Help with clownfish agression.....

[NanoReefer411]

I have 2 clownfish that are being a complete pain in my 180 gallon tank. They are chasing everyone and upsetting the tank. They are even chasing my rabbitfish! I tried to add some new fish, and had to move 1 of them. I added 4 Lyretail anthias to the tank, and they bit the tails off of 2 of them. The poor anthias are hiding in the rocks now and will not come out. The clowns will make sure they are still in the rocks by harassing them. I was told these are both female clowns, so I don't think they laid eggs. Any suggestions? Help!

These are not percula clownfish. Just the plain ol' ocellaris. One is black the other is orange.

 

[Myteemouse]

if they are hosting a nem remove the nem
mine calmed down and stopped bitting me when I removed there home..

 

[NanoReefer411]

They are hosting in 2 trachyphyllia's. I moved them on the opposite side of the tank to try and help. I have seen 2 anthias this morning actually come out a bit. I hope this helps. If not, I will try taking their home out.

 

[Myteemouse]

sometimes clowns are just really aggressive and protect a spot in the tank.. if the tank has too many fish or is too small they will defend the entire tank... I had a pair in my 125 and they defended about 12"x12" spot.. the rest was cool .

 

[NanoReefer411]

They are in my 180. I don't have that many fish. Maybe too much rock though. lol. It is frustrating. The orange one just saw them come out and went over there to chase them back into the rocks. GRRR!!!!

 

[Slate]

Sometimes I think Clowns are the most aggressive "reef safe" fish we put in out tanks. Mine are pretty aggressive towards each other and have tried it on other fish but I haven't had anything turn and run from them so the clowns usually back down.

Do they host the same area without fighting each other? If so they may not both be females. Usually established females don't tolerate each other. Maybe they need time out in the sump for a while so the other fish can establish territories in the tank?

 

[NanoReefer411]

Hi. Well, my black clown has been with me for 4 years. The orange clown I got from a friend who had it for 8 years. Don't they always turn female while they are alone? Michael came over and said they are both female. I think a time out in the sump might help a bit. I think I will move their homes too. They do host together without fighting. I'm really pissed at them. The orange one is really pestering the anthias. I feel like I am being cruel putting them in the sump, but if it would help.

 

[thatguy559]

try re arranging the rocks a bit if moving their home doesn't work and one of the clowns should change gender i believe.

 

[NanoReefer411]

I just found this online. Is this possible? That one of the females changed back to a male?

Types of Fish Gender Change

Not all fish can change sex, but many can. In fact, the majority of reef fish will change gender at some point in their lives. These fish are considered hermaphroditic and such fish have a few options. Some fish are simultaneous hermaphrodites meaning they are both genders at the same time and could potentially mate with any other individual in their species. Other fish are sequential hermaphrodites and these fish change sex at some point in their lives. Protandry is when a male becomes a female and protogyny is when a female becomes a male. Some fish can change their gender more than once, going back and forth between genders.


Read more at Suite101: Hermaphroditic Fish Can be Two Sexes at One Time: Fish Can Change Gender to Increase Their Reproductive Potential http://www.suite101.com/content/many-fish-change-sex-a108291#ixzz13rYZlH1Y

 

[Krish]

If I remember correctly, clownfish are a type of damsel fish and we all know damsel fish are fiesty and territorial. I had pretty much the same issue with a few of my clowns but others were as peaceful as anything.

 

[user 26995]

One of the clowns will turn male. Sounds like the orange one is still female. And removing them from the DT for a bit should work. Re-arranging the the tank a little while they are out of it may make them think they are in a new place and they may not be so aggressive to those that they think were there before them. Once they find a home agian, they will defend it though.... I've gotten pretty lucky. I have a pair of orange ocellaris and a pair of black ocellaris in a 75 with no aggression. My black ones were agressive towards me at one time but not the other fish. I removed the anemone to another tank and they calmed down. I put them back together eventually and they didnt get aggresive again.

 

[returnofsid]

Neither of the clownfish will turn to a male, IF they've both already become female. If clownfish are in a tank, alone, for an extended period of time, they typically become female. Gina, if I remember right, from seeing the size of both of yours, I do believe they are both females.

 

[NanoReefer411]

Hi Michael. Yes, that is what you told me when you saw them. I came across that article and thought it was interesting.

Ipisces-Maybe I will try that. How long do you think they should be away from the main tank?

Krish-You are correct. It is funny though. I thought clownfish were supposed to be peaceful. Ha!

 

[user 26995]

I was told by an lfs that even though a clown has turned female that it can turn male if dominated by another female. Is this not true?

 

[TNT]

take them out and get rid of them....if they keeping stress other fishes, all your fish will die.

 

[user 26995]

Ipisces-Maybe I will try that. How long do you think they should be away from the main tank?

IMO if your going to do a little re-arranging too, I would think that 3 or 4 days would do it.