My clownfish appear to have divorced??

[Lakelivin]

I bought a pair of black clownfish almost a year ago and they have always been best friends. They have always hung out in the same corner of my tank and usually never ventured far from that side unless it was feeding time and they were chasing a meal. They are pare pretty much the same size (about 1.5") and really have not grown much if any since I've had them.

A few days ago I noticed one of them with what I thought was some sort of white fungus growing on the side of it's face. I also realized that it was hanging out be itself on the opposite side of the tank and never seems to go further than the middle of the tank toward it's usual side of the tank.

Initially I thought I had a sick clownfish and that it's behavior (moving away from the other clownfish) was due to an infection of some sort. It's been about a week or so now and I have come to believe that the sick clownfish was not sick but probably was injured. The "injury" appears to have pretty much healed and I have been watching them a little more closely lately and they appear to be just living separate lives at opposite ends of the tank. I never noticed them showing any aggression towards each other so I'm perplexed by this new behavior. Anyone ever seen anything like this or know what's going on?

 

[addictedreefer]

I bought a pair of black clownfish almost a year ago and they have always been best friends. They have always hung out in the same corner of my tank and usually never ventured far from that side unless it was feeding time and they were chasing a meal. They are pare pretty much the same size (about 1.5") and really have not grown much if any since I've had them.

A few days ago I noticed one of them with what I thought was some sort of white fungus growing on the side of it's face. I also realized that it was hanging out be itself on the opposite side of the tank and never seems to go further than the middle of the tank toward it's usual side of the tank.

Initially I thought I had a sick clownfish and that it's behavior (moving away from the other clownfish) was due to an infection of some sort. It's been about a week or so now and I have come to believe that the sick clownfish was not sick but probably was injured. The "injury" appears to have pretty much healed and I have been watching them a little more closely lately and they appear to be just living separate lives at opposite ends of the tank. I never noticed them showing any aggression towards each other so I'm perplexed by this new behavior. Anyone ever seen anything like this or know what's going on?

This is actually quite common. You likely purchased the clowns as juveniles. Typically juveniles will not exhibit aggression toward one another and will coexist for some time. However, problems may begin when they start to become sexually mature. If they are similar size, dominance will not be clear and they may exhibit aggression toward one another as both may begin the transition to female. That is why I would always recommend adding clowns with significant size disparity.

 

[Lakelivin]

Thanks, that makes sense. They don't appear to be chasing each other around at this point. Just ignoring each other so maybe they will eventually reconcile.

 

[HirshE]

I had exactly the same thing with my clownfish. However, one of mine is significantly larger. I was trying to figure out what happened. Tonight they are back together. I have no clue what changed or brought them back together. If they aren't fighting, perhaps give them some time. Took mine about a week to get back together.

 

[billnPS]

Maybe some candlelight & Barry White music in background will help them rethink things...?

 

[Lakelivin]

Update... Sadly the injured or infected clown has disappeared and is assumed dead. I noticed about a week ago that the exiled clowns injury or infection re-appeared about a week ago and he was staying in the rocks but would come out at feeding time and was eating but today he is nowhere to be found.

I still don't know what happened but if I had to bet I would say that he probably died from injuries but I guess I will never know. Should I buy another clown and see/hope they pair up?