairs of clowns over the years and these guys are the best so I doubt they are gonna end up aggressive

 

[cwwallis]

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.

Smack that clown fish to the other side of that a few times it will get the message mine did now they won’t dare bite me

 

[yz25067]

This is a good read! I have a pair of extreme onyx snowflake clowns. Female was evil! She would bite my arm, hand or whatever I stuck in the tank. Sad to say I tried the thump method but that encouraged her! Seemed to like it and make her meaner! While feeding my nems one day I noticed the clowns and other fish would come and nip before I got the the nem. (Naturally they did this and always got a treat after)

I got the idea to try and hand feed my clowns. First go round the little ******* smoked my hand but then started just eating the food. After a couple times of this she’s calmed down to my hand being near her. I introduced just my hand and she’d inspect it for food but not bite it.

Now she lets me pet her and is calm while maintenance work is performed. I still hand feed them from time to time and the kiddo loves doing it. Best part is my tangs and dwarf angel get in on the action and wait their turns! Occasionally one will sneak in for a snack and quickly get told to wait. It’s a lot of fun!

 

[drblank1]

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

I have a very aggressive female maroon clown. She will attack my bare hands. For the safety of my tank, I now almost always were glove that go all the way up to my shoulder (my tank is deep). They are blue and she doesn't even pay attention to my gloves. Go figure.

 

[mtnrunner]

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.

You are able to keep all 5 together in the same tank? Did you introduce all 5 at the same time? Always heard you can only keep a pair.

 

[DietDr.Kelp]

Of all the clownfish I have kept / currently have, female occelaris are the only ones that have decided to bite me. My maroons and skunks are docile towards me...for now

When I have had smaller fish come bite / charge me, rapidly opening and closing my hand at them in a "defensive display" has seemed to work and gets them to back off. Or chasing them back a little with my hand. Nothing too intense, just enough to get them to back off so I can readjust a rock or coral without hurting anything reacting to a clownfish bite.

For bigger fish, like my male bluethroat trigger, I have booped him on the head and pushed him in another direction kind of how you see people do with sharks while diving. Just gently push their head down and towards another part of the tank with a finger to redirect them.

I always get scared half to death when one of the fish bites me, even though I'm expecting it! I mostly just accept that they will occasionally nip me.