Clownfish Break-up

[Brian5000]

My two ocellaris clownfish "broke up" the other day. I think one had a growth spurt or hit puberty or somthing and and just destroyed it's tankmate. They've been side by side to over a year, and all of the sudden...kaboom!

So I'm assuming that getting another clown would be kinda dumb. I am curious though as to what went wrong. Is it just by freak accident that two clowns will grow into a pair? Or is there something else to it?
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Spinal Cord Disorders Forum

 

[Nemo2007]

From what I understand, young juvenile clown fish are hermaphrodites. When paired, the more aggressive one will grow larger and develop into a female. The smaller one, will become the male. Though they tussle, I would hope they wouldn't kill each other.

 

[Brian5000]

That's what I thought too, but my dominant clown ripped the right eyeball out of the other one 8O
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[ChrisRD]

IME when they start out similar in size there is more fighting to establish dominance. I saw a pair of clowns a friend had that squabbled for about 2 years before they finally figured it out!

If the little guy doesn't make it, you can try again, but I'd choose a small juvi for the replacement so there's not much fighting (although a bit of initial fighting isn't unusual).

HTH

 

[SnowManSnow]

likely your clown that hit the growth spurt is becoming the female of the pair. I bet they will be just fine There will be some bullying .. \

b

 

[Brian5000]

I don't think you guys understood correctly. Brain matter came with the eyeball; the clown was dead as of the first post. I understand they fight. My clowns always squabbled a little bit, but the day it happened, the larger clown just started tearing into the other and didn't let up.

What ChrisRD said sounds promising. I really would like a pair of clowns. If I understand correctly, a small submissive clown will hopefully stay under the radar of the established clown?
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[ChrisRD]

Sorry Brian, after rereading your initial post I see what you meant. I thought the fish was still alive - just damaged.

Yes, by introducing a small juvi there shouldn't be much of a rivalry and things should (hopefully) settle down quicker. Since your female is so nasty, you might try keeping the little guy in an acrylic breeder box or something similar to see what the female's reaction will be before she can actually get to him.

To be honest, I'm surprised at how aggressive the female was with the other clown. IME Oscellaris aren't usually that bad.

Anyway, good luck with the pairing.