Clowns attacked me while aquascaping

[SuperNemo]

I'm just wondering why my clowns would attack me. I was doing some changes to the rock work and one of the clowns (bigger) kept on nipping at my hand.

i know they get aggressive when spawning, but my guys are only about 2 - 2.5 inches long.

Just curious if anyone knows why.

 

[ocellaris123]

Its common for a pair of clowns to attack the keepers hand. They just want you out of their territory.

 

[Samcro]

a 2.5in clown can spawn. all depends on how old it is. my female black and white will come out of the water to hit me. she is a meany

 

[Vadafallon]

Anyway to make those little beast a little more loving. Hand feeding help at all?

 

[incognitus]

My male shows his head out the water to frighten me. He always bites me when putting my hands into the water. No spawning. The female never bites me.

 

[holmstar]

Well I can tell you one thing... trying to chase them away after they bite you only makes it worse. :uzi:

Mine do seem to attack with less ferocity if I move my hand slowly and don't react at all to the bites. Though, that can be hard if they startle you.

 

[acrohead500ppm]

I have a pair of tomato clowns in a tank I maintain, the exhibit this same behavior.

problem is one is saucer sized and has some teeth !!! I usually can't clean the tank without her drawing blood.... sucks (I bet the clams like my blood though) lol

 

[this is me]

Lol, clowns are mean like that espcailly when they hosting in something and extremelyean when they're spawning.

 

[SuperNemo]

pretty sure mine is not spawning yet. i only had them for a year. cant wait till they do spawn. seek my revenge on the for bitting me

 

[davocean]

They could easily be spawning by now, but regardless this is just the nature of many clowns to be very territorial.

 

[Korrine]

That's why I named my clowns Bonnie and Clyde! For their unruly behavior!

 

[elegance coral]

LOL. I love posts like this. LOL

They're just doing their job. In the wild there are many critters that would love to feast on clown eggs. Mom and Pop have to be pretty aggressive to keep them away.

I hand feed all my clowns, and have been doing this for several years now. When I first put my hand in the water, they may nip at me, but once they realize I don't have food, they leave me alone. I haven't had to deal with those aggressive, relentless, I want to rip your arm off, assaults in a long time. YMMV

 

[Tofumushrooman]

LOL. I love posts like this. LOL

They're just doing their job. In the wild there are many critters that would love to feast on clown eggs. Mom and Pop have to be pretty aggressive to keep them away.

I hand feed all my clowns, and have been doing this for several years now. When I first put my hand in the water, they may nip at me, but once they realize I don't have food, they leave me alone. I haven't had to deal with those aggressive, relentless, I want to rip your arm off, assaults in a long time. YMMV

+1 it makes me feel special since my pair simply "inspect" me for their food since I hand feed them. Once the nibble a bit (its never enough to even startle me like some other fish) and realize there is no food they just continue doing what they do best... relaxing in the nem :beer:

 

[mr.iacuessa]

all clows do this, tank raised ones just dont do it as much, depending on the species, lol

 

[SuperNemo]

mine were tank raised true percs, and since they are in with angels and tangs they have become aggressive.

 

[Samcro]

i have a black and white pair that get me good and a snowflake pair that bites also.
I am fearing the day when my Chryspoterus get the taste. the female is 6" and is tall and thick. she is huge, and the little teeth she has will draw blood no doubt.. i fear the day.

 

[zachstone13]

As others have said, it is quite common especially for hosting and/or spawning clowns. Tomato and Maroons seem to be the most aggressive and intent on inflicting damage to hands that come near where they have chosen to host. The hand feeding trick is the only way I am aware of to reduce the hostility. Without the training that gets them to associate your hand with bringing food you just have to be prepared to get nipped and try not to let it startle you into causing damage to coral when you move your hand away. I "fragged" a grape cap a while back when pulling my hand back after a maroon clown ambush, I was furious... more at myself for jumping though.

 

[stevie-o]

I dip a block of mysis in the tank, and me n' my clown play tug o war lol