Fighting Clownfish

[petecomas]

I bought two very small (about 3/4 inch) tank-raised ocellaris back in October 2010. The two fish never really got along and mostly ignored one another for several months. In March, I noticed that they started to act a little more aggressively toward each other. I researched this behavior on this site and others and decided that they were playing out which would be more dominant and eventually turn female.

The problem is that it's nearly August and the fish not only continue to fight, but it's become worse. One of the fish does look noticeably bigger than the other, so I assume it's turning female, but it has also become extremely vicious and constantly bullies the smaller one. It's gotten to the point that almost from lights on to lights out, the larger one harasses the smaller one to no end. The smaller one does the little submissive spasm routine, but the bully doesn't care and keeps right on nipping at hm.

My question is: Will this ever stop? How long is this supposed to go on? The threads I've read say it lasts for a few weeks -- but it's been nearly 5 months! Neither fish looks injured, but this has to be stressful for the smaller one (and probably for the bigger one too). Do I just need to let this play out?

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

IMO there probably trying to mate but dont know who wants to me the male and female thats why there fighting lol

 

[darod850]

They are establishing who is the dominant one. Usually the larger becomes female.

 

[rookie07]

I disagree with above.

If they have been in a tank together for more than a few months, then the larger is already the female, but the female is not letting the male pair up with her.

If i had to guess i would say that your female will eventually kill the male....but you can never really tell, it may work out that they pair up.

 

[SaltyFlip]

I may have to agree with rookie07, they're quite difficult to read at times. Keep your water pristine and your levels checked. IMO, if you start to notice excessive damage on the fins and a lack of enthusiasm to food, I would separate the two. If both of their appetites are ok, then I think you could let them be and see if they end up pairing.

 

[petecomas]

Thanks guys. I'll leave them alone for now and keep an eye on things. Both fish are eating, though I have to feed strategically so they don't tangle. If I only feed in one spot, the bigger fish won't let the smaller one eat. I noticed that the smaller one has two marks on his head -- no gaping wounds, just a missing scale or two. He's a little beat up, but his fins aren't torn and he swims and eats just fine. Domestic violence among fish -- who knew?

 

[dherrera83]

Try removing the aggressor for a bit. You can put him in a bucket for a few hours (2-3). Let the other clown fish eat and just relax. Then re-introduce him to the tank. Sometimes this helps.

I have seen some cases where the aggressor just ends up killing its partner. If nothig works then you might need to get them some counseling or a restraining order out on him. Theres no clowing around with domestic violence.... lol

 

[richardhmc]

Yeah same happened with my two clowns. They used to sleep together in the anemone but now, one of them is living in the anemone and the other is kicked out and he sleeps in the middle of the tank

 

[dherrera83]

Yeah same happened with my two clowns. They used to sleep together in the anemone but now, one of them is living in the anemone and the other is kicked out and he sleeps in the middle of the tank

Have you looked into getting them some marrage counseling?... lol

 

[richardhmc]

Have you looked into getting them some marrage counseling?... lol

yeah I tried convincing them to get some counseling but they refused

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

Try removing the aggressor for a bit. You can put him in a bucket for a few hours (2-3). Let the other clown fish eat and just relax. Then re-introduce him to the tank. Sometimes this helps.

I have seen some cases where the aggressor just ends up killing its partner. If nothig works then you might need to get them some counseling or a restraining order out on him. Theres no clowing around with domestic violence.... lol

Lol!!!

 

[richardhmc]

did you ever fix the problem? I still have the clownfish that's kicked out

 

[Exotic Reef]

quick ? so you are saying that a male clown is turning female how is that possible?

 

[petecomas]

Sadly, they are still fighting. It's been going on for a while and doesn't look like it's stopping. I had faint hope the other night when the big one started doing the spasm-shake dance and I thought they might actually pair up. But then she went right back to beating up the smaller one.

Still no major injuries to either fish and both still eat and swim fine. So it's still wait and see for me....

 

[dherrera83]

Have you tried removing him for a while?...

 

[petecomas]

I'm doing a water change this weekend and will put him in the bucket I siphon into and let him swim around in it while I clean the tank. They're much easier to catch when there's less water in the tank.

 

[dherrera83]

Wait... How big is your tank and how much water are you removing? I think it would be best to remove him so the other fish and just be himself for a while. Dont think that would be possible if you are cleaning the tank.

 

[petecomas]

I have a 28g tank and change 5 gallons every two weeks. I don't have any other way of separating the fish as I don't have another tank to keep it in. My space is limited, which is why I only have a 28g tank to begin with.

Is it a bad idea to let the big fishswim around in the 5-gallon bucket for a couple of hours while I clean the tank and let the other fish relax, etc? It only takes a half hour or so to actually clean the tank, but I don't have to dispose of the "waste" water right away. I can do the water change, clean, and then let the remaining fish relax for a couple of hours while the bully is in the bucket.

I just don't see how else I can separate them.

The only other fish in the tank is a sixline wrasse which has been a model citizen and doesn't bother anything else. He ignores everything and just cruises the rockwork eating pods all day. The wrasse went in first. The clowns were added about 3 or 4 days later.

I can post pictures of the tank if you're interested. I'm always looking for reasons to show it off. (I'm quite proud of it as it's the only fish tank I've ever kept in my life and I've been pretty successful so far.)

 

[dherrera83]

You should make a thread of your tank. It took me a while to put mine up.

It is fine for you to keep him in the bucket till you finish cleaning. After your done let the little guy "chill out" then about 1 hour then return the agressor. This has worked for me in the past... Good luck and let me know how it turns out.

 

[jmaquatic]

Take the aggressive one out and then place her back in after a few hours worked in my nano