Aggressive B+W Ocellaris Clownfish

[bruindave]

I have these pair of black and white ocellaris clownfish that are sitting in my 10 gallon QT for almost 4 weeks now. They are very health, female is almost 2 inches large and the male is like 1 inch big.

The problem? The female now thinks I am the enemy and will attack my hand every single time I put it in the water. I would move the PVC elbows to clean underneath and the PVC as well.

I'm a little worried what might happen if I eventually put them in my 28 gallon nano cube DT and need to move/clean/adjust things in my DT. I'm also worried that once I introduce other fish afterwards (the fish I want aren't available yet a helfrichi and a pink streaked wrasse are my plans), they will attack other fish.

Are there any ideas on what I might do so that at least they stop attacking my hand???

 

[cloak]

Sounds normal to me... I've got a breeding pair in my 20 gallon tank and the female constantly nips at my hands whenever they're in the tank. (Ocellaris) It doesn't really hurt, but it's a little annoying. There's absolutely no chance they would except another fish in the tank though. When I took down my 10 gallon nano I put in a small three-stiped damsel and they constantly harassed the fish. I had to remove the damsel before they killed it. The fish you mentioned above might work in that 28 gallon cube, but don't be surprised if the clownfish want to keep the tank all to themselves. (which can be a beautiful thing) GL.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

So why are you messing with her breeding spot, of course she will get po'd at you and bite you, just leave it alone LOL

 

[CStrickland]

What they said.
I heard if you wear a sparkly ring she will bite that instead of your flesh.

 

[bruindave]

Yea I get the idea that I'm messing with the pvc but they keep pooing around and in the pvc. I try to suck it out but at times I can't unless I move the pvc.

Initially I tried to do it without moving the pvc but got worried about ammonia building upsince they are in the qt. They keep pooing a ton right after I change the water too which is annoying.

So is there anything I can do to stop it? I saw someone suggest hand feeding. I'm trying not to mess with their nest now but fear it's too late.

The problem of introducing other fish later is understood but I haven't been able to find the fish I want. Can I take them out of the dt and reintroduce them when I get the fish I've been waiting for later?

 

[whitrose02]

Clowns can be white quite aggressive. Our female black used to bite my fingers all the time.

 

[Cdodge1]

I had a BW clownfish pair. She bites my fingers (Especially when I'm attempting to glue a frag onto a rock) and scares me every time because I'm not expecting it. They were the first additions to my tank. They never bothered my chromis, damsel, firefish, gobies, blenny, or other fish. I think you're fine.

 

[dawson1]

Same attack me but come to other fish they friendly, I have a white sand sifting goby that keeps every 1 in check,

 

[cloak]

I had a BW clownfish pair. She bites my fingers (Especially when I'm attempting to glue a frag onto a rock) and scares me every time because I'm not expecting it. They were the first additions to my tank. They never bothered my chromis, damsel, firefish, gobies, blenny, or other fish. I think you're fine.

Same attack me but come to other fish they friendly, I have a white sand sifting goby that keeps every 1 in check,

Just out of curiosity, how big are your tanks?

 

[bruindave]

i tried hand feeding and they looked hesitant and confused at what to do with the food on my finger. they wouldn't eat so i just let it go in the water and then they want after it. i'll keep trying for a little while.

I have a pearly jawfish in my 28 gallon tank so far. i hope that they'll do fine with him, but at least for him he's got a hole to hide in if they get a little too aggressive.

 

[dawson1]

4x2x2 buddy

don't know what better finding nemo or my own tank [emoji23][emoji23]

 

[Shawn O]

Nope, you're doing it right. If you weren't, you wouldn't be getting bit.

I heard if you wear a sparkly ring she will bite that instead of your flesh.

They usually get in a bite of each, jewelry and flesh. My female never bites me, just the male. I assume he's trying to protect his queen. Chivalry is certainly not dead.

 

[Cdodge1]

Just out of curiosity, how big are your tanks?

24x24x12

 

[cloak]

24x24x12

Your tank is about the same size as the OP's, are your clownfish breeding on a regular basis or do you just have a pair of them in the tank?

I used to have a three-striped damsel, a blue devil damsel along with a pair of Ocellaris clownfish in my tank in the beginning and everybody got along swimmingly. Once they got bigger & started breeding though they became EXTREMELY aggressive and wouldn't put up with anybody or anything. I was just curious if this was the case with you & dawson1, although dawson1 does have a rather large aquarium. Having other fish in the tank along with the clowns would be understandable. That's it.

 

[jalisco]

Breaking out the defibrillator on this thread instead of starting a redundant one.

Are the ORA and LA USA captive bred BW Ocellaris any less aggressive? LA lists them as semi-aggressive and I just had to remove my favorite "semi-aggressive" Peppermint Candy Cane Hogfish so I don't want to go down that road again.

In a 45g I have all super peaceful:
Ocellaris
Dracula goby
Yasha goby w/ candy striped snapping shrimp
Tanaka's Possum Wrasse

And I wanted to add:
Helfichi firefish
Black & White Ocellaris

Will adding the BW change the peaceful dynamics of this tank either by its self or by pairing up with the Ocellaris and nest protecting?