Clowns - Night fighters?

Discussion in 'Tropical Fish' started by morrisng, Sep 18, 2008.

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  1. morrisng

    morrisng Plankton

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    Just finished cycling with chromis and cleaners in a 140g tanks with bunch of LR. Went to LFS and they were selling a bunch of baby clown fishes. Bought 3 home. They were okay for a few days. But 2 of them start fighting like tomorrow as soon as the tank light is off and the moonlight come on.

    I tried turning the moonlight off but they are still fighting. Any suggestion on the potential causes? Was trying to separate them but had a hard time to catch them... (newbie in SW Tank :-[ )
     
    morrisng, Sep 18, 2008
    morrisng, Sep 18, 2008
    #1

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  2. Reeron

    Reeron Blue Ringed Angel

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    They are just trying to establish a pecking order (dominance). Once they figure it out, it will stop.
     
    Reeron, Sep 18, 2008
    Reeron, Sep 18, 2008
    #2
  3. PackLeader

    PackLeader Giant Squid

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    It could also be that you have 3 clowns. They can go from male to female, but not back and forth. You could end up with 2 males, or 2 females, and they might end up fighting all the time for the other sex's attention.
    Might not be the case, but its a possibility.
     
    PackLeader, Sep 18, 2008
    PackLeader, Sep 18, 2008
    #3
  4. ollie51

    ollie51 Feather Duster

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    agree w/reeron they are setting a pecking order and if iam not mistaken 1 will become a female and grow larger than the others thats how my maroon&golds went (hey reeron your just north of me iam in middletown)
     
    ollie51, Sep 18, 2008
    ollie51, Sep 18, 2008
    #4
  5. sostoudt

    sostoudt Giant Squid

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    one should become female then the second most dominate will be male(dont women always boss men around) and the others will stay unsexed
     
    sostoudt, Sep 18, 2008
    sostoudt, Sep 18, 2008
    #5
  6. Reeron

    Reeron Blue Ringed Angel

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    Bingo. Finally, someone who knows clowns.
     
    Reeron, Sep 18, 2008
    Reeron, Sep 18, 2008
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  7. {Nano}Reefer

    {Nano}Reefer Dragon Wrasse

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    i believe there will be a fight to the death? maybe not, ive allways heard you cant really keep clowns in odd numbers or something...
     
    {Nano}Reefer, Sep 18, 2008
    {Nano}Reefer, Sep 18, 2008
    #7
  8. Reeron

    Reeron Blue Ringed Angel

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    Damn, you are close. That's about 45 minutes south of me. Well, once I get some corals (besides my polyps), we'll have to see about swapping frags in the future (if you have any).
     
    Reeron, Sep 18, 2008
    Reeron, Sep 18, 2008
    #8
  9. Reeron

    Reeron Blue Ringed Angel

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    Not necessarily. If they really are clown babies (juveniles), then one will grow into a female, one will grow into a male, and the least dominant one will remain a juvenile forever (unless one of the other 2 dies; then it will become an adult clown and most likely a male). If the female dies, the male will most likely turn into a female while the juvenile (most likely) becomes a male. If the male dies, then the juvenile will become a male.
     
    Reeron, Sep 18, 2008
    Reeron, Sep 18, 2008
    #9
  10. PharmrJohn

    PharmrJohn The Dude

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    It depends on what state you live in. In some states, a clown fish does not need to change sex to get married........
     
    PharmrJohn, Sep 18, 2008
    PharmrJohn, Sep 18, 2008
    #10
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