Think twice before getting clownfish!

[monkeysee1]

Hi everyone!
Has anyone else here had problems with aggressive clownfish? I'm NOT talking about just the maroon ones, either - which many (correctly) say are tank bullies. I'm talking about the regular Ocelleris ones.
I have two in my tank, an onyx striped and an orange striped pair. Thought I could add a final fish to my tank, so last month I bought, quarantined a beautiful Pearl Jawfish, and I acclimated him to the tank last week. Well, my orange Ocelleris literally bullied it to death!
Did A LOT of research on line, and talked to A LOT of independent fish store owners (NOT to those in those dumb PETCO chains) and all said there should have been no compatiblilty problems.
So now I have nine fish. But I might flush these two so that might number may be down to seven; I'm that upset. And now that I've been tapping BOTH of them with a plastic stick often, (even though the onyx one seems not NEARLY as aggressive as the orange), they now know I'm gunning for them.
They haven't bothered any other of my fish in the tank, but I think it's becaue when my orange clown tried to go after my Scopas Tang and Pakistani Butterfly once, they BOTH cornered her and gave her the business.
ONE fish store owner suggests getting a Red Bulb anemone, to help distract them in the event I want one for fish. I have the lighting and the flow, but I'm skeptical.
So the moral of this story, folks is - think twice before getting ANY clownfish. They are NOT nearly as nice as they appear. I would NOT recommend them.

 

[Grkgod36]

Yea a lot of people forget that can be complete azz's , mine still tries to bite me when I have my hand in the tank

 

[Joe0813]

I've had mine for 5 years and they only get aggressive if a fish goes near their anenome

 

[rtparty]

I won't keep them in my tanks. I get sick of being bitten every time I need to get in the tank

 

[WWIII]

In my 90 gallon my female was always trying to get to my hands in the tank. Since the upgrade to the 200, she never bothers. They definitely can be territorial!

 

[ericarenee]

Do your Clowns have there own space.. A nice big coral or rock they call there own. one that you do not get near touch or ever move..

I have a spawning pair of clowns and the female is Terrorizes anything that gets near her anthelia coral. Before i put that coral in there it started hosting them. She would go from end to end of the tank looking for someone to pick on.

They Need a Purpose a Place to call home and protect.

with that said no matter where i put my hand in the tank She will Aggressively attack my hand , She goes for the skin between my fingers where she can latch onto for the kill..

sometimes if i am scrapping the glass right when they have eggs it takes two us us to do the job one to distract her and one to clean.

a Reef tank just is does not Feel Right without a Pair of them ...

Question are your clown fish spawning... if not and the tank has been stable and hands out of it for a while.. She might not like the mate she has. you might could try trading him to a friend or pet shop for another male and let them try again..

Just a guess.. not all pair of clowns will hook up so to speak

 

[richieii]

Crazy, 2 years and a pair are busy hoasting a corner of the tank and never act aggressive towards me or any other fish in my tank

 

[Fiver]

My female attacks me but is fine with other fishes. You're right in that they can be quite aggressive. Sorry for your loss.

 

[taby15]

I cant put anything in my nano with out my snowflakes nipping at it.

 

[2smokes]

If you keep just one clownfish thats juvenile and it will remain male than that will not be soo agresive.I would keep the small male ocelaris and would find a new home for the female(the bigger one).The females are the most agresive.Also ocelaris are less agresive than Percula thogh they look the same.

 

[Walla2GSP]

I've had people tell me they were fine getting other fish established then introducing clowns, but yeah mine have all been an issue. My ocellaris singles will take 45 gallons of a mixed reef tank and a pair need 60 gallons. And most recently my 3" Tomato clown has taken over 75 gallons of my 85 gallon Predator tank and started killing other fish in the tank. He is on his way out as soon as I can find someone dumb enough to take him.

 

[Bent]

Are you sure they are ocellaris and not true perculas? One is nice, the other is...the exact opposite.

 

[snorvich]

Depending on species, a mated pair of clownfish will want to control 25-100 gallons of tank space.

 

[CODE3EMT]

As I once heard.........."Clown fish are damsels in funny clothes"

 

[A sea K]

Well my personal experience with either Percs or Oc clowns has been the exact opposite in systems ranging from 30 to 210 gals. Never had any issues with either my hand or any fish and have always had one pair in every system I've had. Thinking back I did have one issue, I tried to keep two separate mating pairs in the same system (210), they would not tolerate each other but never a problem towards other fish.

 

[bowhunterj]

I have a pair of Clarkie 's and they are the worst clown fish I"ve ever seen. I"m with you, I'm to the point I can't add another fish also! I was once told they will be the only fish in the tank within a year. yesterday I noticed them just terrifying a small black and white angle. so it's unanimous my whole family is ready for them to go!

 

[schnebbles]

this is not good news! I just got a pair yesterday, they are small. I'll be gradually adding fish to my tank.

 

[juniorrocketdad]

I have a pair of oscelaris in my 34 that are hosted by a pot, they never bother other fish but the male bites me all the time

 

[monkeysee1]

Thanks for the inupt, everyone!
Yeah - looks like these two are gonna get an introduction to the Tidy Bowl Man soon.
I WON'T stand for paying big dollars for a FINAL TENTH fish only to have the poor thing bullied to death.
I might go with a couple of Cardinals and then add one more fish after that in the future, (perhaps another Pearl Jawfish) and that will be IT for fish. I DON'T want to overstock!

 

[Bishopsnet]

What if you just get one small clown? I was gonna start my tank with a clown but just a small one. I'm worried that of I add more peaceful fish he will go after them.