Normal Tomato Pairing Behavior??

[CockyBrock]

So I have a pair of Tomato clowns. I've had them for several months and for a while they acted normal: no fighting, they wouldn't sleep together but were somewhat close...then all of a sudden they began to fight. The larger one hurt it's right eye (and had her fins torn, etc) so it went to the hospital tank and recovered nicely...but now the same eye has severe popeye, which I believe is from continued fighting with the smaller Tomato. They both eat all the food I give them (pellets, frozen mysis or brine) and still sleep at opposite ends of the tank. In a newer development, the larger is beginning to host a small BTA I have as well...which is rather fun to watch.

Has anyone had this happen to them...where one of their clowns developed popeye from fighting? I've read that this is normal...so just curious as to how long it took to recover and if I should quarantine the clown until the swelling reduces or what? Photos attached were the best I could do...hopefully you can see the swell on the right.

Also..since they're not a mated pair, how long can it take for them to pair up?

 

[clowns101]

Well I've never had this happen when I paired my tomatos,SO I really cant say this just happens or doesnt happen.When pairing clowns its hit or miss.You might just try to get a male clown.

 

[CockyBrock]

Well I have no idea whether the two are females or males....seems to me that they're both males...so perhaps I should get a female, but then again, if I found a pair, I wouldn't want to separate them!

First priority is to get the larger one healthy...and get it's eye back to normal...

 

[Jersey Bounce]

I would move the larger one to a quarantine tank to treat/prevent infection of its eye.

 

[dalston]

Popeye is fairly common when the fish is stressed but it could also be caused by infection. Sometimes the swelling with go down on its own after a couple of weeks but if you notice no change I would QT it and treat with maracyn 2.

 

[CockyBrock]

Looks like the swelling has stopped...and now I'm monitoring it in hopes of seeing some reduction...the fish appears to be able to see out of both eyes...so that's a positive sign...they still fight though...

 

[clowns101]

IMO,sounds like the "mabey female" that is hosting the anemone is become very aggresive and comeing out of the juvi stages and goin into adult stages.And mabey the male just hasent got to the oint where he wants to grow up.It can happen.

 

[CockyBrock]

Well honestly I have no idea....and by the way..the anemone is dead...was sucked into a powerhead one evening when it was roaming the tank...luckily it didn't crash the tank...

And second, I'm not sure if either fish are female...the "smaller" one has grown a bit and maybe it will become the female and the other will be the male...who knows..

They sleep on other sides of the tank and the little one is always attacking the bigger one during feeding times...so I don't know what will happen.

Have you, or anyone, had any experience using a needle to relieve the pressure behind the eye of a fish that has popeye from an injury (non-fungal related illnesss)?

Thanks

 

[clowns101]

I havent but dont know if anyone has.I dont think that would be the safest thing to do.

 

[CockyBrock]

Well I have read online that it can be done....so it's not out of the scope of reality....but you're right..its probably not safe...

 

[CockyBrock]

eye looking 100% better and basically back to normal...

now if they'd stop fighting!!!