I have two Ocellaris clown fish that have been in my tank for about 2 months now, and there is one that is noticeably bigger than the other. They are both around 1 1/4- 1 1/2 inches, so I figure they're still young. They just started fighting tonight where they were locking mouthes and nipping each other. Should I be worried? I thought I had seen them decide their pecking order when I first got them since the smaller one would always do that seizure dance when the bigger one chased it. Is this normal?
O. clowns fighting?
- Thread starter johng723
- Start date
I know absolutely nothing about the answer to your question, so of course I thought I'd better answer! I did read, however (I think it was somewhere in the reefcentral Clownfish info/FAQ articles?) that when you have 2 females they will fight by mouthing each other sort of like you describe. You might want to read that stuff, if you've not already seen it.
xxpipedreamxx
New member
What size were the clowns when you got them?
Mchembree was right, females will lock mouths during a fight. BUT, they may just be getting the pecking order straight and figuring out who will be boss.
Mchembree was right, females will lock mouths during a fight. BUT, they may just be getting the pecking order straight and figuring out who will be boss.
Again I thought this was odd since earlier when I first got them, the smaller one would do the "submissive" dance by doing the seizure thing and the big one would back off. They would also host/sleep in the same corner of the tank every night. The big difference right now is that they have both been in a hospital tank for the past 3 and a half weeks in hyposalinity and it's been okay thus far until last night when they started fighting. I'm really hoping that both are not female since my girlfriend and I have gotten quite attached to them! Let me know what you guy's think...
xxpipedreamxx
New member
Well all I can say is if they are both female, you can have two tanks with two pairs 
If they have been transfered into the quarantine tank, they are probably just setting a pecking order. Look for signs of the smaller one being submissive to the larger. I wouldn't worry unless someone gets seriously hurt.
If they have been transfered into the quarantine tank, they are probably just setting a pecking order. Look for signs of the smaller one being submissive to the larger. I wouldn't worry unless someone gets seriously hurt.
xxpipedreamxx
New member
I have a female Ocellaris that is about 1 and a half inches and she is mature. The male in one of my breeding pairs is only an inch long.
Okay, so what signs should I watch out for to see if they are both females? I left them there together over night last night and they were both swimming together until I turned on the lights. Then they started to chase each other and nip and lock mouths again. It doesn't look like either of them have anything missing from their fins so I guess it hasn't gotten to that point of no return. I'm thinking of waiting till I put them back in the display to see if they still show aggressive behavior and then make my decision. Do you think that's a good idea? Thanks for you replies!!
xxpipedreamxx
New member
I would leave them be unless one of them ends up seriously hurt. I would also wait to see how they act in the display. What type of hiding places do you have in the quarantine tank? I use PVC pipe and elbows as well as flowerpots.
xxpipedreamxx
New member
No problem
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