clown fish aggresion?

[corky]

Today I added a total of three small peculiar clowns to my tank. It seems that everyone has told me that these clowns were not aggresive, however, they are showing alot of aggresion to each other. Should I do anything? Thanks!

 

[mr . salty]

wait it out. Were they together in the store? Probably just staking out territory in their new home.Try leaving the lights off for a day or two. STEVE

 

[clownfish]

Please don't put 3 clowns of the same species in the same tank. Two will form a pair and pick on the other one. They won't let it eat and it will die. Please put one of the clowns in a separate tank or take it back to the LFS. Please.

 

[purplepuffer]

Also alot of the time fish of the same species or ones that look like will pick at each other just because they are similar.
~~Megan

 

[beth]

Clownfish's reply above is absolutely correct. I'd suggest you remove one of the males.
Saying that, I have successfully kept 3 clowns together for a year now. It was very difficult going for the "odd man out" clown, but things are going relatively ok with them now. [Believe it or not, the female clown seems to prefer my royal blue tang to her clown mate! And the blue tang has taken on the "chimmy" agression habbit of the clowns!] LOL

[This message has been edited by beth (edited 07-08-2000).]

 

[corky]

Thanks for the warning. How can I tell the difference between the male and the female clown fish?

 

[corky]

... does it make a difference if the clowns are tank raised? I haven't noticed any teaming up against one another.

 

[mr . salty]

My Allards clown is tank raised. He likes to play with my yellow tang,YES PLAY,He's a totally cool little fish. STEVE

 

[beth]

As to identifying the male and female clowns, don't worry about it. Just get 2 clowns, one will turn into a female [if its not already] and the other will be a male. The can change sexes as needed. LOL

 

[reptilicus]

I have heard of people keeping 3 clowns together successfully but it can be a lot of fiddling around to make them get on. However, if you have a large anemone (not sure about if you haven't got one) you can sometimes get them to function as a family instead of a pair. This seems to get easier if you add more than 3 though, as the dominant cannot pick on the less dominant. 6 or so seems to work best but you need a large anemone, a large tank, heaps of light and a large budget as well as possibly some patience while fiddling around with the colony.