Clown nooby question

[rustyjames]

Got my first Occellaris back in November at a little over an inch. Was going to wait a good six or eight months before adding a second smaller one but my wife (the sweetheart she is) bought me another for Valentines day.

I was a little worried that the second clown was only slightly smaller than the first there might be aggression but they've been fine (bonded pair I guess). Till tonight, they're really going after each other. More so in a playful way, no nipped fins or anything but is this normal?

 

[stevie-o]

yes this is normal keep a close eye on them. sorry i can't shed more light on this all i remember is that either they are going to fight to the death or become a bonded pair

 

[jbax]

very normal.

it's real soap opera with clowns.

they get along great
then they fight till it is decided who is the dominate one(female)
then they hang around there home (host coral or area in the tank)
then she kicks him out of the house
then he is slowly allowed back home

and then they live happly ever after...:love2:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=215098

 

[jestr]

+1 with j bax I think while they sex there is some tension

 

[alexandernewell]

My Occellaris pair was fine for almost a year. Both were about 1"3/4~2" and everything just peachy in their clown world until I gave them a RBTA... Then the ever so slightly smaller one decided it was going to be dominate and now I have just one occellaris. At first I thought their fighting was going to be the quick usual "I'm me, you're you, thats that." that comes when I change up their world significantly. Keep an eye on them, look for signs of stress and don't hesitate to separate and let them heal up a bit if it gets out of hand. Do not assume you have a bonded pair unless your sure both fish have reached sexual maturity.

I dont think my male killed my female. I think my juvenal killed my other juvenal. I misread their interactions and assumed the submissive dance meant they were paired. That was not the case.

 

[WDLV]

jbax hit the nail on the head.

alexandernewell,
Any time a new territory is being established (like an anemone) there may be a period of aggression. The larger the anemone, the less likely you are to see aggression.

 

[rustyjames]

Thanks all for the reply's. Definitely some aggression from the larger, established clown but no signs of damage and things really calmed down after I fed them. Coolest thing is every morning I look in the tank and they're sleeping right next to each other. At night I walk up to the tank and they're an inch apart.

Jbax, thanks for the link and I really hope it plays out as you posted.