Psychotic/Suicidal Clown Fish?

Spork3245 · 02/12/2014, 03:25 PM

Okay, the title may be hyperbolic

I grow flame algae for nitrate reduction and what-not in my refugium. Now that the 'fuge is near filled and the algae's growth has slowed to a near-halt I'm assuming that now is the time to "get rid" of some of it. My foxface and flame angel LOVE the stuff and it's almost like a treat for them compared to the regular brown/red/green nori I usually hang for them.

However, it seems like one of my tank-bred Ocellaris clowns, after a few hours, begins to "guard" the algae piece I hang on the clip. When my foxface goes to eat it, the clown fish rams itself into the side of the foxface, my foxface then flashes his spikes for a few seconds and swims off, about 20-30 minutes later this occurs again. As far as I can tell no "biting" is occurring and there's no signs of damage on the foxface and it really is a "headbutt"-like ram from the clown. If I take the piece out, return it to my fuge, put a new piece on the clip my foxface is able to eat it unbothered... for a couple hours, then the process repeats itself. Obviously this is the wrong fish for my clown to mess with considering the foxface is much larger and also poisonous.

What the heck is going on? Does my clown think that the flame algae is an anemone and is protecting it? I've put this algae in the tank in the past without issue, however I don't believe that the clown was sexually mature yet (as it likely is now).

risin · 02/12/2014, 03:32 PM

My guess is your clown is looking to host something. If you can, try a rbta or some torch corals.

snorvich · 02/12/2014, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by risin

My guess is your clown is looking to host something. If you can, try a rbta or some torch corals.

Technically, the algae is hosting the clownfish, and the clownfish is associating with the bundle of algae, but the assumption is correct. However providing an anemone may or may not induce the clown to associate with it. They pick what they want.

Spork3245 · 02/12/2014, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

Technically, the algae is hosting the clownfish, and the clownfish is associating with the bundle of algae, but the assumption is correct. However providing an anemone may or may not induce the clown to associate with it. They pick what they want.

So... If I use a second clip and put more on the other side of the tank, will my foxface and flame angel be "allowed" to eat that?

Unfortunately my tank is currently mostly FOWLR and I am *just* starting to try out keeping corals with a dragon eye zoa I purchased this past weekend (seems to be doing well). However my current lighting, while "decent", certainly isn't "great", thus I don't think an anemone would do so well. Plus I'm always worried about an anemone possibly killing small fish/inverts like my neon goby.

I'd really hate to have to waste this algae by throwing out excess

snorvich · 02/12/2014, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spork3245

So... If I use a second clip and put more on the other side of the tank, will my foxface and flame angel be "allowed" to eat that?

Yes. Since the clownfish cannot "protect" two areas concurrently, one will be free for chowing down.

Spork3245 · 02/12/2014, 03:58 PM

Thanks! I guess that's a semi-solution. Will my Foxface & Flame Angel be smart enough to know not to bother the chunk the clown is guarding? I'd prefer them not to get rammed by or fight with my clown, especially the foxface since he could easily kill the clown if he turned his poisonous spike towards it in time (I also, of course, would prefer no harm coming to any of my fish

)

Percula_Clown · 02/12/2014, 05:20 PM

I have nothing useful to add, except to say I love the story. "the clown fish rams itself into the side of the foxface"

My clowns are crazy also. They live in a Duncan coral (LPS) and try to eat my hand when I clean around it...

snorvich · 02/12/2014, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Percula_Clown

I have nothing useful to add, except to say I love the story. "the clown fish rams itself into the side of the foxface"

My clowns are crazy also. They live in a Duncan coral (LPS) and try to eat my hand when I clean around it...

Well, if you had Gold Stripe Maroon clowns you would not be amused.

Percula_Clown · 02/12/2014, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

Well, if you had Gold Stripe Maroon clowns you would not be amused.

I believe you. I have heard they are mean. Mine are just Percula.

