ok, I made a mistake.. help me introduce new fish to clowns?

Today, I bought a pair of fire fish for my JBJ 28 gal nanocube. It already has 2 existing percula (or ocelleris, I can't remember). they've been with me for over a year.

I turned the lights off. Acclimated for a long while, added the fire fish, then went out for a while. When I came back, my poor fire fish was beaten to a pulp and I doubt they will survive. One of them is hiding, and I haven't seen it in a while.

they left the goby I had alone when I brought it home.

ok, so lesson learned, clowns are very aggressive. I feel bad for the fire fish though! Can someone please educate me on how I can introduce new fish to these clowns without them getting beaten up every time? I can't change up the rock work as they're all puttied/glued together. Do I need to catch the clowns and put them in a breeder's net while I let the new guys out? Help for future knowledge? I am tempted to trade in the clowns so I can get more peaceful fish, but I like them too!

 

Unfortunately in some smaller tanks or moderate sized tanks there is no good way to introduce a new fish to a pair of existing clowns. It's in their nature to defend their territory regardless of the type of intruder. I once had a female Maroon clown that I had to rehome because she would not tolerate the introduction of any invert or fish to her tank.
Your best bet is to move around the scape of the tank just prior to introduction of a new fish, this disrupts the clowns established territories. Remove any new fish that is getting beaten up, odds are good the clowns will not stop the aggression once it starts.
I have clowns kill other young sexually immature clowns, shrimp, snails and even try to move or beat up newly introduced coral colonies.

Good Luck.

 

that's disappointing. now I have the decision if I want to rehome them or just keep them

 

ha, guess I am stuck with them.. the LFS around here won't take them. maybe I can try to put them in a breeders net and let the new guys loose for a few days

 

is it not possible to rearrange any of your scape? sometimes just small changes can disrupt their territory. A breeder's net is a good idea as well. One thing you may want to consider is any new fish you add should possibly be bigger and have a little attitude - I've never kept them but I believe firefish are known to be very peaceful fish - you may want to look at some fish like dottybacks? wrasses? Do you have an anemone for your clowns? Once they are hosted by a nem, they tend to claim that part of the tank as their territory and limit their aggression to that portion of the tank (at least that's been my experience). Like Corailline said though, your tank is on the small side so that may not help as much as it does in a larger tank (I have a 65 gallon).

 

no nems here. Im scared of them, lol.

My rocks are all attached and glued/puttied. I can't even move one piece. maybe if I got a new rock or two? would that may be enough? maybe that with a breeder's net.

I considered getting a six-line wrasse. they fight back?

 

well, I've heard they can have an attitude - you need to be careful though, you don't want a war lol - adding a couple pieces of new rock may help, it's hard to know for sure.....

 

I think I will try coralling them in a breeder's net, add some new rocks. let that cycle a bit, then try a wrasse. leave the clowns in the breeder for a few weeks.. maybe they will "forget" Their territory by then, lol