Will giving a female clownfish a mate reduce aggression to other fish?

Coasting · #1 12-25-2016, 10:23 PM

Hopefully its a quick question...
Trying to decide if its worth trying to pick up a new male for my single female clown tomorrow.

She has become aggressive to the point where shes been picking on my Sailfin tang and has split the tangs lower fin, and even my hogfish, whos 3x the clowns size, got a chunk removed from his tail.
All 100% the clowns doing. Not territorial to 1 specific area either.

She lost her mate a few months back (not her fault) and Im wondering if its worth replacing him, if she will stick to doing clown things with him and give the other fish a bit of a break or if she will teach him to terrorize the bigger fish too.
I know they are clownholes, but im just wanting to reduce the amount of fin damage shes doing. Not looking to get rid of her either despite the attitude.
Hoping it will lessen the attitude towards the others if shes focused on whipping him into shape....

Thanks!

spit.fire · #2 12-26-2016, 03:18 AM

It's un likely that it'll reduce aggression imo but worth trying as I don't believe it would make things any worse. It's possible that it will however limit the aggression to an area in the tank tho.

duncangweller · #3 12-26-2016, 05:22 AM

Not much help to you, but that's a great photo

DKoKoMan · #4 12-26-2016, 07:49 AM

I would try the addition as my clowns stick together in their territory. Could be a
change in behaviour related to the loss of the mate. Was the female always very aggressive? Or is this something that has changed since the loss?

Coasting · #5 12-26-2016, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncangweller

Not much help to you, but that's a great photo

Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKoKoMan

I would try the addition as my clowns stick together in their territory. Could be a
change in behaviour related to the loss of the mate. Was the female always very aggressive? Or is this something that has changed since the loss?

I think its more to do with her probably being of breeding age/size now as shes grown since I got her. Its only been this last month or so where she has turned into a real turd. Dont think its related to the males loss at all as he has been gone longer then her attitudes been around. Shes been split from a mate a few times anyway as i bought her as a single female from J&L about 2yrs ago where the pair had their own tank and someone bought the male and left her, which was perfect for me as I needed a for sure female because my male lost his female randomly.

Just argh. My other fish all had such perfect fins and now.... my poor Sailfin tang is deathly afraid of her.

I will give it a shot if the clowns they have today are big enough to survive my tank. Though maybe she will protect a little one....

Myka · #6 12-26-2016, 03:55 PM

Sometimes providing a mate helps, but sometimes it makes it worse if they start spawning. It's really a shot in the dark, but what's going on now (her being single) isn't working, so I see no reason not to try pairing her to see if it helps.

Coasting · #7 12-26-2016, 04:30 PM

All the clowns were just too tiny for my tank

hopefully the other new fish throw her for a loop.

paddyob · #8 12-26-2016, 04:55 PM

How big is your tank. Perhaps it's more of a space issue than an aggression issue.

DKoKoMan · #9 12-26-2016, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coasting

All the clowns were just too tiny for my tank

hopefully the other new fish throw her for a loop.

I find that the captive bred and majority of clowns at the LFS are super tiny. I look at my pair and when I go to the LFS I can't believe the size difference.

paddyob · #10 12-26-2016, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKoKoMan

I find that the captive bred and majority of clowns at the LFS are super tiny. I look at my pair and when I go to the LFS I can't believe the size difference.

They grow. Breeders want to sell the clowns fast. Waiting for them to grow is money lost.