WWF Clownfish Smack-down

[-BlackJack-]

Ok, I've had a Green BTA in place in the aquarium for some time now to let it get established in preparation for a pair of clown fish (yellow-maroon).

I introduced the clowns (juvenile - still have white stripes) Thursday. One has a white spot on his tail (I'll call him "Spot" for now). The other has no spot, and seemed to be the dominant "Bully".

Bully and Spot found a place in the aquarium they like to hang out in together, and oddly, my single Chromis tried to school with them (er?), but neither seemed interested in the BTA at the time. Then Bully nudged Spot out of their favorite place, and poor Spot was homeless, wandering about the tank.

I wondered all weekend when they were going to jump into the BTA, and then today (Sunday) I realized¡Kthe BTA was hanging out in a cave that had a moderate current blowing over it, and the clowns being juvenile weren't strong enough swimmers to stop and check it out. I moved the powerhead so the flow slowed down around the BTA, and within minutes, Spot checking it out.

Bully was still hanging out in it's place. Spot got into the BTA, and I could tell it was getting stung a bit here and there, since it was wiggling around in the tentacles and would suddenly jump frequently. Spot got settled in, and was pretty defensive when Bully got near.

When the lights went out, just moolight and transition, Bully managed to sneak in. Spot wasn't having any of that, and now they're going fisticuffs in the BTA. I'm sure by morning, they'll either share the BTA, one being dominant, or else one of them will be homeless again. I just hope I don't find one floating in the morning

 

[-BlackJack-]

ok, learned my lesson. I'll shut up now and not share stories.

 

[Victor1046]

soooooo what happened? You know the clownfish get a slime coating that inables them to cohabitate in the anemone

 

[-BlackJack-]

yes, took him about an hour of moving around in it before he stopped jumping. I guess video would have been better, but it was like a hard-core wrestling match in that anemone, was the funny part.

Spot finally won, and Bully is by itself in the old hang-out and is not hosting in or on anything. I probably should give some time to see if they finally accept each other as a pair and share, or should I go ahead and get Bully an anemone as well?

 

[Gold Stripe]

I wouldnt. I would give them a little while to work it out. Sounds like spot may be the bully now. If they dont appear to be forming a bond in a week or two or you see one losing the battle to the point of not eating or being physically injured then take the loser out and try another smaller mate. Another anemone may just add confusion and get in the way of them forming a bond.

 

[-BlackJack-]

Good point, I'll just sit back and watch for awhile. Neither looks to have injured the other, aside from pride, and they're both eating healthy. But my 5-day-in-the-tank jawfish isn't eating, but that's another story.