Clowns Fighting?

[Zippeay]

Ok, I bought one clown "The regular Nemo looking one's, yes thats my official name for them" and I bought another one today. Well ok I bought 2 different ones today. The first one was attacking the one I had in the tank from before like crazy so I took him back to the store and they gave me another one. This new one seems a little less aggresive but they still are nipping at eachother. Is that normal? Its not the one I had from before either, he keeps trying to swim away but the new one keeps coming after him. Will they eventually get along? Or should I just keep one? I also bought a Pajama Cardinal, he's really cool too. Thanks for any help guys -Zipp

 

[Mr Miagi]

You should only keep one species of clown in a tank of your size. If you WERE to keep more than one pair, or species in the same tank, providing the tank was very large, (IE Navarre's 200G tank) they need to look completly un-related. Otherwise, as youve found, they do not share their home well with other clown species. Even then, if they look different, fights can occur.

Keep only one species of clown per tank in a nano.

BTW, you should really know what your getting yorself into, what relationships will form, and what species a fish is before you purchase. Research a fish suitable for your tank by either a website like Dr foster and smith, online fish profiles like here at TFF, or buy a good, recently published book on the hobby. This will save you money, and prevent any un-neccessary harm to your clowns, or future purchases.

 

[Zippeay]

I did read up on clown, I read that Percula clown "which I have" live good in pairs. So.. And the stupid FLS guy told me they'd be ok too.

 

[SkiFletch]

Clowns will be ok in pairs only if you add them in pairs to start off. If you add one clown and it establishes a territory, it will be very aggressive towards another one that is added later even if it is the same species.

 

[steelhealr]

Zip...I suggest, nicely, that you sit down and do some more research before making any further moves on your tank. In general, you CANNOT put more than one species of the same kind together in a tank UNLESS they are mated pairs. In an open reef, fish have room to set up territories. In marine tanks, they are crammed together and some will fight to the death (YES...there are exceptions).

Clowns cannot be mixed NOR paired unless they are a mated pair OR, one of the clowns is extremely small and/or immature so that the other clown will dominate. Also, you should use caution, if not avoid, putting similar genus but different species together. Eg.....two different gobies may fight.

This stuff is written out nicely in Paletta's Book and Fenner's book and Kurtz's book (see Realm of Knowledge) in the Marine chit chat pinned section. SH

 

[Zippeay]

Thanks for the info guys, they seem to be doing very well today . I did a lot more research last night, I guess what I was seeing is pretty normal for clowns when the establish who is dominant. The first one I brought home was very aggresive so I'm glad I took him back but this one is a bit smaller than the one I have in the tank now. The smaller one twitches at the bigger one "I've read that they do that when they are being submissive" They haven't gone after eachother at all that I've seen this morning and they actually look affectionate towards eachother . I don't want you guys to think that I didn't read up on any of this before I bought them. I do have a book that said they do well paired up so that is why I bought 2 of them. Since I only bought the first one 3 days ago I didn't think the other one would be aggresive towards the new ones. Actually the one I had first wasn't the aggresive one at all, it was the new ones that were aggresive toward him. I'll see how things go when I get one tonight, and I'll post how they are doing. Thanks -Zipp

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Glad to hear it worked out , i'm looking to add another perc to pair up with my current one in a nano. Hopefully they'll settle down and there won't be too much aggression if i get a smaller one

Dan

 

[steelhealr]

yes...try and get one that is very small and immature if the other perc has established it's territory. Glad to hear Zips percs are hooking up. SH

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Got a bad feeling about adding another one, the one i've got has turned pretty mean and attacks even me when my hand is in the tank Hopefully he'll be fine with another addition, might just get a black one instead 8)

 

[Mr Miagi]

.... might just get a black one instead 8)

Did you read the above thread sf? LOL! Dont add too different looking clowns into a tank. Id stick with your idea of getting a mate for your ocellaris, just make sure its alot smaller than your one now. That way, the smaller, newbie introduction wont have to fight for dominance as he is already the down trodden weakling. LOL

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

I've seen many examples of these two types of clowns getting on well even pairing. My LFS keeps them in the same tank when they're for sale and they all look as happy as larry

 

[Mr Miagi]

Go for it then. I will wait and hear how things turn out. I think this should be interesting. Maybe both thinks he is the same colour as the other!

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

maybe The ones they had in last time where weren't quite as dark as that one but i think it's got something to do with them being so small. The clown i got from there wasn't too bright but he's getting a really nice orange color now

I did pop down to the LFS today and was going to pick up a B&W one but they had no in, almost bought a yellow clown goby. I'm glad i held out and walked away though

The guy said their having a big delivery in on Thursday......Let's hope i can scroung £8 off me mum

 

[Zippeay]

Good luck, those clowns look really nice together IMO. My clowns are doing Awesome now . They arn't fighting anymore at all, thank God. Good luck with yours and thanks guys

 

[crazyelece]

Zippy glad to hear your clowns worked out their differences. Always add a smaller clown when trying to get them to pair up, any thing else is asking for trouble. Also Black and Whites will pair up with standard and percs will pair up with false percs. Stick to the rules with the size though.