Mean Clarkii Clown

[cearlockb]

Well I've had 1 clarkii for about a month now, hes doing great with a nice sized bubble tip, however i recently added two heniochus butterfly's both of which are at least twice his size, but he seems be quite territorial. He chases them everytime they get near "his side of the tank" Is this bad? I know it can be, but he's not to bad with them, not like a clown trigger or anything, or is there anyway i can stop him, maybe rearrange the tank.

 

[firefightersmom]

That is very normal behavior. Try putting your hand in there..they have never heard don't bite the hand that feeds you... After a while he or she might calm down. But in the wild if you read up on interaction between the clowns and anemones its pretty interesting. The anemone protects the slow swimming clowns. Just as the clown feeds the anemone..they could not do without the other in the wild. The clowns stay in a very small area around the anemone for protection.

 

[bdhough]

If you can move the rock work around some that may help. Change up the enverionment. Try and keep the anemone in the same place though. They don't like to be moved which is the issue here...... Thats about all you can do. Your tank is quite large. Give them some time they will sort it out. Just keep an eye on fins and scales. Any wounds start to worry....