clownfish from hell

chromis · 06-23-2001, 10:09 AM

I have a small A. ocellaris clown in my 10 gallon. He started attacking me when I added macroalgae and had to rubber band it to the rock. Now when ever I put my hand in the tank he bites it so bad that my hand bleeds.

Will getting him a large clown as a mate calm him down?

thanks
Andrew

BLUESMAN · 06-23-2001, 10:56 AM

you might end up with the larger one biting you too!!Ouch!!I've never had that problem......I hand feed all 8 Clowns.Good luck.The BLUESMAN

karun · 06-23-2001, 01:18 PM

Wow, that's quite strange. I have 2 ocellaris and they are quite gentle. Is he the only fish in the tank? Maybe she thinks of the whole tank as her territory and your had is an intruder.

Hard to say if a second clown will help.

Karun

organicreefer · 06-23-2001, 01:53 PM

what if the new clown gets it as bad as youre hand?

fdm · 06-23-2001, 02:01 PM

chromis: I think that this is normal behaviour for your clownfish. Since your tank is so small she thinks it is all her territory. I have a pair of A. ocellaris clowns in my 125g tank. They are the only fish in the tank. I can put my hand in the tank as long as it is NOT within a foot of the corner of the tank that they call home. If I do encroach in that area the larger one (the female) tears the hell out of my hand. She's doing what comes naturally.

If you do add another clown, get the smallest one that you can find and keep an eye on them. When I added the second one I had to separate them in the tank with a small speciman tank suspended in the main tank. I left them like that for a week. Then there was only minimal scuffling before they settled in. When I first introduced the second one, before using the speciman tank, they fought relentlessly all day. As long as the new clown is smaller and submissive they should be fine.

HTH, Frank

fdm · 06-23-2001, 02:02 PM

I just wanted to add, that I don't think adding a second clown will curb her attacks.

Neal359 · 06-23-2001, 03:02 PM

i have a tomato clown that does the same thing to me to he is in my 72 bow he is so bad that i have to put a net in the tank each time i put my hand in the tank or he will bit and hard i have been bit by him 3 or 4 time and drew blod each time he isnt agresive to the other fish. i gess no one told him that you shouldnt bit the hand that feeds you

Mikeman · 06-23-2001, 05:02 PM

I think it would be pretty cool if my clowns did that! I also think that it might even turn up the aggresion if you added another clown, since then they will become a mated pair

chromis · 06-24-2001, 07:10 PM

Well, the next time the pet store gets some clowns I'm gonna get a small one. He/she is the only fish in the tank, had 2 chromis they died. I've found that if I grab the powerhead and shoot her with it while using the other hand to franticly work in the tank she will retreat. She still will try to bite me though. I'm still contemplating keeping her in my ten and getting true percs for my 55 or moving her and a mate to the 55. So should I get percs or ocellaris for my new tank?

thanks everyone
andrew

06-23-2001, 10:09 AM	#1
chromis Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lynchburg, Virginia Posts: 518	clownfish from hell I have a small A. ocellaris clown in my 10 gallon. He started attacking me when I added macroalgae and had to rubber band it to the rock. Now when ever I put my hand in the tank he bites it so bad that my hand bleeds. Will getting him a large clown as a mate calm him down? thanks Andrew

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06-23-2001, 10:56 AM	#2
BLUESMAN Citizen Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: phoenix,az.,usa Posts: 147	you might end up with the larger one biting you too!!Ouch!!I've never had that problem......I hand feed all 8 Clowns.Good luck.The BLUESMAN

06-23-2001, 01:18 PM	#3
karun Citizen Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Bombay, India Posts: 126	Wow, that's quite strange. I have 2 ocellaris and they are quite gentle. Is he the only fish in the tank? Maybe she thinks of the whole tank as her territory and your had is an intruder. Hard to say if a second clown will help. Karun

06-23-2001, 01:53 PM	#4
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	what if the new clown gets it as bad as youre hand?

06-23-2001, 02:01 PM	#5
fdm Citizen Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: South Setauket, NY Posts: 100	chromis: I think that this is normal behaviour for your clownfish. Since your tank is so small she thinks it is all her territory. I have a pair of A. ocellaris clowns in my 125g tank. They are the only fish in the tank. I can put my hand in the tank as long as it is NOT within a foot of the corner of the tank that they call home. If I do encroach in that area the larger one (the female) tears the hell out of my hand. She's doing what comes naturally. If you do add another clown, get the smallest one that you can find and keep an eye on them. When I added the second one I had to separate them in the tank with a small speciman tank suspended in the main tank. I left them like that for a week. Then there was only minimal scuffling before they settled in. When I first introduced the second one, before using the speciman tank, they fought relentlessly all day. As long as the new clown is smaller and submissive they should be fine. HTH, Frank

06-23-2001, 02:02 PM	#6
fdm Citizen Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: South Setauket, NY Posts: 100	I just wanted to add, that I don't think adding a second clown will curb her attacks.

06-23-2001, 03:02 PM	#7
Neal359 Mayor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: richmond Posts: 558	i have a tomato clown that does the same thing to me to he is in my 72 bow he is so bad that i have to put a net in the tank each time i put my hand in the tank or he will bit and hard i have been bit by him 3 or 4 time and drew blod each time he isnt agresive to the other fish. i gess no one told him that you shouldnt bit the hand that feeds you

06-23-2001, 05:02 PM	#8
Mikeman Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Watertown,SD,USA Posts: 1,502	I think it would be pretty cool if my clowns did that! I also think that it might even turn up the aggresion if you added another clown, since then they will become a mated pair

06-24-2001, 07:10 PM	#9
chromis Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lynchburg, Virginia Posts: 518	Well, the next time the pet store gets some clowns I'm gonna get a small one. He/she is the only fish in the tank, had 2 chromis they died. I've found that if I grab the powerhead and shoot her with it while using the other hand to franticly work in the tank she will retreat. She still will try to bite me though. I'm still contemplating keeping her in my ten and getting true percs for my 55 or moving her and a mate to the 55. So should I get percs or ocellaris for my new tank? thanks everyone andrew

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