Aggressive clown

[Becky S]

Hi everyone, I've had a pair of clowns for 3 years, this year one of them has become very aggressive when I'm doing tank maintenance. I'm assuming they've got eggs somewhere for the first time. I added a bicolour 3 months ago and have found it dead with a missing pectoral fin. Shall I assume it's the suddenly aggressive clown that killed it? I have a single damsel which doesn't show any obvious aggression to anything, is it more likely it was the damsel?

I want to add a flame angel to my tank, should I remove the aggressive clown or the damsel or both?

Many thanks!

 

[Becky S]

In my 125g my clown pair go after my hand and take nibbles but that's mostly if i'm close to an bta. Clowns have those locked down territory wise LOL. No other fish care at all about my hand other than cleaner shrimp that jump on.

My clowns used to be so cute with no issues, I think they've just matured now and it's all gone wrong

 

[Becky S]

My opinion?
Tank is too small for the flame.
Left alone clown will become female and you may have same problem again.
Joel

Thanks Joel, do you think the tank is too small because of the proximity to the other fish or simple too small even if it is just the flame angel?

 

[The_Paradox]

My clowns used to be so cute with no issues, I think they've just matured now and it's all gone wrong

What you really need is a mated pair of Maroon Clowns. They are super peaceful. They always seem so calm sitting by themselves.

 

[Becky S]

What you really need is a mated pair of Maroon Clowns. They are super peaceful. They always seem so calm sitting by themselves.

I'll definitely look into that!

 

[The_Paradox]

I'll definitely look into that!

I was joking and I’m sure a 30 second search would have turned that up. Maroons are all psychos.

 

[Becky S]

I was joking and I’m sure a 30 second search would have turned that up. Maroons are all psychos.

Ha ok ok I defo won't look into that!

 

[The_Paradox]

Ha ok ok I defo won't look into that!

I hate overstocking but I think you are probably ok with a Flame Angle if you ditch the clowns. If you want to play it safe though, what about a Coral Beauty? I you like the red colour a Flame Hawk?

 

[Becky S]

I hate overstocking but I think you are probably ok with a Flame Angle if you ditch the clowns. If you want to play it safe though, what about a Coral Beauty? I you like the red colour a Flame Hawk?

I'm obsessed with flame angels, I've got to have one! I have a pink spot goby and a royal gramma, they're quite shirty around the tank, do you think they will be safe with the angel?

 

[The_Paradox]

I'm obsessed with flame angels, I've got to have one! I have a pink spot goby and a royal gramma, they're quite shirty around the tank, do you think they will be safe with the angel?

I don’t see them getting messed with.

 

[Becky S]

I don’t see them getting messed with.

Ok cool

 

[00W]

Sorry Becky I'm at work all day.
Possibly a small guy might work but no clowns I think.
They grow pretty slow and become quite personable over time but if not given enough 'personal space" can become a bit bully like.
Joel

Thanks Joel, do you think the tank is too small because of the proximity to the other fish or simple too small even if it is just the flame angel?

 

[Boehmtown]

Would you advise me to rehome my clowns as a pair or just rehome the aggressive one and keep the passive one? I really love them but I'm experiencing very similar problems as you had in the past. I imagine it's only going to get worse. I know it's natural behavior but the whole reason I have a marine tank is to keep a dwarf angel. What do you think would be best to ensure success with a flame angel? Should I remove the clowns, then put my angel in and then put the clowns back in afterwards?

I kept mine together, and made sure they went to a good home and just got a new clown. I would suggest the same. It was a hard decision but one I'm happy with now

 

[littlefoxx]

Hi everyone, I've had a pair of clowns for 3 years, this year one of them has become very aggressive when I'm doing tank maintenance. I'm assuming they've got eggs somewhere for the first time. I added a bicolour 3 months ago and have found it dead with a missing pectoral fin. Shall I assume it's the suddenly aggressive clown that killed it? I have a single damsel which doesn't show any obvious aggression to anything, is it more likely it was the damsel?

I want to add a flame angel to my tank, should I remove the aggressive clown or the damsel or both?

Many thanks!

Clowns are just mean, I had a female who bit the s—- out of me any time my hand was in the tank with no eggs. Most clowns turn aggressive like that when they mature. Its either deal with the clown aggression if you keep clowns or dont keep them at all unfortunately. Me I love clownfish and Ill deal with them being jerks for no reason at all, but thats my preference. My cousin on the other hand will not do clownfish in his tank because of this issue

 

[littlefoxx]

Also agree with no flame in this tank, it will get cranky with the limited space

 

[mamacta]

I won’t buy clowns ever again. My 2 lived very peacefully together for 8 months. 2 days ago the larger one became very aggressive and was terrorizing the smaller one. It only took 2 days and I just found the smaller one dead on the bottom of the tank 10 minutes ago. Had a huge wound on his side. I’m devastated. I don’t even want the other clown anymore.

 

[Becky S]

I won’t buy clowns ever again. My 2 lived very peacefully together for 8 months. 2 days ago the larger one became very aggressive and was terrorizing the smaller one. It only took 2 days and I just found the smaller one dead on the bottom of the tank 10 minutes ago. Had a huge wound on his side. I’m devastated. I don’t even want the other clown anymore.

oh that's awful! I'm really not sure what to do with mine. I really like watching them interact with eachother but one of them is now bullying all my other fish