[TreeHugger74]

Just added a false clown to my 3 chromis (small), and after 4 days I come home to carnage...2 dead. Anyone have any similar cases of clowns gone wild?

[blind1993]

how big is ur tank.

[TreeHugger74]

it's in the signature block...55g fowlr.

[TreeHugger74]

the clown was in a 20-25g holding tank at lfs. He has plenty of room, and fed, now in the 55. the chromis were smaller and schooling...so I don't get it.

[e_baer]

how big is the clown compared to the others? are there a lot of hiding spots in your tank?

[TreeHugger74]

i have two seperate spots to hide...either back corner, one is larger than the other...and where i found the carnage...i'm gussing the clown picked it for himself and was defending. The clown is twice the size, and i realize that the larger of a pair of clowns will dominate, but didn't expect it to attack the chromis.

[e_baer]

Try to get some more rock for more hiding spots. maybe feed the clown a little more if necessary.

[TreeHugger74]

yeah I guess that won't be a problem with only one chromis left...

I was thinking of putting the chromis in my QT, but he will still be alone...and if I understand correctly, they should not live alone (but with other chromis odd grouped).

I liked the chromis...cycle fish...but don't want to buy anymore.

I'm going to pick up more rock friday...maybe he will fare better then.

Have you heard of this happening to anyone else?

[rlcline76]

I give my clowns dirty looks daily. Although...mine would have attacked the chromis if they were added later and the clown as the veteran fish. Clowns are territorial. I feel for your chromis. I've aquascaped and aquascaped and they don't care, they whoop all newcomers indiscriminately. I am adding a goby this weekend or next and I have to remove them from the tank for a week or so while I do it. Even though the goby is only an inch long, they'll go after it.

[TreeHugger74]

Yeah...I wanted to thump the lil-bugger on the head when I found the "mess" he made!

So it's good practice then to remove the clowns with the addition of new fish?

Allow the clown to be the continual "noob" to the tank? The chromis and clown are supposed to be compatible; I hope this isn't a problem for everything I introduce!!

[rlcline76]

My clowns have to be continual newbs to their tank...I didn't spend $35 on a goby just so that they could kill it. They can chill out for a couple of weeks in QT and lose some of their sense of territory.
Do you still have the receipt for purchasing that fish? If you haven't had it that long, maybe you can take him back to the LFS for store credit.

[e_baer]

what type of clown is it? If its a maroon clown, they are known to be very aggressive and territorial.

[TreeHugger74]

it's a stub faced false...not a maroon.

I'll take your advice on removing the clown for new introduction.

[jipo123]

Clowns are very territorial! they are a type of damsel. and if you add any new damsels to an astablished tank they will often kill eachother. I have had clowns fight pretty bad and steel anemones from eachother just for the heck of it. i recommend that if you get any clowns get them all at the same time. so none of them are feeling like they are getting invaded.

sorry bout your loss =(

[Dustin1300]

I actually introduced a mated pair of clowns to my tank a couple weeks ago and the opposite happened...I had 3 cheaper damsels I had just got for the tank when it was cycling and they ganged up on the male the first night and killed him...Without regret I took my three damsels back for a store credit...

[c-c]

I have 2 clarki clowns that killed my pj cardinals, and made general havoc out of a previous 29 gal. tank

So instead of getting rid of the clowns, I bought a bigger tank, 65 gal. and put in LOTS of live rock and hiding places and introduced everyone at the same time, including 3 pj's, a dart fish, green chromis, mandarine, and scopus tang, who is the boss. When the clowns start pushing the pj's around, it seems that King Scopus comes out and settles the squabble by chasing off the clowns.

Besides, the hiding places and larger tank size, the clarki clowns have learned that they must not get too territorial, because some one else bigger than them will push them around.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a bigger fish that helps put aggressive clowns in their place.

[navyb1003]

I have just 1 chromis, bit of a bully himself. Seems to be doing just fine without any chromis-buddies. BTW, Damsels are evil sadistic monsters!

[bri74]

Originally Posted by e_baer

what type of clown is it? If its a maroon clown, they are known to be very aggressive and territorial.

I have a maroon clown in a small octagon tank think its 25 gal he has a lta to hang out in and when i stick my arm in there to do what ever he will attack and nip at my hand and arm hes pretty damn mean!

[Fishhead Junkie]

i have a maroon clown as well with a long tentacle anenome....that fish fricking loves that anenome...sometimes the anenome decides to uproot and go into the live rock and hide near a jet...that clown gets so depressed and angry...he swims around everywhere looking for it and if it isnt in a good spot for him...he just keeps swiming around chasing the other fish away...he's only in a 29gallon bio cube....he is my favorite fish though...always looks good and has balls, doesnt take crap from any of the fish.

steve

[bri74]

Id rather put my arm in my other tank with a lion,eel and longspine at least they dont try to eat me lol

[Rainman69]

My clown bullies a niger trigger.

[dori9941]

i was going to get another clown and wounder if i take all out of tank and rearange it and add them together at the sam time. this worked with my damsels. funny, not every one knows they are damsel fish."BTW, Damsels are evil sadistic monsters" by; navyb1003.
I agree but love em lol, do u think it will work again. i have true pec. clown i don't think or did not think they can be mean. hes the only fish in there so i can't tell

[bri74]

if it works amanda let me know I would try it myself so I could add something else

[pete york]

i never put more then 2 clowns together in anything under 55 gallons i have had wayyyy too many tragedies

[dori9941]

Originally Posted by bri74

if it works amanda let me know I would try it myself so I could add something else

will do, It worked with my damsels. <yellow tails. they stoped fighting and tolorated each other. Size of tank always matters, of course.
they say it makes them reclaim their own territory instead of the fish kicking another out of its home