Clowns are fighting!

I've got two clowns that were introduced to the tank at the same time (about 3 months ago). They've been getting along fine until this evening. The smaller one is terrorizing the big one (there's really not much difference in size). I am afraid that the big one will get stressed.

Should I take one of them out? I have a small tank I can use.

TIA!!

julie

 

They are probably just trying to establish dominance. Whenever you have a pair, one will become female (the dominant one), and the other, the male.
Unless they are seriously actually physically hurting one another, I wouldnt worry. Its all part of the natural process with clowns

 

Thanks PL -

I know they do that - I just thought they'd be finished with that by now since they did it when I first put them in the tank.

julie

BTW - Happy New Year!

 

Well, they probably just recently decided to pair up. I would get ready for a good old fashioned butt kicking, but it's part of the process.

 

Thanks Froc3 -

How long does it go on?

julie

Happy New Year!

 

Until they are adults. It really depends on how old they are now. It can last a while. Mine took about 6 months to settle down, but they still go at it every once in a while. I would say expect it on and off for up to a year, assuming they were young juvies when you got them

 

yeah it is very painful to watch. The female becomes dominent and will basically beat the crap out of the males. The male will slink off and hide like he is dying and then go back to her! My female picasso tore the heck out of my males mouth. You will probably start to see one of them getting bigger and this will be the female. Mine only did it for a week or so, then settled down and the female grew large. Shortly after (a month or two) I lost my female, I think to being egg bound because they did the little mating dance. The male would not leave her side while she was dying..was very sad. He would lie down on the sand next to her and wiggle around. When she died he was very sad and he still seems to wander around the tank looking for her!

But I would not move them now, unless you only want to keep 1 clown in the tank.

 

I actually got an established mated pair and let me tell ya, the male is definitely submissive. It's almost pathetic to watch. Yeah....they will get over it. Clowns do that.

 

I agree with this statement. luna

 

Thanks for your responses - I feel better knowing that it's normal!

K+

julie