Clownfish Nipping -- Where To Draw The Line

[iHexBot]

I bought two clownfish roughly three months ago and unfortunately don't know their approximate age at time of purchase. However, when I bought the clowns, they were almost exactly the same size. In the last three months, one of the clownfish growth has sky rocketed (I am assuming it is transitioning into the female, it is clearly the dominant fish between the two of them). The larger of the two clownfish is approximately two times the size of the other fish now. Over the last three to four days, the female has been nipping pretty aggressively at the smaller clownfish. The smaller clownfish doesn't do any of the expected twitching but it does act submissive to the larger fish. Looking at the smaller fish fin damage as a result of nipping, should I return the larger clownfish in order to preserve the life of the smaller clown or is this type of fin damage normal during the transition phase? I am assuming quarantining the smaller fish will do nothing for the two clowns in the long run?

 

 

And below is the larger of the two clowns

 

[fishhands]

Might want to throw another fish in there to mix it up.

[RIP Sebastian]

It's normal. He'll be fine.

[iHexBot]

Might want to throw another fish in there to mix it up.

 

There is a six line wrasse in there too, just hiding at the moment.

It's normal. He'll be fine.

 

Thanks

[burtbollinger]

No worries. Don't take any action at this time. Revisit in a week...but maybe get some video if it really trips your spidersense that something is wrong. Then post video

[iHexBot]

Looks like my larger clownfish is not the only culprit of attacks on my smaller clownfish, my six line wrasse is also nipping at the smaller clown .

 

Larger clowns aggression, this is minor compared to what has been going on. Of course they hold back when being video taped -

 

Six line taking a big nip out of the smaller clown (keep clicking 0 seconds on the tie bar of the video to see the attack, it happens int he very first second of the video, can also put the video in slow mode if need be) -

 

I might throw the little guy in the sump...

[burtbollinger]

my gut is saying that little guy looking scared and is getting too beat up. the combo of the giant big sister and the 6 line is maybe too much. Thats one heck of a size difference. I've had several pairs and none was that far apart size wise...Id be nervous...and lets be honest, your gut is telling you something is off or you wouldnt be posting.

 

i'd hate to have you over react, but that six line is acting like a punk...and that poor fish looks very freaked.

 

as an aside, you sure seem to have a ton of flow right now. maybe all that water movement is making the scene look more dramatic and hectic than it actually is.

 

before you pull, maybe wait for one more opinion or two.

[Water Dog]

I'd say pull the sixline. I had one that thankfully jumped out of my tank and I was able to return it to the LFS, tough buggers to catch. It was a model citizen at first but then turned into a terror. The bigger / female clown asserting dominance is one thing, but the additional stress from the sixline does not bode well for the little dude.

[tanacharison]

My damsels did they same. One is just becoming the dominant female and showing it. When I introduced more fish I rescaped the tank to mix up the territory's just be sure to include lots of little places for your other fish run and hide into. Sometimes a small blackout period helps.

[burtbollinger]

I'd say pull the sixline. I had one that thankfully jumped out of my tank and I was able to return it to the LFS, tough buggers to catch. It was a model citizen at first but then turned into a terror. The bigger / female clown asserting dominance is one thing, but the additional stress from the sixline does not bode well for the little dude.

this is probably the correct answer.

[iHexBot]

Aighty, catching the 6 line is going to be a bitch...

[burtbollinger]

go in with that "gonna get him on the first try" mentality.

[iHexBot]

Haha, tomorrow morning that will be the mentality. Lights went off an 1.5 ago so the clowns were easy to catch. Each went in a different section of the sump for the night. Tomorrow I will wage war against the seemingly harmless 6 line, a bummer too, such a personality, but I like clowns more so goodbye (yes I will return to LFS).

 

Also going to grab a breeder box, let the smaller clown heal for a few weeks, then re-add to the tank with the larger clown and re-asses as to what to do going forward.

[iHexBot]

 

I win.