Agressive clownfish is making me mad

turbo_teg98

Member
I've had my tank setup for a couple of years now and my clown is the first fish I bought. He started trying to bite my hand a couple weeks ago. I just went last week and got a purpleback pseudochromis and a coral beauty angelfish. He killed my purpleback and now my angel isn't doing good at all. I separated the angel but I don't think he's gonna make it. I may get rid of the clown but its hard cuz its the first fish I got in this tank. I'm really asking for answers more just venting cuz I'm pissed at my fish lol.
 

travelerjp98

Active Member
That's the way my damsel is, always biting me when I put my hands in my tank.. I think you just need to get a net, scoop him out and give him to your LFS... I think that he just has a mean personality. Good luck.
 

btldreef

Moderator
So this is a pair? Is it the larger or the smaller that's nipping at you?
What type are they?
Like Meowzer stated, they might be mating.
What size is this tank and have they always been alone?
There are a few things that can help with aggression, especially with fish that have established territories:
-Rearrange your rock work (it's a PITA, but many times this solves the issue, especially with paired clowns, they're too busy trying to find a new home to worry about new fish)
-Add fish after a feeding and while lights are out
-Add fish and then feed (this works well for me, my fish are pigs and would rather eat than worry about a newcomer)
My Ocellaris clowns are very aggressive. The female is relentless right before she lays eggs. I put them in the refugium (30G) because I was tired of them biting my fingers every day. They're in an anemone, so when I need to throw another fish in the refugium, or I need to move things around and don't feel like being bit, I feed them small chunks of food that they keep bringing to the anemone and that keeps them somewhat occupied. It only buys me a few minutes, but in a refugium, that's usually all I need.
 

turbo_teg98

Member
Yes I have 2 clowns and yes its the bigger one thats biting me. I did rearrange my rock work yesterday and I also fed my fish just before I added the new fish. They haven't always been alone. I've had quite a few other fish. My damsel I've had for quite a while and he is doing fine. My valentini puffer is doing fine also and I added him last week the same time I added the coral beauty.
 

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by turbo_teg98 http:///t/388222/agressive-clownfish-is-making-me-mad#post_3422268
Yes I have 2 clowns and yes its the bigger one thats biting me. I did rearrange my rock work yesterday and I also fed my fish just before I added the new fish. They haven't always been alone. I've had quite a few other fish. My damsel I've had for quite a while and he is doing fine. My valentini puffer is doing fine also and I added him last week the same time I added the coral beauty.
It's the female that's biting you (she's the larger). I'm surprised the angel isn't standing up for itself more, mine is a feisty little thing. How large is the tank you're trying to add to? Maybe it's just too much fish? Damsels are aggressive in their own right, and a pair of clowns, a damsel and a puffer (which has the potential to nip its tank mates) might just be too much aggression.
 

travelerjp98

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by turbo_teg98 http:///t/388222/agressive-clownfish-is-making-me-mad#post_3422268
Yes I have 2 clowns and yes its the bigger one thats biting me. I did rearrange my rock work yesterday and I also fed my fish just before I added the new fish. They haven't always been alone. I've had quite a few other fish. My damsel I've had for quite a while and he is doing fine. My valentini puffer is doing fine also and I added him last week the same time I added the coral beauty.
OH.. then scratch the advice about taking the big one out! I didn't know that there was a pair!
 

turbo_teg98

Member

It's the female that's biting you (she's the larger). I'm surprised the angel isn't standing up for itself more, mine is a feisty little thing. How large is the tank you're trying to add to? Maybe it's just too much fish? Damsels are aggressive in their own right, and a pair of clowns, a damsel and a puffer (which has the potential to nip its tank mates) might just be too much aggression.
Its a 29 gallon tank and the only I fish I have are the 2 clowns, 1 damsel, the puffer, and the angel. Only the big clown is showing a lot of aggression. The only thing I've seen the puffer do is snap at a snail once.
 

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by turbo_teg98 http:///t/388222/agressive-clownfish-is-making-me-mad#post_3422278
Its a 29 gallon tank and the only I fish I have are the 2 clowns, 1 damsel, the puffer, and the angel. Only the big clown is showing a lot of aggression. The only thing I've seen the puffer do is snap at a snail once.
Honestly, you're kind of at your max for fish without the angel, especially since the clowns are being aggressive. I wouldn't push it.
Have they ever spawned that you know of? Mine got incredibly mean before they started spawning, it may just be that time for them, especially if you've had them in this same setup for awhile.
Some puffers are fine, some are aggressive. My blue spot toby is a model citizen, but he made sure the snowflake eel he's with knew who was top dog in the tank.
 

turbo_teg98

Member
Yeah I told my LFS what I had in my tank already and that I wanted to add some more fish and the puffer, the Pseudochromis, and the angel were what they suggested. I've had my clowns and my damsel for at least 2 years and I've never seen them spawn before.
 

meowzer

Moderator
YIKES...that is a lot for a 29G.....I bet that is the issue....2 clowns and MAYBE 2 smaller fish IMO would be ok...IDK if I would even keep the puffer in that tank
 

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by turbo_teg98 http:///t/388222/agressive-clownfish-is-making-me-mad#post_3422295
Well I guess its time to just start buying corals lol. Although I doubt I can with the puffer in there
A well fed valentini usually isn't too much of a risk with corals. The whole group of Canthigaster sp. puffers are more of a risk to crustaceans than corals. My Blue Spot hasn't nipped anything I've tried with him. So far I've tried mushrooms (regular and ricordia) zoanthids, palys, clove polyps and acans. I keep him well fed (2 very small feedings a day) and he doesn't even bother my peppermint shrimp that are with him.
 

turbo_teg98

Member
Well thats good to hear. I feed my puffer frozen twice a day and he gobbles it up. I haven't seen him do much but pick at my live rock
 
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