Clown trouble?

I had a pair of false perc clowns. A few weeks ago one clown jumped out of a small hole in my canopy. I bought another false perc yesterday. It is probably half the size of the one in the tank. Instead of being grateful of the new friend I provided my existing clown is has been nipping the new guy. Is there hope that they will stop or should I remove the new one?

 

He's looking pretty stressed already.

 

Change up some of the rock work, even a little.

Turn off the lights.

If you see actual fin damage then it's time to remove the old one and stick it in the sump or breeder box for a day or two to allow the new one time to acclimate.

 

Thanks I will put him in the sump if I can catch him

 

That's too be expected. The larger one is asserting dominance over the smaller one. This is how they pair up.

 

He's got a broken heart and is cranky. Too be expected after loss of a mate

 

The little one has been beat up pretty bad and I haven't been able to catch the other so I put the little one in the sump. My plan is to let him rest for a day or two until I can catch the other and switch them.

 

I have had more than one clown kill a new introduction. Nature of the best. The new clown may not know how to be subservient enough to suit the female or she may just not like him for what ever reason we humans do not understand.

Once a clown is cowering in the corner or show fin damage it's usually time for intervention.

Not all clowns accept the introduction of any old new clown, understandable, but easy to remedy in most cases with slow introductions and changing of territories.

 

What do you mean by slow introductions?

 

Breeder boxes.

A large established female may or may not take to a new introduction.

Sometime if you put the new one in a breed box for a few days, change up some of the rock on the last day the female maybe more accepting.

Sometimes you have to remove the female and give the new clown a chance to acclimate.

It has been my experience that bullied younger introductions are more prone to succumbing to marine ich and stop eating. Rarely have I been able to rescue a clown in that condition.

A new small clown stands no chance against an established large female if she is non accepting of the new addition.