Clowns killing each other after new light?

[The_Blenny357]

I got current usa LEDs yesterday and when i looked at my tank this morning my clowns were fighting and had torn each other up! So i tried seperating them with a net but every time i left the room they would start fighting again. Ive had them for 2 years and they have been fine up until now. So i switched the lights and they stopped fighting. Any ideas why the light could have made them fight?

 

[kenman345]

I had that light. My clownfish always responded differently under normal lighting vs when the blues were on. It was like someone turned down the lights and rang a bell and said, "Fight!". They've calmed down a bit since then and I have a different light now as well.

 

[oldbones]

I recently switched lights from a "bar" type led that stretched all the way across the tank, to the AI prime which is a puck. The old light was 10,000K plus actinic, the new light has seven different color LED's. The Prime produces a lot of shimmer, the old light did not.

My fish have acted differently since installing the new light. They seem to be almost afraid of it, now clinging to their "cave" more than they used to. They'll come out and swim around, but then act like something scared them and dart back to the cave. They have acted a bit more aggressive as well.

I'm sure in time, they will get used to the new light, but there is certainly an acclimation period in progress here!

 

[hotelbravo]

I have those lights and have not noticed anything odd with my clowns or any other fish when transitioning to those from my old lights..

 

[ThRoewer]

Clownfish identify each other by the shape of the head band (Fricke 1973: Individual partner recognition in fish: field studies on Amphiprion bicinctus).
Those without a head band may use other features or color pattern in the head or gill area.

The new light spectrum likely makes the head band shape or other color features look different and the fish no longer recognize each other and therefore start fighting that "invading stranger".

 

[hotelbravo]

Clownfish identify each other by the shape of the head band (Fricke 1973: Individual partner recognition in fish: field studies on Amphiprion bicinctus).
Those without a head band may use other features or color pattern in the head or gill area.

The new light spectrum likely makes the head band shape or other color features look different and the fish no longer recognize each other and therefore start fighting that "invading stranger".

This was very interesting. Thanks for that info

 

[Mythicalelf]

Wow that's a very interesting read

 

[ThRoewer]

I got his book Bericht aus dem Riff - unfortunately only available in German.

They did actually tests where they took the male and masked some of his head band and then released him back to the anemone and the female attacked him. After they cleaned him up the female recognized him again and let him back in.

They also did tests about the memory of clownfish and if I remember it correctly clownfish (at least A. bicinctus) can remember their territory for up to half a year if removed for that period and then placed back.

They actually filmed all these experiments and released it as a science movie in the 70s.