New Clown Sparring

[julesreef]

New member here!!
I've been checking out the archives a bit lately, and decided to join because the group is so knowledgable/helpful, and because of my current problem. I posted a question on the Clown thread and found lots more people at this thread, so hopefully I can get a quick response.
I have a problem with my ocellaris clowns. Had a great matched pair for couple of months when I set up my 29 gallon reef, but the largest (and of course, best looking one) disappeared overnight. Last feeding was about 5:30pm Sunday, and by 7:30am Monday (yesterday), she was gone. No sign of body or of a feeding fest for the crabs/snails. Larger missing clown was maybe 1.25 inches, with smaller one maybe 1 inch. I went to LFS and got replacement, intending to get larger one, but they were all about the same size, so ended up with another clown same size as remaining one. Now, they're sparring like crazy. Started shortly after introduction, and continued today even before lights on. The original clown retreats to his selected host (one of the elephant ears), and the new clown investigates rest of tank, but the neon dottyback doesn't let him get too far before he puts him in his place. LFS said to bring fish back and possibly try new one. Is that everyone's best recommendation, or should I give it some time to see if they'll work things out. Really hate seeing this kind of stress going on.
Here's a bit of my background. Started reefing about 4 years ago with a small table top. Have three ponds in backyard, and lots of experience with freshwater aquariums, so thought going to saltwater wouldn't be too hard (little did I know!!) Added 20 gal reef within a few months of the original table top reef, and no problems for over a year. Eventually lost lots of coral and some fish over time. Foolishly added a quarter sized Koran Angel to 20 gallon that eventually grew to over 3 inches in diameter. Fouled 20 gallon with nusiance hairy green algae until I finally decided to trade the Koran in for couple of Ocellaris Clowns and move up to a 29 gallon a couple of months ago. Transferred over a neon dottyback I'd had since the beginning, along with:
five green hairy giant or elephant ear mushrooms
two bubble mushrooms
toadstool leather
flower leather
added green star polyps
added anthelia
added blue mushroom
Also have:
cleaner shrimp (added with 29 gal set up)
2 blue and 2 red hermit crabs
10 bumblebee snails
7 astrea snails
serpent star (added with 29 gal set up)
All was wonderful. Good and steady water quality, steady temp, weekly water changes. Started researching the use of vinegar for kalkwasser from the archives, and excited about my new found direction of being more informed and a better reefkeeper. Then the clown disappeared and broke my heart.
Look forward to any suggestions.
Thanks,
julesreef

 

[ags]

unless the clowns are a mated pair or introduced at the same time they will fight. Time really won't resolve their fighting either although not completely impossible. You could rearrange your rock work to fool them into re-establishing territories but I have never found that to work. Especially in smaller tanks. Best thing to do is take the clown back and find another fish that is compatible with it.

 

[clarkiiboi]

Give it some time, as long as the original can take cover in its host, they may still have a chance. If the orginal takes a beating (fins nipped and such) then it would be best to take the new one back. I thought percs where a little easier, not saying there would not be issues at first. The opposite happened to me--I had a sebea and added another later, fighting was intense from the orginal clown. I removed the new one and placed in my 10 gall. Months later I broke that 10 gall down and added the same new sebea again--- I was rough, but the 2nd clown took cover (took days to find where it was, very well hid and no way to remove this time) about a month later I saw the shimmy happening, out of nowhere! They were inseperable after a few days, even slept in the same host! See what others say, I only have experience with sebeas, but its a clown non the least.

 

[julesreef]

Thanks for the replies!!!
To my utter DELIGHT, I found my larger clown yesterday morning!! She was in the black box for the pump to my BakPak Skimmer. I swear I checked that box 50 or more times with a flashlight, but never saw anything move. Then, yesterday I adjusted the sponge and THERE SHE WAS!!!
Still can't believe it, but I'm delighted!! The sparring of the two smaller clowns (which were unfortunately too close to the same size) never stopped, even after the female returned. Poor little new guy was hovering by one of the pumps at the top of the tank. Took about 1-1/2 hours to catch him and return to the LFS.
All is WONDERFUL again.
Thanks again for your replies. Hope it never happens again.
Julesreef