Smallest Clown Dominant?

[JurisReefer]

So basically, I have a 10g set up that is doing very well. Went to get some coral deals, but I couldn't pass up two small phantom clowns at Aquarium Care Center (Black Friday Sale- $52.. I mean c'mon you would have done the same), and I'm waiting on a Waterbox 20, which will be their new home anyways.

 

I had two slightly smaller than the phantom clowns, clownfish, in the 10g before the new addition. The older black ocellaris clowns were established and are now bullying the crap out of the new kids, even though they're bigger. Anyone had this experience before? Does seniority in the tank outweigh size for clowns? Filtration and bioload concerns aside, 1-10, how bad did I STB getting a new pair of clowns to temporarily reside with an already established set? If you see disaster in my future, let me know and I can always migrate the phantoms to my 125g.

[OPtasia]

Move them. You pooped the bed pretty hard.

 

A clownfish is, after all, merely another type of damselfish.  Damselfish have been known to bully humans and coral divers, much less other conspecifics. Clowns are usually the last fish you want to add to your tank for that reason.  I'd re-home your new ones before they get beaten to death.

[patback]

Multiple clowns should always be added at the same time and young enough that they dont have a hierarchy set already. 

You introduced 2 fish, (that if are bigger than your others) 1 is already a female, into a VERY undersized tank with an existing female.  It is a gaurantee that at least 1 of them will die very, very soon. 

  

[Ocellaris PDX]

+1 on moving them. There will be fatalities if you don't. 

[JurisReefer]

Fair point from everyone.

 

I appreciate the input and thank God for having another tank as a plan-b.

[Clown79]

Clownfish harems are difficult. To have multiple clowns in 1 tank, they need to be added together and from the same clutch.

 

In a 10g 4 clowns with 2 established mates, aggression is going to be experienced.

 

I would set up a bucket with heater and filter, use water  and a rock, media  from the 10g and place the new clowns in there until the new tank arrives. 

[JurisReefer]

Just now, Clown79 said:

Clownfish harems are difficult. To have multiple clowns in 1 tank, they need to be added together and from the same clutch.

 

In a 10g 4 clowns with 2 established mates, aggression is going to be experienced.

 

I would set up a bucket with heater and filter, use water  and a rock, media  from the 10g and place the new clowns in there until the new tank arrives. 

That's really helpful, thank you. Didn't think of doing that. If I go that route, I'd do a white 5g bucket I use for RODI. Would you suggest maybe a 1g water change for the next few days?

 

And by few days I mean like.. 2, maybe 3 TOPS.

[Floundering_Around]

I used a 5 gallon bucket for QT for my two clowns with just a power head and some live rock. If you can spare some LR and have something for water flow, you should be fine with one or two water changes (all though you probably won't need to)