Clowns gone wild...

navychief · 04/29/2009, 06:52 PM

I have three of four clown fish that have been in my tank for almost 2 years without any issues. The fourth clown fish was added about 4-5 months ago to replace one that decided tank life was too cruel, thereby taking the air dive to the floor.

Just within the past few days I noticed that three of the clowns are chasing the fourth, so now the fourth hides behind the overflow box or under a piece of LR. The one being picked on is not the newest fish, but it has become the smallest of the four.

Any ideas why the sudden change in the three clowns going wild on the fourth? A lot of shaking and chasing!

marcj · 04/29/2009, 06:57 PM

he has aids

Rendos · 04/29/2009, 07:30 PM

Maybe that is why the other one ended up in the floor. Maybe the other three harassed it and it ended up jumping out. If the 3 are getting along, just leave those together and remove the fourth clown.

Blown76mav · 04/29/2009, 07:36 PM

If you added a fourth clown there is a possibility that you have two females in the tank and they are trying to beat the other into submission.

Toddrtrex · 04/29/2009, 09:00 PM

This is what normally happens when more then 2 clowns are in a tank. As they mature a pair will be formed, and they will slowly take out the smallest one. The odds are good that the 4th one will be killed, and then the 3rd one will be too.

navychief · 04/30/2009, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by marcj
he has aids

funny

navychief · 04/30/2009, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toddrtrex
This is what normally happens when more then 2 clowns are in a tank. As they mature a pair will be formed, and they will slowly take out the smallest one. The odds are good that the 4th one will be killed, and then the 3rd one will be too.

I guess we'll let it ride out. If I lose the fish, so be it. My only option is to take it to my LFS.

DgenR8 · 04/30/2009, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by marcj
he has aids

Because you're new here, I'm going to give you a pass. Do not expect another.

patsfan1130 · 04/30/2009, 06:25 AM

I agree with the above. 1 (if not 2) will ultimately be taken out by the bonded pair. It's what clowns do. In my opinion....the right thing to do here would be to remove them to avoid their untimely demise. This hobby is about creating a safe habitat for our livestock. Not the other way around.

*steps off soap box*

snorvich · 04/30/2009, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toddrtrex
This is what normally happens when more then 2 clowns are in a tank. As they mature a pair will be formed, and they will slowly take out the smallest one. The odds are good that the 4th one will be killed, and then the 3rd one will be too.

Absolutely right on. It always works this way.

JEFFR259 · 04/30/2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DgenR8
Because you're new here, I'm going to give you a pass. Do not expect another.

Even that's generous....

IslandCrow · 04/30/2009, 11:08 AM

I'm guessing we're talking about either Percula or Ocellaris clownfish, as most other clownfish will not tolerate even a third clownfish of any species in anything except a very large tank. It is also not uncommon for some clownfish to accept multiple same species fish while they are juveniles, but then start harassing them once they've reached sexual maturity. Perculas and Ocellaris will sometimes continue to accept a 3rd juvenile clownfish, but from what I've heard (and seen), that generally doesn't last forever.

Personally, I don't think you should be so nonchalant about potentially losing a fish because you've put it in a hostile environment. You really need to do the responsible thing and bring two of them back to the store. You generally won't get the full price you paid, but if nothing else, you're going to get 0 if (and probably when) they die.

navychief · 04/30/2009, 02:45 PM

Don't get me wrong. I don't want to 'lose a fish.' And either way I look at it, I'm out of the cash spent for the clown. I just find it rather unusual that they've lived in harmony for almost 2 years...and now this.

Maybe I can ask my LFS if they'd be willing to give me a trade?

navychief · 04/30/2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by IslandCrow
I'm guessing we're talking about either Percula or Ocellaris clownfish, as most other clownfish will not tolerate even a third clownfish of any species in anything except a very large tank. It is also not uncommon for some clownfish to accept multiple same species fish while they are juveniles, but then start harassing them once they've reached sexual maturity. Perculas and Ocellaris will sometimes continue to accept a 3rd juvenile clownfish, but from what I've heard (and seen), that generally doesn't last forever.

Personally, I don't think you should be so nonchalant about potentially losing a fish because you've put it in a hostile environment. You really need to do the responsible thing and bring two of them back to the store. You generally won't get the full price you paid, but if nothing else, you're going to get 0 if (and probably when) they die.

