Puffer Attacked Maroon Clown!!

[pappa d]

When I came home tonight I went straight for my tank like I always do, looking to see everyone happy and in good shape. At first everything looked very good, until I noticed my Maroon Clownfish's top fin had a bite mark in it that couldnt have been from anything else but my couple week old Dogface Pufferfish. He didnt bite the whole piece off but you could see there was a bite mark he just didnt get through all the way, kinda looks like the little bite mark is just floating there.. I will post pictures tomorrow because i dont want to disturb them right now as the light is off in the tank. I am very suprised because they usually swim next to eachother and thus far have looked good. I am planning on moving my maroon clownfish to my 20 gallon tank very soon, unless anyone has objections? which im sure you all dont. But will he be ok, he was still very active and looked happy somehow. will this fin heal itself? hopefully all will turn out well because im very concerned..

 

[pappa d]

By the way, I have had the maroon clown for about 5 month, and the dogface for a couple of weeks like i said. he is about 4 inches and the clown is about 3. and the clown is very agressive and not afraid of anything, even taking food from my puff while im feeding him (but i know this happend after feeding time today so it must have not been because of that)....has anyone ever heard of this, i thought it was ok to mix these two guys. i've heard of people doing it all the time, infact im almost certain the lfs i got this from had a maroon in the same tank as my puff!

 

[sepulatian]

What sized tank is this and how much rock do you have? When keeping aggressive fish do not be surprised at all of bite marks! Don't move the clown. If you do, when you put him back in he will be considered "new" to the puffer and up for attack again. Do you just have one clown? Does he have a territory to himself? The puffer is new and is acting normally. He came from the ocean and had to fight there. Once he is comfortable and the clown shows that he is not scared they will be fine. Again, what sized tank do you have these guys in?

 

[pappa d]

they are in a 58 gallon tank currently(yes i am well aware that the dogface will outgrow this tank very fast and i am already planning on upgrade choices). the clown doesnt seem to be very territorial, i have seen the puffer by where the clown goes to at night and he seemed fine... and yes i have only one maroon clown.

 

[pappa d]

sorry forgot to included this is post, i have plenty of live rock with lots of caves and hiding spots. they both seem to enjoy it and each have spots where they "sleep" at night.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Pappa D
sorry forgot to included this is post, i have plenty of live rock with lots of caves and hiding spots. they both seem to enjoy it and each have spots where they "sleep" at night.
Keep watching them. I realy think the puffer was just trying to be "top dog" The clown is smaller. It is a dominance thing. He didn't rip the fin or attack his body, he gave him a little nip. Again, it is two aggressive fish, expect these little spats.

 

[pappa d]

thank you very much for the quick response sepulatian, i will continue watching. i am probably just being a little too protective because my clown seems like a baby next to this puff hah. i think the large teeth make you alot more worried about the fish being attacked

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Pappa D
thank you very much for the quick response sepulatian, i will continue watching. i am probably just being a little too protective because my clown seems like a baby next to this puff hah. i think the large teeth make you alot more worried about the fish being attacked
I completely agree. I am going to add a pair of maroons with the anemone first to my tank with a little falco hawk (which only attack fish introduced after themselves and have no teeth but harass and try to nip the heck out of others!!!) I am worried about the maroons already!!! I will have the anemone in place for them to hide in before I introduce them, but I am still worried. My hawk is all of 2" but he is a fiesty little guy!!!

 

[pappa d]

isnt it funny how the small guys can be so agressive? well i hope you have good luck with that, and im sure you will. i love my maroon, he is a very hardy fish with a great personality. hes always in the front of the tank showing off!

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Pappa D
isnt it funny how the small guys can be so agressive? well i hope you have good luck with that, and im sure you will. i love my maroon, he is a very hardy fish with a great personality. hes always in the front of the tank showing off!
Thanks! I hope your puffer relaxes which he will. He is new and has to try to show some dominance. They will be fine together.

 

[psusocr1]

a bigger tankw ill defiantlyu help to overcome the fighting over territories, but also i have had my clowns get beat up a few tiemes and they heal and rtegrow fins very very quickly so no need to worry unless there is damage to the body

 

[pappa d]

heres some pics of the poor guy

along with the rest of the set up.
Those pics of the puffer are pretty extreme looking.. i was very concerned that he had ich but the bumps seem to be the color of his skin(they're white on his white belly and brown on his top) also his fins dont have anything on them. i was told not to worry but is this a problem/have any of you ever seen this. he doesnt seem irrated at all and he is eating regularly. thanks for the help everyone

 

[pappa d]

that last picture is very extreme and doesnt seem to look that bad in reality, but i guess its better to see what im talking about

 

[stdreb27]

That is a pretty puffer. My puffer has little bumps on him on occasion. But I've had no problems with him or any of the other fish. So personally I wouldn't worry about it. But then again I'm not the expert.

 

[renogaw]

btw, i'd probably expect the little guys to be more aggressive cause they don't want to be eaten

 

[nds03]

My porcupine puffer def ate my clown fish. He also killed my powder brown tang by trying to bite it's head off (I saw him do it). You should be carefull with that fish!