Clown killing it's mate??

Hey Gary - lights are back on the regular schedule today. I think it may have helped a bit yesterday because these two are at it again today.

For food I rotate between mysis and sera pellets for the most part. They also get brine for a treat 3 times a month-ish and sometimes cyclop-eeze too.

The situation is looking worse again today. I've decided not to bother with a QT at this point. She's much bigger than he is, and I think even if he has time to recoup, he'll just get beat-up again upon re-entry. So I'm left with the question, when will I know if I should re-home him? He's being feisty again today - fighting her off his todd's torch (YES - they're in that again), but he looks pretty bad. Most of one fin is gone and he's kind of splotchy on that side - wounds I'm presuming? Also this afternoon there's a small white spot on one of his top fins - stress induced ich maybe?
He's still eating greedily, which I think is a good sign - just don't really know where to go from here.

Maybe the best possibility is to move him to QT while I look for a suitable home for him :(
 
Personally, I would not adjust lighting or anything else. If there's PVC sections in there where he can hide if needed, it'll work out. Any changes you make (QT, lights out, etc.) will just prolong things.

(I'm under the assumption that you purchased these two clowns at the same time, and they were both small, equal-sized juvenile clownfish.)
 
Hey Gary - lights are back on the regular schedule today. I think it may have helped a bit yesterday because these two are at it again today.

For food I rotate between mysis and sera pellets for the most part. They also get brine for a treat 3 times a month-ish and sometimes cyclop-eeze too.

The situation is looking worse again today. I've decided not to bother with a QT at this point. She's much bigger than he is, and I think even if he has time to recoup, he'll just get beat-up again upon re-entry. So I'm left with the question, when will I know if I should re-home him? He's being feisty again today - fighting her off his todd's torch (YES - they're in that again), but he looks pretty bad. Most of one fin is gone and he's kind of splotchy on that side - wounds I'm presuming? Also this afternoon there's a small white spot on one of his top fins - stress induced ich maybe?
He's still eating greedily, which I think is a good sign - just don't really know where to go from here.

Maybe the best possibility is to move him to QT while I look for a suitable home for him :(

Sounds like these two need counseling. You might move the torch to a separate tank, or rearrange the tank in an effort to diffuse the territorial aggression.

Got pics of the tank, clowns, and the white spot?

If the smaller clown gets worse (white spot spreads, heavy breathing that never slows, sores, etc), you can also consider moving the female to the QT instead.

I'd add more variety to their diet, and definitely soak in supplements. Mine also eat seaweed sheets (they grab the bits my other fish tear off), Omega One seaweed flakes, krill (fine diced), New Life Spectrum pellets for small fish, and frozen mixes for omnivores and carnivores, including Emerald Entree and Marine Cuisine.

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marine_cuisine.gif


images
 
Your assumption is correct, Scott. They were two of the smallest at CF when I got them (it perhaps would have been more responsible to get slightly larger clowns, but I have such a soft spot for cute little things!!).

I seem to be hearing from you all that it's very unlikely the female will actually kill the male? Any way to tell if this is an unlikely situation? Warning signs that I should take him out immediately? He hasn't gone into the pvc yet and is currently fighting like a champ.......

Thanks for helping me out guys....
 
Sounds like these two need counseling. You might move the torch to a separate tank, or rearrange the tank in an effort to diffuse the territorial aggression.

Got pics of the tank, clowns, and the white spot?

If the smaller clown gets worse (white spot spreads, heavy breathing that never slows, sores, etc), you can also consider moving the female to the QT instead.

I'll see about pics..... all I have is my phone camera though.
I hadn't thought about taking the female out - that's a new possibility!
I'll look into these food options too - I guess I thought that the four diff. foods would be enough variation (but I know I would get sick of only 4 things!).
 
suggestion:

suggestion:

stop watching the fish :)

fwiw this behavior sounds normal to me. One fish must establish dominance over the other.
 
Gary, I read your post to my husband and he laughed out loud....

Here are some pics for TripleT - they're the best I could do, sorry.....

My little injured male:

cd1.jpg


For size comparison - she's a bit closer to the camera, but it's pretty accurate:

cd2.jpg


I don't have a recent FTS - you can check out my thread to get an idea of tank lay-out:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1845092
Most recent FTS is at the top of the second page.
 
I can't really make out the wounds. Could they be from coral stings? As noted I've paired several up and have not seen serious wounds occur. In terms of size one definitely looks like a female .I doubt the other is since you bought them small.
I'd be worried about that special torch I hate to see them irritate it. It doesn't usually harm a euphylia and they often host them but I'd still be nervous about a special coral.Moving it might also lessen the aggression if they are fighting for that spot.
 
Thanks Gary :)

Right Kat and Tom - I will probably move the coral tomorrow. I have been super busy at work the past few weeks and have to make it through today before I have a nice chunk of time. Then all my neglected pets (husband, dog, turtles and tank) will get proper attention again!

Tom - you mention that it's unlikely that the small one is female. Does that mean that this is a possibility? The smaller one is definitely losing, but fighting hard. I'm only asking because the little one was dominant for 4 out of the 5 months that I had them. I actually thought months ago that the pecking order had been established - only opposite what it is now.
 
I don't think it's a female but anything is possible.Maybe it's just still trying to be one.
 
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