Gold Stripe Maroon Clownfish - Aggressive!

[westwind77]

I have a Gold Stripe Maroon Clownfish in my nano tank, he is becoming more and more aggressive! I have had him for over a year and about 6 months ago he started to attack the magnet scraper on the inside as I would clean the glass. Today I went to adjust a piece of coral (Yellow Polyps / Brown Zoos) ,that he calls home, next thing I know I am getting attacked. Every time I reach my hand it he charged and did his best to bite me! Luckily I was about to do a water change so I emptied some out and that spooked him enough where I could make a fast adjustment and get out, but he was eyeing me the whole time

Is this normal? Are they usually this aggressive? I am going to have to get gloves I think, no idea if they can break skin or not

 

[jackri]

They can break skin. The maroon clowns can get very territorial and aggressive.

 

[crazydave]

The Maroons are nasty little fish. I've also had one for over a year that has become more and more agressive with time. I've even taken him out and put him in a tank by himself to break him of his territorial position in my main tank.
After being alone for over a month, I put him back in the main tank and within weeks...he was back to his old ways. He's a beautiful fish...but he's about to be traded away. As far as the aggression towards your hand...I wouldn't give it too much concern. I get attacked all the time but have never bled. Other than being annoying....its kinda funny.

 

[sean48183]

You have a maroon in a nano? A bit cramped for a fish with an attitude. Do you have any other fish in there? I have a large tomato in a 150g and he chases everything constantly. He is pretty large now and has nasty teeth hanging all out of his mouth. Didn't know they get teeth like that. He has been cut so many times from my tangs scalpels that he looks like frankenfish. To me maroons and tomato should be kept in really large tanks or with big nasty fish like triggers and puffers.

 

[usirchchris]

Originally Posted by westwind77
http:///forum/post/2908314
I have a Gold Stripe Maroon Clownfish in my nano tank, he is becoming more and more aggressive! I have had him for over a year and about 6 months ago he started to attack the magnet scraper on the inside as I would clean the glass. Today I went to adjust a piece of coral (Yellow Polyps / Brown Zoos) ,that he calls home, next thing I know I am getting attacked. Every time I reach my hand it he charged and did his best to bite me! Luckily I was about to do a water change so I emptied some out and that spooked him enough where I could make a fast adjustment and get out, but he was eyeing me the whole time

Is this normal? Are they usually this aggressive? I am going to have to get gloves I think, no idea if they can break skin or not

Stick a net in there...it'll calm down

 

[krazykarel]

I have kept a couple of these in the last 8 years and they are usually aggressive with my hand but not other fish, except the Niger trigger the clown took out. It all happened one day while I was away at college. I looked at the GS and he was beat up something fierce, then I noticed the Niger was dead. The GS was at least half the size of the Niger. I was amazed!

 

[krazykarel]

Originally Posted by sean48183
http:///forum/post/2908434
You have a maroon in a nano? A bit cramped for a fish with an attitude. Do you have any other fish in there? I have a large tomato in a 150g and he chases everything constantly. He is pretty large now and has nasty teeth hanging all out of his mouth. Didn't know they get teeth like that. He has been cut so many times from my tangs scalpels that he looks like frankenfish. To me maroons and tomato should be kept in really large tanks or with big nasty fish like triggers and puffers.
Dude, lets see a pic of his teeth and scars!

 

[makoshrk2]

I got a 5 inch maroon clown and he attacks my hand every time I put it in the tank. He even bites and holds on. Doesn't hurt. But still startles me everytime. Not aggressive with the other tankmates though

 

[sean48183]

I'll try to get an up close shot tonight and post it. Must have had a pretty rough night because he's good and beat up today but still chasing relentlessly.

 

[sean48183]

Here are some pics of hannibal. I am a terrible pic taker with a terrible camera and my tank is filthy so take it easy on me.
First him in his cave that no one is allowed to come within a foot of. Tried to get close up of teeth here but just came out blurry.

Here's him attacking lunar. Notice torn up left side.

Here he is attacking sailfin notice torn up right side

Here he is attacking hippo

Here he is attacking Naso

Here he is attacking an ocellaris

You get the idea. This is one pi$$ed off hombre and he is in a 150g. Imagine how he used to be in my old 55g. Anyways off to clean my tank

 

[marineang]

I have a pair, and they are still juvie's, but at first thought, I'd remove him even though it's a 150g. Attacking to the point of damage on the fish has got to be a lot of added stress and over time will wear them down. I'd be concerned about them healing up afterwards too and if it's repeated...I don't know...just screams infection waiting to happen. I hope mine don't become that mean! Maybe if you mated her up, she'd fall in love and leave everyone else alone?

 

[small triggers]

I have a LARGE female maroon, in with a male (that hides all the time because hes so small) 4 triggers, foxface, kole tang, & queen angel. and we'll just say that the maroon rules. she goes after my hand anytime i out it anywhere in the tank, if i move a piece of rock and she doesnt like where it got set, she'll try to move it, with force, same with old shells in the sand when i clean it,, LOL. It does scare my husband when he goes to feed though, hes more scared of my maroon than the niger that is almost 6in long and is developing the red in his teeth.

 

[mie]

Get rid of it. Gonna stress your other fish out................................ICH!

 

[krazykarel]

Originally Posted by mie
http:///forum/post/2910720
Get rid of it. Gonna stress your other fish out................................ICH!
I have to agree here....as much as I like those clowns. If he is that aggressive, even in an aggressive tank get him out. Maybe try another "timeout." Place him in your sump for a week or two and then put him back in. If that doesn't work again...time to move him on.

 

[sean48183]

Nah He's not going anywhere. He's been around about 3 years and has always done this. Really the other fish don't suffer any damage just him. Everybody gets chased evenly so it isn't just one target. If he was just targeting say my Naso then I would probably chuck him in the sump. I just wanted people to know how nasty these little buggers get as they get larger and IMO don't belong in anything but a 6' long tank.
I also haven't had ich or any type of infection in my tanks for about 3 years so I am not to worried about that.

 

[sean48183]

Originally Posted by marineang
http:///forum/post/2910510
Maybe if you mated her up, she'd fall in love and leave everyone else alone?
Ha ha she'd probably do a praying mantis and rip his head off. I have actually heard that clowns in pairs and/or in anenomes are 10x worse. I have a pair of ocellaris that are just hang out and never bother anything. Tomatos are a whole different league.