Sad clown

[Brieninsac]

Apparently one of my Clownfish jumped out of the tank sometime Friday night. Ever since the other Clown has been staying in the same corner but not nearly as active. He's also not eating as well. Do they get depressed if another Clown leaves?

 

[shifty51008]

Imo fish can get depressed but as for scientific readings im not sure.

 

[seamonster124]

One of my clowns was blended by an RW-20. His partner joined other fish in the happy feast that followed

 

[WerezMiePie]

One of my clowns was blended by an RW-20. His partner joined other fish in the happy feast that followed

0_o

 

[Canneddynomite]

Lol

 

[ThRoewer]

... Do they get depressed if another Clown leaves?

The company of a partner makes them feel safer, especially if they don't have an anemone. This may be even more pronounced with tank raised clowns as they are used to be with a lot of other clowns.
So the loss of a partner can definitely put a clown in a state you may call depressed.

 

[Brieninsac]

I'm debating if I should get another Clown. Obviously my concern is how they'll get along. I've read a lot of threads with varying results.

 

[ThRoewer]

Which one jumped out, the dominant or the submissive? What is the size of the remaining clown?

Pairing clowns is usually easy and straight forward. The mixed results usually come from mistakes made during the process.

 

[Brieninsac]

I assumed the dominate one chased the submissive one out. But after looking at him more closely I think the submissive one is the one still in the tank. He tended to stay in the same area he's been in since. They're both juveniles and the one remaining I would say is about 1.5"-2" long.

I was planning on QT'ing a new Royal Gramma and Firefish on Wednesday so I can easily modify my plans and get another Clown instead. I'm just cautious about stressing the remaining Clown by introducing a new Clown.

 

[ThRoewer]

I don't think you need to drop the Gramma and the Firefish. Just add a smaller clown than your present one. Clownfish are usually less shy if a few other small fish are around as in the wild, no other fish being in sight is highly suspicious and usually indicates that there is a predator around.
It also helps to give the clowns either an anemone or a suitable surrogate (Clowns seem to like red clay flowerpots if no anemone is around).

 

[Brieninsac]

I wanted to wait for my tank to become more mature before I added an anemone.

So you think an Ocellaris, Royal Gramma and Firefish would all be OK together in a 10 gal QT?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[ThRoewer]

Just by body mass I had more than 3 times as much fish (2 percula, 3 gramma, 2 marine betta) in a 10 gallon and they did fine for months.
Right now I have a pair of banggai cardinals, a orchid dottyback and a bicolor blenny.
3 rather small fish should be fine.

Though I might add that my QT has a small protein skimmer and a good amount of artificial Real Reef rock for the fish to hide in (I never liked to use PVC).