Clownfish fighting, need help.

[ScubaPrawn]

(I posted this in the clownfish forum but wanted to get input from here too since this aggression is out of control and could quickly lead to major damage or death for the fish)

I have had two clownfish for over a year in a 47g column tank. They were purchased from the same LFS and were in the same tank together as the only two clownfish in the tank, so I thought they'd be friends.

Well when they get to my tank, Clownfish 1 attacked Clownfish 2 every now and then to assert her dominance. Clownfish 2 did the submissive "C" shape and everything was fine. They usually spent time on different parts of the tank but they lived peacefully except for an occassional attack by Clownfish 1 to reassert her dominance.

NOW...tonight Clownfish 2 has absolutely gone berserk! He is attacking Clownfish 1 and not letting up. He's biting her, tearing her apart, and chasing her all over the place. She's staying up in the corners of the tank trying to go unnoticed but Clownfish 2 is relentless. This isn't like the earlier attacks by Clownfish 1 asserting dominance...it's like he's trying to kill her. I can't figure this out.

Anyone got any ideas or seen anything like this before? I never would have thought the dominant clownfish would so quickly become the victim.

 

[bhigh]

Mine have been in the same tank for 5 years and just now started bighting/locking jaws and shaking. Don't know why they are doing it, leaving bad white scars on mouths.

 

[biocube386]

Mine did this for almost a year, i even got mine at separate times, mine pretty much fought likes your did it sounds like, almost to where it looks like the one was going to die but it eventually stopped and now 2 years later there laying eggs every week lol.