Clownfish situation advice...

[DudeDah]

So just over a year ago I purchased a pair of BEAUTIFUL Da Vinci clownfish. They were the first fish added to the tank (60 cube). Long story short, have added four other fish since then with no issues but added a TINY Cherub Angel the other day and the two clowns have ganged up on the little guy. I caught both clowns today and pitched them in the sump until I decide what to do. Thinking I may just keep the male and reintroduce him into the tank after a while and potentially sell the female. How long should I wait to do this? Since these two were always a pair will the widower do ok on his own? What are your thoughts?

THX.

 

[smoothdog]

If they aren't too hard to catch again if they become a problem, I would just hold them in the sump for a couple weeks then re-introduce. That should give the angel time to adjust and and reset territory in the tank.

 

[reefslugs]

Did the clowns lay eggs? I find it hard to believe the clowns would attack an angel unless there are eggs in the tank. Do you have an anemone for the clowns to host in? I would hate for you to remove both clowns. You will kick yourself in the butt later if you do.

 

[DudeDah]

Did the clowns lay eggs? I find it hard to believe the clowns would attack an angel unless there are eggs in the tank. Do you have an anemone for the clowns to host in? I would hate for you to remove both clowns. You will kick yourself in the butt later if you do.

I haven't noticed any eggs but honestly I have never seen clownfish eggs before. This Angel is MAYBE the size of a QUARTER. I hate to lose them BOTH but think I would be ok with losing just one of them if it meant peace in the tank and the Male would survive all right by himself. As much as I would like to have one, my tank is too small for an anemone and I was hoping they might eventually host on my Elegance coral as it grows.

If they aren't too hard to catch again if they become a problem, I would just hold them in the sump for a couple weeks then re-introduce. That should give the angel time to adjust and and reset territory in the tank.

Catching wasn't EASY by any means (as the sand bed littered with Birdsnest pieces would attest! I would LOVE IT if two weeks of separating the Clowns from the display would reset the territory. I think I'll go this route but still might just reintroduce the male.

 

[M3P]

I think you could get away with a RBTA in your tank as long as you gave it a little area it liked and kept corals away from it.

I'd try the reintroduction in a couple weeks with lights out and see what happens. You could also try putting the angel in one of those clear containers that hangs on the inside of the tank to acclimate him, but protect him from the clowns until they just get used to him.

 

[kegogut]

If you can maybe redo your rock work a little bit if possible,then after a couple weeks you can reintroduce the clowns.

 

[_E_]

If you can maybe redo your rock work a little bit if possible,then after a couple weeks you can reintroduce the clowns.

This.

 

[_E_]

Btw, what was your reasoning for wanting to keep just the male? If it is because he is smaller and less aggressive that may not be the case down the road. Without a female in the tank the male will change sex.

 

[DudeDah]

Btw, what was your reasoning for wanting to keep just the male? If it is because he is smaller and less aggressive that may not be the case down the road. Without a female in the tank the male will change sex.

That is exactly my reasoning. He is showing less aggression to the Angel than the female is. Plus they are doing a fairly clever job of "herding" the Angel so that he often winds up between them. Down the road I am envisioning the Angel will be able to defend himself a little better than he is now and would have one less agressor.

Unfortunately rearranging the scape isn't an option.

 

[_E_]

Just know that clowns are sequential hermaphrodites. Without a female in the tank, your male will change to female and increase in size/aggression compared to before.

 

[michealprater]

It is simply a territory thing, reintroduce them after the angel is good with his surroundings. The clowns I have swim with the angels.

 

[bigcasino]

don't loose the pair youll regret it later if there still in sump and safe as stated prior reinterduce them week or two if you have a 60 cube you have enough room for a host for them