Spork3245 · 02/12/2014, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

Well, if you had Gold Stripe Maroon clowns you would not be amused.

I just googled for a pic of one... They *look* evil

Spork3245 · 02/12/2014, 09:41 PM

*sigh*

So I have the two patches of algae about 3 feet apart in my 4 foot 90 gallon tank (the foxface is a ONE SPOT foxface before anyone yells, not a foxface lo

). One is on the glass via a magnetic seaweed clip the other is ziptied to some LR, unfortunately my clown is now patrolling back and forth in the tank and protecting both

ReneeF · 02/12/2014, 11:15 PM

Bet you wish they made the wireless dog fences for fish, lol

snorvich · 02/13/2014, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spork3245

*sigh*

So I have the two patches of algae about 3 feet apart in my 4 foot 90 gallon tank (the foxface is a ONE SPOT foxface before anyone yells, not a foxface lo

). One is on the glass via a magnetic seaweed clip the other is ziptied to some LR, unfortunately my clown is now patrolling back and forth in the tank and protecting both

He cannot patrol effectively, your fish will get fed.

02/12/2014, 03:25 PM	#1
Spork3245 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Central New Jersey Posts: 1,088	Psychotic/Suicidal Clown Fish? Okay, the title may be hyperbolic I grow flame algae for nitrate reduction and what-not in my refugium. Now that the 'fuge is near filled and the algae's growth has slowed to a near-halt I'm assuming that now is the time to "get rid" of some of it. My foxface and flame angel LOVE the stuff and it's almost like a treat for them compared to the regular brown/red/green nori I usually hang for them. However, it seems like one of my tank-bred Ocellaris clowns, after a few hours, begins to "guard" the algae piece I hang on the clip. When my foxface goes to eat it, the clown fish rams itself into the side of the foxface, my foxface then flashes his spikes for a few seconds and swims off, about 20-30 minutes later this occurs again. As far as I can tell no "biting" is occurring and there's no signs of damage on the foxface and it really is a "headbutt"-like ram from the clown. If I take the piece out, return it to my fuge, put a new piece on the clip my foxface is able to eat it unbothered... for a couple hours, then the process repeats itself. Obviously this is the wrong fish for my clown to mess with considering the foxface is much larger and also poisonous. What the heck is going on? Does my clown think that the flame algae is an anemone and is protecting it? I've put this algae in the tank in the past without issue, however I don't believe that the clown was sexually mature yet (as it likely is now).

02/12/2014, 03:32 PM	#2
risin Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 715	My guess is your clown is looking to host something. If you can, try a rbta or some torch corals.

02/12/2014, 03:58 PM	#6
Spork3245 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Central New Jersey Posts: 1,088	Thanks! I guess that's a semi-solution. Will my Foxface & Flame Angel be smart enough to know not to bother the chunk the clown is guarding? I'd prefer them not to get rammed by or fight with my clown, especially the foxface since he could easily kill the clown if he turned his poisonous spike towards it in time (I also, of course, would prefer no harm coming to any of my fish )

02/12/2014, 05:20 PM	#7
Percula_Clown Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Murphysboro IL Posts: 122	I have nothing useful to add, except to say I love the story. "the clown fish rams itself into the side of the foxface" My clowns are crazy also. They live in a Duncan coral (LPS) and try to eat my hand when I clean around it...

02/12/2014, 09:41 PM	#11
Spork3245 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Central New Jersey Posts: 1,088	sigh So I have the two patches of algae about 3 feet apart in my 4 foot 90 gallon tank (the foxface is a ONE SPOT foxface before anyone yells, not a foxface lo ). One is on the glass via a magnetic seaweed clip the other is ziptied to some LR, unfortunately my clown is now patrolling back and forth in the tank and protecting both

02/12/2014, 11:15 PM	#12
ReneeF Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Boise Posts: 155	Bet you wish they made the wireless dog fences for fish, lol