Clownfish behavior

Andrew52984 · 06-25-2008, 05:48 PM

Hello, I just got a heck of a deal on a 46 gallon bowfront tank and got it all established and running perfectly. My wife and I purchased three false percula clownfish(tank raised) along with a deep red linkia starfish and 3 camel shrimp. Anyway, there is one larger clownfish than the other two. The other two are about the same size, one of the two has a complete stripe around the middle the other doesn't so it's easy to distinguish the two. The one without the complete stripe started out a little smaller and now is bigger than the one with the complete stripe. After a couple of days the largest one and one w/out the complete stripe began pickin on the other and now he just hides under a piece of live rock, and when it does come out it tends to use the starfish an anemone in a sense. It hovers in front of it in the top left corner and stays there while the other two swim by an occassionally bump the fish. Is this a pattern of natural behavior, are they determining who will be male and female?

GSELLERS · 06-25-2008, 06:10 PM

yes they are...the biggest and baddest by size will determine the female. the next in line will be the females partner. then you will have the other straggler male who will be quiet and outspoken and most cases they dont stick around long they literally get picked on to death....IMO establish your pair and remove the little guy

Frankie · 06-25-2008, 06:13 PM

I fully agree with GSellers.
Welcome to RS Andrew!

Andrew52984 · 06-25-2008, 06:17 PM

So should i never have more than a pair of clownfish or only have a large group of five or more?

Frankie · 06-25-2008, 06:20 PM

I would see how you do with the pair fist. Once you start to understand how that pair is and what your doing things will fall into place. Take it slow.

Andrew52984 · 06-26-2008, 05:41 PM

Well new update. This morniing my starfish was dead and one of my three camel shrimp was lying on his back dead too. Not sure if the shrimp and starfish were getting enough to eat or what, the clownfish seem to be doing better. The pair are a little bigger so I would like to think they've determined their sex and are pairing up, the other is roaming around solitairily and hasn't really been bothered by the other two that much today. Checked the pH and its fine so i'm not sure what happened with the starfish and the shrimp...

06-25-2008, 05:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Andrew52984 Fire Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 71 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Clownfish behavior Hello, I just got a heck of a deal on a 46 gallon bowfront tank and got it all established and running perfectly. My wife and I purchased three false percula clownfish(tank raised) along with a deep red linkia starfish and 3 camel shrimp. Anyway, there is one larger clownfish than the other two. The other two are about the same size, one of the two has a complete stripe around the middle the other doesn't so it's easy to distinguish the two. The one without the complete stripe started out a little smaller and now is bigger than the one with the complete stripe. After a couple of days the largest one and one w/out the complete stripe began pickin on the other and now he just hides under a piece of live rock, and when it does come out it tends to use the starfish an anemone in a sense. It hovers in front of it in the top left corner and stays there while the other two swim by an occassionally bump the fish. Is this a pattern of natural behavior, are they determining who will be male and female?

06-25-2008, 06:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
GSELLERS Plate Coral Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: BRANDON FLORIDA Posts: 724 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Clownfish behavior yes they are...the biggest and baddest by size will determine the female. the next in line will be the females partner. then you will have the other straggler male who will be quiet and outspoken and most cases they dont stick around long they literally get picked on to death....IMO establish your pair and remove the little guy

06-25-2008, 06:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 8,499 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clownfish behavior I fully agree with GSellers. Welcome to RS Andrew! __________________ If we ignore the environment maybe it will just go away....

06-25-2008, 06:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Andrew52984 Fire Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 71 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clownfish behavior So should i never have more than a pair of clownfish or only have a large group of five or more?

06-25-2008, 06:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 8,499 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clownfish behavior I would see how you do with the pair fist. Once you start to understand how that pair is and what your doing things will fall into place. Take it slow. __________________ If we ignore the environment maybe it will just go away....

06-26-2008, 05:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Andrew52984 Fire Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 71 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Clownfish behavior Well new update. This morniing my starfish was dead and one of my three camel shrimp was lying on his back dead too. Not sure if the shrimp and starfish were getting enough to eat or what, the clownfish seem to be doing better. The pair are a little bigger so I would like to think they've determined their sex and are pairing up, the other is roaming around solitairily and hasn't really been bothered by the other two that much today. Checked the pH and its fine so i'm not sure what happened with the starfish and the shrimp...

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