Clownfish attacking shrimp pic inside

msmaiae

New member
Im still new to this and was wondering what should I do, if anything? It has been going on for a while now. I had the shrimp first since Jan. Got the clownfish last month. Is this normal?


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Kinda hard to tell from the pic what is going on. Occelaris are probably the least territorial clowns, but it looks like that might be a very small tank? Can't tell from pic. That shrimp has claws for a reason, and if it is hungry enough it could very easily take a shot. Frankly, my money would be on the shrimp. Most people who keep these shrimp don't report problems, but many do.

Is this a solo clown? Pairs can be much more protective of each other, and can be quite aggressive especially if they have a clutch. Mine have no problem attacking my hands if I get near their eggs. Only rarely have I seen an aggressive solo occelaris.
 
Yes the fish is solo and very aggressive. It wont leave the shrimp alone. The shrimp will crawl up the wall of the tank and now its hinding behind the heater. I guess the shrimp will be fine tho. Thanks for replying.
 
My banded coral bothers everything in my tank including the regal and kole tangs. I have 4 clowns and at night they are on the top of the tank because of the aggressive shrimp. If I could catch him, he would be gone.
 
I have a few clowns that dine on cleaner shrimp, but I think the you have shrimp is large enough to be fine....until it molts. Then all bets are off.
 
cb? i agree, mine was evil. always tried to attack everything, ate my peppermint shrimps, and made me mad. lol

although my clowns like to pick on my hermit crabs, they will go near them and their nem, and clowns will flip them over, anytime crabs try to crawl away there are the clowns flipping the poor crab over again, its like a game. haha

but i agree your crab should be fine, and i wouldnt doubt it if it was the one going after the clown!
 
YEa I thought it was the other way around too until I really started observing what was going on. I actually feel bad for the shrimp tho. It has no peace until at night when the lights go off. Then it will feed off the rocks but during the day it hides and the fish picks at it. It picked off its antennas. As long as its normal I guess nature will take its course.
 
thats funny, in a way.. my female clown fish never bothers my cleaner shrimp, however when i stick my hand in the tank the cleaner shrimp comes onto my hand, and she comes around and kinda protects my hand by bullying him off and staying by my palm its the weirdest thing
 
I was gonna post something similar to this. My bigger clown (female?) and my CBS have been going at it like Ali and Foreman. I've had the clowns for 3 years and the CBS for over 1 1/2 and they have only started doing this in the last few weeks. I feel bad for the shrimp because it is now missing some of it's antennas.
 
mine would regrow antenna when it molted. but when i had a CBS it picked on the clown and damsel just as much as they picked on him. until one day they got over it i guess and pretty much ignored each other. i really think your shrimp is going to be fine
 
I thought the shrimp died yesterday. The fish has picked at it so much the antennas are gone and so is some of the tail. It looks so sad and pathetic. I havent seen them fight lately but the shrimp just stays in the corner all day and at night when the lights go off it will go to the rock. Poor baby. Maybe my tank is too small
 
Agree tank might be too small and the clown is territorial, claiming the whole tank. Need more LR for the CBS to fully hide in and can get away from the clown.
 
them little suckers hurt when they bit your hand.. my money would be on the clown.
i hate to say but i lost 3 shirmp so far... i had to upgrade to a bigger tank and no problems so far..
 
SAD UPDATE. The shrimp has passed. The clown picked and poked it until it went into its corner. Next thing I knew my turbo snail had dragged it across the tank and was sucking the insides out. I actually think the fish might be trying to get to the turbo now too. The turbo stays under the sand most times and last night I noticed the fish trying to move the sand near it. My clownfish also has black spots only on the orange could thathave been from the shrimp fighting back or just stress? I know I cant upgrade right now becuz Im due to have a baby any day now and I know I wont have the time required. Would like a replacement of some sort to eat the algae off the LR. What can I get that the fish wont attack if I add more LR? I have a regular snail or some sort and a turbo.
 
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