Help - Need to Reduce Clownfish Aggression

[VW_TDI_02]

I currently have two black and white true percula clownfish and the larger (assuming the female) is being a bit of a bully. The other one is a good bit smaller at about 1-1/4" compared to the 2" female. It really depends on the day but there are times when they are swimming around just fine and then there are other times where the smaller one is hiding in a deep crevice where the female is too big to get to. If the little one comes out then the larger one will chase it around the tank until the little one goes back to hiding in one of a few spots. When I feed them, I spread out the food so that they both get plenty of food. After spot feeding them, I turn on the power head so the food is spread out in the tank and easier for both of them before I turn on the return pump and start filtering out the food. The tank is a 20 long with a 20 gallon sump and they are getting more than enough to eat so there shouldn't be aggression over food. I do not have an anemone for them to host since I was told the tank should be at least 6 months old before getting one and this tank has only been up about 3.5 months. I was wondering what I could do in order to reduce aggression between the two and one idea that had was adding another fish in order to distract the female clownfish from the male clownfish. I've also thought about putting the female clownfish into a sort of time out where it gets tossed into the empty refugium section of my sump for a few hours.

 

Tank and Filtration:

20 Long Display Tank

20 Long Sump

SCA-301 Skimmer

4" 200 Micron Filter Sock

Dual BRS Carbon/GFO Reactors

[smeagol108]

Put the big clown in refugium for a couple days as you said. That's your best bet.

[VW_TDI_02]

Put the big clown in refugium for a couple days as you said. That's your best bet.

Does it matter if there is a light on in there or no? I have a simple CFL bulb that I use as a cabinet light that I can throw on a timer with my reef controller but if it won't make a difference I can leave the big clown in the dark. It would definitely allow the smaller clown to recover and de-stress a bit.

[smeagol108]

leaving the big clown in the dark will only help calm it down more. it shouldnt be an issue really. if you want to put a small light down there thats fine. when i kept fish only tanks, i used to turn the lights off for a day or two in the main display whenever adding new fish to allow everyone a chance to settle in. You may only need to leave the big clown down there for a day. Taking a fish out of its element even just temporarily normally causes it to allow other fish a chance to acclimate, and when the fish is reintroduced it will need to establish itself again.

[VW_TDI_02]

leaving the big clown in the dark will only help calm it down more. it shouldnt be an issue really. if you want to put a small light down there thats fine. when i kept fish only tanks, i used to turn the lights off for a day or two in the main display whenever adding new fish to allow everyone a chance to settle in. You may only need to leave the big clown down there for a day. Taking a fish out of its element even just temporarily normally causes it to allow other fish a chance to acclimate, and when the fish is reintroduced it will need to establish itself again.

Well the big one is in the sump without a light. The only thing that I'm concerned about is what you said about it needing to establish itself again. When it goes back into the display, wouldn't the aggression come back?

[smeagol108]

It may, it may not. Regardless, it will be less agressive at least initially as it has been displaced. Over time it could come back full force, but most likely it will not present itself as bad as the other fish will have time now to establish itself. When you reintroduce the clownfish thats in the sump he will not be alpha male (or female in this case) initially, and the time the other fish had to establish itself and not be harrassed is normally enough to make the difference that when reintroduced they get along better. YOu will definitely see a different dynamic in the tank when you reintroduce her. I would let the one in the main display stay in there for at least awhole day with the lights on. than maybe tomorrow at night (lights off) you introduce the other one back, or way two days. your clownfish in the sump should be perfectly fine as long as she is not subjected to insane currents or pumps she can get sucked into.

[VW_TDI_02]

So my lights are down to actinics and I put in the clown that was in the sump. So far she's been rather calm and just lazily swimming around. So far no aggression but I just have to wait and see what happens tomorrow.

[Pickle010]

I would rather put the clown in a container floating in the main tank than in the sump. Let them still see one another, give her a day or two and when she acts up you can return her to the container. This doesn't always work, percs can be very difficult to pair. It seems to me that she is of breeding size and she may simply consider the male inferior. It may be just a matter of time until he puts on some more size and she becomes more accepting of him.

 

Getting a nem would not solve your problem. If anything I'd expect it could make things worse and she could become more aggressive if she becomes more territorial.

 

Keep an eye on your male. Don't let him get too stressed. Pay particular attention to his fins. If they become tattered it would let you know what she is up to when you aren't around.

 

Good Luck.

[VW_TDI_02]

I would rather put the clown in a container floating in the main tank than in the sump. Let them still see one another, give her a day or two and when she acts up you can return her to the container. This doesn't always work, percs can be very difficult to pair. It seems to me that she is of breeding size and she may simply consider the male inferior. It may be just a matter of time until he puts on some more size and she becomes more accepting of him.

 

Getting a nem would not solve your problem. If anything I'd expect it could make things worse and she could become more aggressive if she becomes more territorial.

 

Keep an eye on your male. Don't let him get too stressed. Pay particular attention to his fins. If they become tattered it would let you know what she is up to when you aren't around.

 

Good Luck.

Thanks. I have a breeding net packed away in one of my cabinets so I may try that next time. For now I'm just going to wait and see how they are over the next 24 hours or so. If the behavior continues then I'll put her in the breeding net. Guess I need to bulk the little guy up a bit, haha.

[NorthGaHillbilly]

Are you seeing ripped fins or other signs of a serious attack? if not let em work it out.

[VW_TDI_02]

Are you seeing ripped fins or other signs of a serious attack? if not let em work it out.

I have in the past. Nothing too terrible but definitely have seen a few cuts into the fins.

[NorthGaHillbilly]

I have in the past. Nothing too terrible but definitely have seen a few cuts into the fins.

Id just let em ride myself, but a breeding net isnt a bad plan

[phillyclownfish]

+1 for what pickle said. I hope it works. Had the same issue with a pair of B&W's.

[porkchop-rob]

My B&W were fairly aggressive for a while.....then they just kind of chilled out. I guess they got their differences sorted out! LOL

[VW_TDI_02]

Well this morning my male was pressed into a little cave and whenever he tried to come out, he was quickly chased back into his hole. A few times he managed to get out and swim for a minute or so before being chased in a big figure 8 by the female. haha. As a result, I put the female into the breeder net inside of the tank. Really hoping she calms down. I think tomorrow evening I'll put her back into the tank with the male and see what happens.