Orchid Dottyback getting his %^& kicked by Clownfish

[Aquacrazed]

Ok, so I added an orchid dottyback to my 13.5g that already has 2 clownfish. The male clown is really going at the dottyback. It's been just 1 day and his tail fin is showing some rips. The dottyback is about the same length as the clowns but smaller in body size.

Basically this is a surprise to me as everything I've read shows that the dotty could go after the clowns, instead the opposite is happening.

Any suggestions?

 

[Aquacrazed]

The dotty does have lots of hiding spaces. He get attacked when he comes out into the open (which is tries to do often).

 

[mike61289]

Your tank is too small for that many fish in the long run. The clowns will outgrow the tank. The dottyback can be ok if left as the only inhabitant. You'll have to pull the clowns out. The sooner you do it, the better they will be.

 

[Aquacrazed]

Yep, I knew that was going to be one of the replies. Any other suggestions?

 

[alton]

You picked the wrong dotty back to stand up against anything. The fridmani is the gentlest of all dotty backs. My suggestion is give the clowns something to host in and hopefully the fridmani will stay away from that area?

 

[Aquacrazed]

You picked the wrong dotty back to stand up against anything. The fridmani is the gentlest of all dotty backs. My suggestion is give the clowns something to host in and hopefully the fridmani will stay away from that area?

Thanks, that's a great idea. I will try to get them to host the BTA in the tank, they don't seem to want to do it naturally since they are tank raised. Maybe I could try some of the tricks on youtube.

 

[alton]

Also if you can pick up a nice sized frogspawn, they like them more than a BTA

 

[nereefpat]

BTA, isn't a natural host, btw. Something like H. magnifica would be a more sure host. Not sure if it fits in a 13.5 gallon tank though.

 

[Aquacrazed]

It seems the male clown has backed off and the dotty is coming out and exploring the tank now. Eating well too. Looks like, for now, all is well