Clownfish

[olson.ella]

I just got a my first saltwater tank, but my husband has had one before he’s never had clown fish and we have two now this isn’t our first time having fish but yes with the saltwater ones. We got 1clownfish when we first started a tank after about two months and we’ve had the fish for about three now. It’s dominating the entire tank. We got a puffer fish that our daughter loved about three weeks ago and turned up dead yesterday we think it was because of the clown fish. The clown Fish does have a pair that has been with it for about two months now after the puffer fish died now, the clown fish has been going after the other little one. I was wondering what would happen if we took out the bigger one. We’ve put it in a separate container in the aquarium, but the little one seems to want to let it out but once we did, it has been swimming away and fear from it so I was wondering if it is a better option to just get rid of the bigger one or see if there’s a way to make them work together. It’s been fed plenty and it shouldn’t be hungry, but we don’t know what’s happening. Also, would it be ok if we had just that single clown fish with other fish in general?

 

[dstockwell]

Welcome to the Reef !

How long has the system been up. Have you checked parameters?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What size is the tank? Is there a lot of rockwork?

 

[Exotrezy]

I just got a my first saltwater tank, but my husband has had one before he’s never had clown fish and we have two now this isn’t our first time having fish but yes with the saltwater ones. We got 1clownfish when we first started a tank after about two months and we’ve had the fish for about three now. It’s dominating the entire tank. We got a puffer fish that our daughter loved about three weeks ago and turned up dead yesterday we think it was because of the clown fish. The clown Fish does have a pair that has been with it for about two months now after the puffer fish died now, the clown fish has been going after the other little one. I was wondering what would happen if we took out the bigger one. We’ve put it in a separate container in the aquarium, but the little one seems to want to let it out but once we did, it has been swimming away and fear from it so I was wondering if it is a better option to just get rid of the bigger one or see if there’s a way to make them work together. It’s been fed plenty and it shouldn’t be hungry, but we don’t know what’s happening. Also, would it be ok if we had just that single clown fish with other fish in general?

Did you put the clownfish in there before the other fish or after? The clownfish like to get territorial especially when there is a mated pair in the tank.

 

[resortez]

Clown fish can seem extremely aggressive when trying to pair & mate. In order to switch sex, the female will become larger & more aggressive towards the smaller male in order to submit the male & keep him small, not to challenge the female. The worst I have seen from clown fish pairing up, the female drove the smaller male into the sand & pinned it against a corner, looked really bad but within a week the female left him alone & allowed the male to get closer to her nesting area. Similar thing happens when there are large groups. The female will allow herself a couple of males & orbiters at a distance a survival instinct. If the female gets taken out while protecting the nest, her mate can now switch to female & select an orbiting male to come in & mate, the cycle continues. Hope that helps.

 

[olson.ella]

Did you put the clownfish in there before the other fish or after? The clownfish like to get territorial especially when there is a mated pair in the tank.

We had the more aggressive one for a week before the other clown then had both for about two months before the puffer

 

[olson.ella]

Clown fish can seem extremely aggressive when trying to pair & mate. In order to switch sex, the female will become larger & more aggressive towards the smaller male in order to submit the male & keep him small, not to challenge the female. The worst I have seen from clown fish pairing up, the female drove the smaller male into the sand & pinned it against a corner, looked really bad but within a week the female left him alone & allowed the male to get closer to her nesting area. Similar thing happens when there are large groups. The female will allow herself a couple of males & orbiters at a distance a survival instinct. If the female gets taken out while protecting the nest, her mate can now switch to female & select an orbiting male to come in & mate, the cycle continues. Hope that helps.

We are aware of them and they were doing very good and no problems till we had the puffer in there when it was in with them they were fine to it was just right after the puffer died that it was becoming very aggressive towards the other one.

 

[olson.ella]

What size is the tank? Is there a lot of rockwork?

It is a 55 gallon with lots of room we have some Cora in it not live. Lots of room for them might be a little big for the ones that we have. The biggest one is about 2 inches long and the other is about 1.5 just about the same size.

 

[resortez]

Clowns are still pretty small & systems fairly new. The fish will pair up when they feel like their environment is ready & provides the right conditions to nest. Just because the clowns have been together, doesn’t necessarily mean that the clowns are a mates pair, especially at the size you have them. The scenario of aggression appearing after the death of the puffer could have triggered something in the larger fish, what exactly? I can only assume the need to mate but I might be wrong. I can only provide info based on my experience with clownfish & their mating process that I have observed. As long as the small clownfish have a still capable of feeding & the larger clownfish allows it to feed, you should be in the clear. The second either fish loses appetite & the want to feed, then there’s cause for concern.