Clown fish pairs- dominant eats a lot more?

[Trever]

I'm noticing a pattern where the smaller of my two clown fish usually eats considerably less than the larger one. They're both babies (1" or less), but the larger one can eat 8 TDO small pellets quickly, whereas the smaller one will eat 1 - 4 before losing interest.

The very first feeding after they came from the store, their behavior was the opposite, but since then, like I said.

Is this pretty normal?

It often looks like the smaller wants to eat, but when he gets to the food ring, the bigger one buts in and starts gobbling and typically the smaller one falls back and watches.

They show zero aggression towards each other and seem to get along, well, swimmingly. Indeed last night was the first night they didn't sleep together in a little corner by the overflow, and instead, slept opposite sides of the overflow.

I have no idea if the larger one is or has differentiated. They are small little guys brought from the LFS last week.

The smaller one is also hyperactive, playing and swimming like a mad man much of the time, while the larger one is much more placid (but sometimes is quite active as well). You would think their appetites should be the reverse - that the smaller one would be consuming more.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

I think thats normal, the females tend to be the more aggressive ones in every category. My assumption is they do this naturally to bulk up for egg production in the future.

 

[Uptowngirl]

It does make sense since the female needs more energy to get big and mean lol. If you have concerns about the male not getting enough maybe spot fees him while she is distracted?

 

[Trever]

@Uptowngirl yes though easier said than done.

I just noticed the little guy going to the ring about 5 minutes after I fed. I put a two more pellets in, and sure enough, he ate them (though he always struggles with and tends to spit out the larger ones).

 

[Uptowngirl]

As long as he doesn’t get noticeably skinny I would say he’s fine!

 

[Nick Steele]

This is totally normal. The bigger one asserted her dominance and will usually eat more. Every once in awhile you will notice the smaller one get more aggressive with his food (once a week or so) and that’s him getting hungry and saying enough is enough to his girl.

 

[Trever]

@Nick Steele yes I see that already- once in a while Sundance seems to just say "To hell with this, I'm hungry".

It also seems to correlate with my wife being unhappy with me for something...

 

[Nick Steele]

@Trever haha. There’s a pair at work that the male won’t eat for a couple days then he grows a pair and eats but the female doesn’t like it and chases him around the tank a few times.

 

[Turkey head]

Mine have that same behavior. The male gets plenty to eat and is healthy but the female clearly eats more and is dominant over feeding time.