[oohfishyfishy]

Hi! I have two false percula clowns in a tank with several other fish. Over the last 4-5 days, one of the clowns has been chasing the other around the tank nonstop. (Prior to the last week, they seemed to get along just fine-- staying together all of the time) After reading online, I'm thinking this is part of the pairing process?? My concern is this: The clown who is being chased is now very weak, won't eat, breaths heavily, has nipped fins, and, seems very dull in color. I called a salt water shop to get advice, and they suggested removing the "bully" clown for a week or two to let the other one heal. Problem is, we could not catch the bully clown!! I just removed the weak clown and put it in a QT. Is this an ok thing to do? Am I messing up their pairing process by doing this?

Thanks for your help!!!

[robe25m]

Such is in the life of clowns...Your tank is a 75g if its stocked with LR hopefully he can hide out...

Clowns of even size will scrap and most times never pair, if his fins are getting nipped bad news here!!!

I have had success pairing clowns by buying one slightly smaller, Placing him in the QT may make it worse as when he goes back alpha clown may fully own that tank....

Percs are not all that user friendly, if you wish mulitple clowns maybe you should go with Ocellaris Clownfish

I would bring the clown to health in qt and return him.

[Taras1]

IMHO, the best way to get clowns is to purchase tank raised juveniles. I've had both Tomato Clowns and Maroon Clowns. Both introduced as juveniles.

My current tank has 3 Maroons, supposedly the most aggressive species. I introduced them as same sized juveniles. It's been 6 months and they've developed into a dominant female (the largest), a dominant male (next larger) and a subdominant male (smallest). They live happily in their BTA.

[rlcline76]

Yeah, the beat up clown needs R & R. There is some violence to pairing, but I don't like it when you say that someone is losing color, won't eat, breathing heavy. Sounds like you might have more than one thing going on.
First off, were these fish quarantined? Is your ailing fish still breathing heavy now that it isn't swimming for its life? If this fish had any parasites when it entered your tank, the stress of being attacked by the other clown may have created an ideal situation in which disease can take over. Loss of color, lethargy, heavy respiration are textbook symptoms of ich. It is good that you removed him from the display, just in case. You might want to see about giving that other fish the boot, too. Aggression is normal with clownfish, but being a complete butthead should never be acceptable. You might find yourself dealing with it later as you put other fish in the tank.
Is it possible to get a picture of your hurt fish? I am working on a project.

[oohfishyfishy]

I did take the weaker fish out and put him in QT. I purchased the two clowns several months ago and they've done well since then--except for this recent "episode". Since being in the QT tank, the weak clown seems a little relieved-- he's eating, no longer breathing heavily, and his color appears to be gradually brightening up. His fins still look somewhat rough around the edges. I'll continue to get him back to good health and then try to move him back to the main tank. If it looks like it's going to happen again, I may have to remove the other one for good--like you suggested. Thanks for your input!!!