unhappy oscellaris?

[beanoil]

I brought home a small tank raised occellaris last week and he won't stop pacing the glass. He's totally ignoring the 65 lbs of rock and swims from one end of the tank to the other, against the glass the whole way. I know I'm attaching a human quality here, but he looks like he's trying to escape. I'm stocking this tank slowly, so the only other inhabitants are my 10 year old yellow tail blue damsel, some xenia, mushrooms, and zoos. The damsel makes a threatening gesture from time to time, but nothing serious and no actual contact. Water parameters check out and he's eating like a pig. Any ideas, or is this normal behavior?

Thanks,
Grant

 

[Random Aquarist]

Mixing clowns and damsels is a BAD idea. I'm surprised your damsel hasn't beaten your clown to death yet.

 

[Random Aquarist]

Maybe the clown's trying to stay as far away from the damsel's territory as possible.

 

[beanoil]

Maybe the clown's trying to stay as far away from the damsel's territory as possible.

Meaning the whole 58 gallon tank? I did consider the potential issue, but this damsel's been the most docile fish for 10 years. He's nothing like the stereotypical damsel. He does hassle the clown a little--but it's occasional and he doesn't really get that close.

Regardless, it seemed like a territory issue to me, too. Any suggestions, short of taking the clown back? I'll do that, if necessary, but I'd like to keep him if I can get him more comfortable in the tank.

 

[beanoil]

Incidentally, would adding another clown be a great or stupid idea? I also considered an anemone (I kept one successfully for years), but I don't know that I want to go down that road either.

 

[JamesJR]

I've mixed clowns and damsels many times before with no problems. Clowns technically are damsels and some species of clowns will put most damsels in their place. Ocellaris and percula clowns just happen to be more passive.
Ever see how mean Maroons clowns or tomato clowns can be?

 

[Slakker]

You could try changing up the rockwork a little bit to throw the damsel off and allow the clown to establish some territory.

 

[beanoil]

James--yeah I had a tomato clown that was MEAN. He chased this same damsel around for a long time.

Slakker--I thought about that, but I've finally got the rocks right where I want 'em....