Bitey the clownfish!

[Scubajoe1]

Anyone else have a vicious clownfish? So he does not bother any of the fish. He was actually picked on when I first got him but I have a bubble tip that he just loves and that's his new home. Just the last week or so after having him for over a month every time I put my hand in the tank to move a rock or reposition a coral he bites me. Does not hurt yet....maybe when he gets bigger but it does startle. Just curious if anyone else has a meanie for a fish.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Welcome to a clownfish protecting it's nem.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I had a Frostbite clownfish bite my hand every time I put my hand in the tank to clean it. She was a big momma but did not hurt. It was just a little startling.

 

[ThRoewer]

Yep, they may bite you if you enter their territory. It's actually a good sign as it means they feel at home in your tank.

 

[JoelA7]

Mine was named Jaws. That info enuf? ����

 

[Outlaw843]

Haha, its pretty common for them to 'nip' at you, its never painful just them letting you know you're in their space.

 

[ThRoewer]

... its never painful ...

I assume you only had ocellaris or percula and never melanopus, clarkii or the likes.

My melanopus bit me so hard that it was bleeding - these guys have teeth and know where it hurts the most.

 

[Betta132]

They're damsels. Basically all of them are meanies to some extent. The big ones draw blood.

 

[Deinonych]

Welcome to a clownfish protecting it's nem.

+1

It's worse if you have a breeding pair. My female Ocellaris is downright vicious if I have to put my hand in the tank.

 

[ThRoewer]

They're damsels. Basically all of them are meanies to some extent. The big ones draw blood.

The only other damselfish that can compete with Amphiprion and Premnas in terms of fearlessness and viciousness are their closest relatives, the Dascylus.
All other damsels I had were rather sneaky mean cowards and would rather run and hide if confronted with a larger "enemy".

Only Amphiprion, Premnas and Dascylus don't care and even attack divers that dare to come too close to their hosts.

 

[AirForceAquariu]

The first time a cleaner shrimp leaps on your arm to start cleaning you is a whole other level of freaked out. Feels like the worlds biggest bug just latched on there. They don't mean any harm they just see something that won't eat them and they can clean.

My Occelaris do it as well. Mostly seems to be a reminder of their existence more than it is meant to cause harm, though as others have said other species have a little more bite.

 

[ThRoewer]

... Occelaris do it as well. Mostly seems to be a reminder of their existence more than it is meant to cause harm, ....

Nah, it is meant to cause harm and drive that pesky intruder (your hand) away. It's just that ocellaris and percula largely lack the size and strength to inflict the same carnage larger and meaner species are capable of.

 

[Deinonych]

Only Amphiprion, Premnas and Dascylus don't care and even attack divers that dare to come too close to their hosts.

+1

I've had dascyllus stand their ground on numerous occasions while diving in Hawai'i. If you get close enough, you can hear them make a sort of barking sound.

 

[lu9103]

I have 2 clowns that everytime I put my hand in the tank, they both nip at me. Thank god they dont have big teeth.

 

[38bill]

I assume you only had ocellaris or percula and never melanopus, clarkii or the likes.

My melanopus bit me so hard that it was bleeding - these guys have teeth and know where it hurts the most.

+1 on that. Mine would get me between my fingers and leave bloody teeth marks.

 

[Dmorty217]

+1

It's worse if you have a breeding pair. My female Ocellaris is downright vicious if I have to put my hand in the tank.

Females are by far the worst for this behavior

 

[ThRoewer]

+1 on that. Mine would get me between my fingers and leave bloody teeth marks.

Precisely my observation, they like targeting the softer skin between the fingers.
I was actually able to catch my past ocellaris female when she was trying to bite me. After that she was more careful :lol2:

Females are by far the worst for this behavior

+1 They are more aggressive and bigger

 

[JoeVandal49]

My Yellow stripe maroon comes from the other end of the 300 gallon stock tank everytime i stick my hand in. Litterally all the way from the other end.

She claims all 300 gallons as hers. Anything else in that water is there because she allows it.

 

[petoz]

Ahaha my ocellaris too! Every time I put my hands in tank bite me, fearless!

 

[Reefflapper]

Every time my Clowns bite when I get in their area, about a gallon of water comes with me. Seems like every time I know it is going to happen but I still get jumpy, my wife just sits there and laughs.