ORA Picasso Clowns

[DBarsotti]

I've had a pair of Picassos for about 5 months and they have always fought over who was the boss and until just recently it was of no concern to me..
The Larger of the pair (the female i guess) has begun beating up the smaller male to the point where he is very pale in color and extremely skinny.. he just hangs out in the corner of the tank most of the day and when he try to venture out into the tank the female attacks him and pushes him back to his corner..

my questions is.. Should i separate them? I think its getting to the point that if this continues the male is going to die.. I would really hate to lose this fish, he is one of my favorites. not to mention his price tag..


any suggestions would be much appreciated..
thanks

 

[oceancube78]

pics first!!!!

 

[DBarsotti]

well I'll do my best to try and get a picture in the morning but my iPhone is the only camera I have so that might be a difficult task.. Any advice reguardless of pictures? I will make an attempt in the morning tho.

 

[wilawalo]

I would move the smaller clown into a breeders net for a couple of days and allow him to recuperate. This also allows them to see each other without any physical contact, and you can watch and check the behavior. My oc. clowns did this and I separated them for about a week and now they are fine.

 

[oceancube78]

^^^^ what he/she said!!

 

[ian20]

how large are they if they are large they could both be female? but if they are small try what wilawaio said.

 

[DBarsotti]

the fish aren't that large at all.. here are some seriously poor quality pictures i tried to take with my phone..

the larger female is in front.. smaller male in the back

the little male hiding in his corner..

 

[Arati]

is the male dancing (shaking) when the female charges him?

do the lock jaws, like the male fighting back or is it all one sided.

when my clarkii had a problem like this was right after the female claimed the Nem as hers. she kicked his buit for a verry long time when it would get to bad I would put her in the penalty box (net)for a few days.

really nice looking fish, good luck.

 

[oceancube78]

okay heres what i did i went to petsmart and bought me a breeder setup and just the larger one in there time being, eventually she will leave him alone, thats what happen to mine and after a couple times she finally let him hangout with her, now they are inseperable!!! really really beautiful picassos you got im jealous!!!!

 

[DBarsotti]

ok so i went and bought a little cage for the female but i am kinda worried about her being able to see through the bottom and stressing out.. any input? heres some pictures..

the male checking out the female..

 

[DBarsotti]

thanks for the compliments on the fish also!

 

[oceancube78]

yup thats the same cage i bought, arggg i hate that string, thats how mine was all up in the water just moving everywhere till i cut it off with a razorblade... lol!!! just punish her for a couple days and if she does the same throw her back in, repeat till it stops!!!

 

[oceancube78]

also try and feed him alot so he can get fatter and see if hell regain his coloration... feed her as well but not to much or youll have a flooded cage !!!

 

[rkelman]

I had the same thing with an Ocellaris pair. I separated them for a month to allow the male to recoup and when I re introduced them they were friends again. Nice fish you have there.

 

[pgammon]

Those are nice, I like the males "helmet".
Phyllis

 

[oceancube78]

any updates on the fighting??