No more issues. My LFS took him off my hands. We'll see how three do together.

04/29/2009, 06:52 PM	#1
navychief "Shellback" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 541	Clowns gone wild... I have three of four clown fish that have been in my tank for almost 2 years without any issues. The fourth clown fish was added about 4-5 months ago to replace one that decided tank life was too cruel, thereby taking the air dive to the floor. Just within the past few days I noticed that three of the clowns are chasing the fourth, so now the fourth hides behind the overflow box or under a piece of LR. The one being picked on is not the newest fish, but it has become the smallest of the four. Any ideas why the sudden change in the three clowns going wild on the fourth? A lot of shaking and chasing! __________________ CadLights 70G, Radion XR30W Pro, 2 MP 10, Apexs, .25 HP chiller, 3 TLF reactors w/ Carbon/Bioballs, PM Kalk reactor, 24" Giesemann w/4 Actinic T5s/250W 15000K HQI, PM R30 Fuge, Cone-S Skimmer, RS Salt Current Tank Info: 1 Paracanthurus; 2 False Percula; 1 Monacanthidae; 1 Blue Chrysiptera cyanea; 1 Lysmata debelius; 1 Eucidaris

04/29/2009, 07:30 PM	#3
Rendos Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 5,380	Maybe that is why the other one ended up in the floor. Maybe the other three harassed it and it ended up jumping out. If the 3 are getting along, just leave those together and remove the fourth clown. __________________ Richard Rendos - Founder WTMRAC It can't rain all the time. Current Tank Info: 92 gallon corner bowfront

04/29/2009, 07:36 PM	#4
Blown76mav Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lima, Oh Posts: 500	If you added a fourth clown there is a possibility that you have two females in the tank and they are trying to beat the other into submission. __________________ I thought that this tank was big enough, now I know I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 240g in wall, 150g sump.

04/29/2009, 09:00 PM	#5
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	This is what normally happens when more then 2 clowns are in a tank. As they mature a pair will be formed, and they will slowly take out the smallest one. The odds are good that the 4th one will be killed, and then the 3rd one will be too. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

04/30/2009, 06:25 AM	#9
patsfan1130 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Woburn, Ma Posts: 2,010	I agree with the above. 1 (if not 2) will ultimately be taken out by the bonded pair. It's what clowns do. In my opinion....the right thing to do here would be to remove them to avoid their untimely demise. This hobby is about creating a safe habitat for our livestock. Not the other way around. steps off soap box __________________ My cat's breath smells like cat food Member of the Boston Reefers Society Current Tank Info: 75g lps, 90g sps, 120g mixed, 180 nem tank, 300g reef, 600g up & coming reef

04/29/2009, 06:57 PM	#2
marcj Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fleming Island Posts: 9	he has aids

04/30/2009, 11:08 AM	#12
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	I'm guessing we're talking about either Percula or Ocellaris clownfish, as most other clownfish will not tolerate even a third clownfish of any species in anything except a very large tank. It is also not uncommon for some clownfish to accept multiple same species fish while they are juveniles, but then start harassing them once they've reached sexual maturity. Perculas and Ocellaris will sometimes continue to accept a 3rd juvenile clownfish, but from what I've heard (and seen), that generally doesn't last forever. Personally, I don't think you should be so nonchalant about potentially losing a fish because you've put it in a hostile environment. You really need to do the responsible thing and bring two of them back to the store. You generally won't get the full price you paid, but if nothing else, you're going to get 0 if (and probably when) they die. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

04/30/2009, 02:45 PM	#13
navychief "Shellback" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 541	Relax...I'm not a premeditated murderer Don't get me wrong. I don't want to 'lose a fish.' And either way I look at it, I'm out of the cash spent for the clown. I just find it rather unusual that they've lived in harmony for almost 2 years...and now this. Maybe I can ask my LFS if they'd be willing to give me a trade? __________________ CadLights 70G, Radion XR30W Pro, 2 MP 10, Apexs, .25 HP chiller, 3 TLF reactors w/ Carbon/Bioballs, PM Kalk reactor, 24" Giesemann w/4 Actinic T5s/250W 15000K HQI, PM R30 Fuge, Cone-S Skimmer, RS Salt Current Tank Info: 1 Paracanthurus; 2 False Percula; 1 Monacanthidae; 1 Blue Chrysiptera cyanea; 1 Lysmata debelius; 1 Eucidaris