Clown getting beat up by the other Clown... help!?

[ek9vboi]

I recently got 2 new true percs and the bigger one is beating the hell out of the smaller one. They are not paired yet I think. I put them in at the same time, so there would be no fights over territory. I've seen the smaller of the two do the shake, etc when the bigger one comes by. Then the bigger one does the same. I guess from what I've been reading, they are playing with each other. But the smaller one is really beat up... bitten on the top fins, etc. I have it in a little holding thing inside my tank so they bigger of the two can not get to it. Is this normal for the clown to be beated and so on to a point where it is just floating close to the top? It eats and swims perfectly fine.

 

[dantodd]

pretty unusual for percs to get that far.

What size are they?

Were they both in the same tank at the store?

When did they go in? When did the fighting start?

I don't understand how he can "eat and swim fine" but be "floating close to the top" can you explain?

 

[stykthyn]

spooked clowns will often stick close to the top of the water. some aggression is normal, but to it to progress to the point of bodily damage is unusual. normally just nipping and chasing.
asnwer the questions dantodd asked and you will get a much better response.

 

[sidd129]

Is that shaking thing playing? I had put two clowns in with another two clowns and they did that shaking thing but the smaller clown was pulling the bigger clown around by the tail. It looked like and all out war. It was pretty funny to see a clown being pulled backwards though.

 

[stykthyn]

it is an act of submission

 

[sidd129]

Submission like, I give up submission, or, submissoin like a wet trojan horse and now I'm going to eat you for breakfast when your not looking, submission. lol.

 

[stykthyn]

it will go back and forth for a little while, but the one submitting(giving up) will be the one doing it most. usually ends up being the smallest one giving in.

 

[ek9vboi]

Here you go... its been bitten a lot. When I let it out of its holding today... the bigger one chased it around. So it back into the holding for now till I think it looks better. Otherwise I have to sell it or take it back to the LFS. I saw no submitting while it was being chased around.

Also, no the two fishes were not in the same tank. However they were surrounded by others.

 

[dantodd]

It is not normal for the fish to fight until one is gaping at the top of the tank. That may well mean that they are not compatible. Chasing, even for a long while is fairly normal and he does look a bit beaten up but not too bad.

BTW: I'm fairly certain that is an ocellaris clown not a percula.

 

[ek9vboi]

Oh... I guess this is what happens when you buy from a bigger LSF.

 

[dantodd]

Oh yeah, he also looks pretty skinny be sure to feed the heck out of them for a little while it takes a lot of energy to fight!

 

[stykthyn]

how large is it? they could both very well be females.

 

[ek9vboi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7401874#post7401874 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stykthyn
how large is it? they could both very well be females.

I hope not! they are both around 1"

Here are some good and bad pictures:

 

[stykthyn]

hmm at 1" they should both still be juveniles, but with naturea nything ispossible. keep the smallest one in a clear container in the tank so it can interract with the other until it heals. then release it and see if they do better the second time around.

 

[ek9vboi]

At what size should they be mature enough to be male or female?

 

[dantodd]

it has more to do with age and conditions they've been kept in. I believe that 6mo. is the minimum for them to become male and male to female can be considerably faster, I've heard 2 months but I have not seen any kind of scientific data.

 

[ek9vboi]

I think the two are getting closer, the little one tends to give into submission more often now from what I see. The wild goose chases are less frequent, I guess I'll see in a few days if everything is fine. The smalled one looks like he is getting better. thanks guys