Who let the Clowns out?

Julbra · Nov 9, 2021

Unfortunately I think I must rehome my Clowns (Amphiprion percula).

They were the first fish in my 90 gallon (Red Sea XL425). They never really cared for my aquascaping efforts at multiple caves and arches, they just bobbed around the corners for months. This was fine.

Two weeks ago, I finished quarantining an Exquisite Fairy wrasse and Royal Gramma and introduced them to the DT. I observed like a hawk for the first 48 hours and noticed the wrasse was taking an unhealthy interest in the Clowns' corner. After about 12 hours he got his first nip on the tail. After that, nothing much happened for a week. Then, he blundered again into Clown hotel and this time got a good pinch on the tail. I isolated the Clowns in a large acclimation box to give everyone some time to reflect on things.

This morning, the Wrasse's tail was fully healed and I thought it would be time to give it another go. I let the Clowns out and within 30 minutes a significant chunk of the wrasse's tail was torn away. He retaliated this time and chased them around while flashing his side at them. Clowns are back in the acclimation box.

This is not sustainable. As far as I can see my options are very limited:

Option 1 (bad). Keep the clowns and get rid of the wrasse:
- Not good as the wrasse keeps my amphipods population in check
- No guarantee that the next fish I get won't have the same problem
- Wrasse is impossible to catch

Option 2 (terrible). Get an anemone for the Clowns
- I thought if they had their anemone they would stay there and that would keep other fish away. Turns out that would be a really bad idea as from what I read Clowns become even more territorial when hosted in an anemone.

Options 3 (sad). Find a new home for the Clown pair.

Any advice appreciated, the Clowns should be okay in the acclimation box for a few weeks while I mull over my options.

LiveFreeAndReef · Nov 9, 2021

They may become more territorial with an anemone, but at least everyone will know where their territory is!

G Santana · Nov 9, 2021

Clowns will be clowns.
No easy solution here.

Julbra · Nov 10, 2021

The wrasse's tail regrew so much overnight, it never fails to impress me. Wondering if that mucus cocoon he sleeps in has regenerative properties.

I'm going to visit a new LFS today and talk about the Clown issue, see if they come up with any bright ideas.

Julbra · Nov 10, 2021

So I'm just back from the new LFS. He took me for a big tour and they have an awesome quarantine protocol for all their fish, which was quite a refreshing change from my previous LFS.

For the clowns he recommended to do a 4-day to a week time-out, but in the sump instead of the acclimation box in the DT.

The theory is that after some time out of the DT they should forget their corner and be more confused when they get back in and less territorial. Worth a shot for sure.

Julbra · Nov 14, 2021

Poor guys in the sump since Wednesday. Breaks my heart but that’s the only thing I can try. Will keep them there until at least next Wednesday. Russell’s (the wrasse) tail is pretty much healed now.

Koh23 · Nov 14, 2021

If you get anemone, theres no guaranty that they will host it.

I have three, and my ocelaris show no interest at all, the hosted powerhead, they rarely move from pump, little swim and then back to corner.....hate them

Julbra · Nov 14, 2021

Koh23 said:
If you get anemone, theres no guaranty that they will host it.

I have three, and my ocelaris show no interest at all, the hosted powerhead, they rarely move from pump, little swim and then back to corner.....hate them

Guy at the LFS showed me one of his tanks where he only has anemones and one (massive) Clown. The lass is so protective of her nems he has to wear gloves when he needs to go in. No other fish can go. He put a stick in there to show me and she went biting the stick until he pulled her out with the stick in her mouth…

Koh23 · Nov 14, 2021

Not sure, years ago, i got some "wild" ocelaris, at least they told me that they not tank breed.

When i introduced them to tank, it literaly takes seconds for them to swim around, found anemones and host them. When moving to bigger tank, despite that rockwork was different, anemones were on different place - instant host.

Later i purchased two more, also wild, again, seconds - they found and host anemone, after little fight with natives to decide who goes where

now, i got tank breed ocelaris, and they show no interest in anemone. Maybe they will eventualy, maybe this is total nonsense, but, for me, so far no luck with breeded ocelaris and anemone.

Julbra · Apr 8, 2022

I thought I would report here as so many of these threads tend to have no follow up.

The clowns spent 5 months in the sump while I was quarantining other fish. The idea was to put them in almost last and let other fish settle in.

They have now been in the display for a week and seem quite happy to mingle with the others without killing them. There have been a few attempted attacks but the other fish are quite fierce too and much faster. So I'd say so far it's a success. Very pleased at not having to rehome them.