CalebWBrink
New member
Initially I only had one clownfish in the tank. (29 Gal biocube reef, been up for roughly 4 years, all water params are gtg). It's an occelaris that's undoubtedly a female now, almost two inches in length. Well, I decided I wanted a second so that I could have a pair. So, I went to the local reef store and picked up a small one inch and 1/3" Frostbite occelaris, making sure I got the smallest and most submissive clown. Fast forward to now, one week later, and the frostbite is certainly a male in that he never retaliates to the female's harassment. However, he never does the submission dance either. He just kind of shyly dodges and hopes for the best. Now, I would've expected some kind of twitching or something by now, but to no avail, he will not submit to her, he just swims away or outright ignores her while being beat up. His bottom pectoral fins are practically shredded sadly.
Now, alongside that, he has been swimming back and forth the tank full speed, up against the glass alongside it, nonstop since I got him a week ago. In the tank at the lfs, he acted normal and calm. However, he acts like he's on absolute steroids now.
At first I thought that it'd cease, as that's just how clowns act for the first two days in my experience. Although, it hasn't, and he's still being beaten up by the female and won't submit. I'm getting worried about him, his bottom fins are getting tattered. Otherwise, he appears to be physically perfectly healthy. Full, pump body, and eats like a pig. He's just stupid- absurdly so, in that I fear that he's mentally handicapped. By all means, he should at least submit and twitch, right!? He never EVER fights back, he just turns away or gently dodges. And honestly, his swimming is aggravating me at this point. Clowns are not naturally as hyper as this.
What do I do with him?
I tried catching the female and isolating her in a bucket for a few hours, as I read on here that it could reduce aggression. I couldn't catch her to save my life. But, I did notice that while all of the other fish ran and hid in fright, Casper, the male clown, didn't notice and didn't care. I tried to catch him just as an experiment once, and he did dart away right before I got him, so I know he's not blind.
I wish this hobby was simpler.
Now, alongside that, he has been swimming back and forth the tank full speed, up against the glass alongside it, nonstop since I got him a week ago. In the tank at the lfs, he acted normal and calm. However, he acts like he's on absolute steroids now.
At first I thought that it'd cease, as that's just how clowns act for the first two days in my experience. Although, it hasn't, and he's still being beaten up by the female and won't submit. I'm getting worried about him, his bottom fins are getting tattered. Otherwise, he appears to be physically perfectly healthy. Full, pump body, and eats like a pig. He's just stupid- absurdly so, in that I fear that he's mentally handicapped. By all means, he should at least submit and twitch, right!? He never EVER fights back, he just turns away or gently dodges. And honestly, his swimming is aggravating me at this point. Clowns are not naturally as hyper as this.
What do I do with him?
I tried catching the female and isolating her in a bucket for a few hours, as I read on here that it could reduce aggression. I couldn't catch her to save my life. But, I did notice that while all of the other fish ran and hid in fright, Casper, the male clown, didn't notice and didn't care. I tried to catch him just as an experiment once, and he did dart away right before I got him, so I know he's not blind.
I wish this hobby was simpler.
