Introducing a tankmate with a maroon clownfish...

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TheSwampFox

Gambusia
MFK Member
May 13, 2010
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South Carolina
I know Maroon Clowns are supposed to be evil little buggers, but I've had tankmates with him before and he's done just fine.

He's been by himself until recently, however, when I bought a Flame Angelfish to put in the tank. After drip acclimating the angel, I put him in and the Maroon did not like having the angel in the tank. The angel has a hideaway he can get into when he is being pestered, but I was wondering if there was any suggestions on how to quell my Maroon's issues... Should I put him in "time out" for a bit and then return him to the tank? Any suggestions are welcome.

The angel has been in for a few hours, just to have a time frame reference.

Also, the maroon has done no physical damage, he's just been chasing him around when he comes out of his hide hole.
 
IT'S way to late to be adding fish with the maroon, she (its a she because left alone males will change to females) has claimed the tank. When left alone, all but the most peaceful fish will claim their territory (the tank) and any additions will be treated as intruders. Ways to reduce this, bag and remove both fish, then rearrange the ENTIRE tank so it's completely different, the put the fish back in. Or a way I have had some success with, place the new additions in a "breeders box" so the current inhabitants can adjust to the new fish, without being able to actually harm them, I usually leave them in the box for a few days to a week, depending on how much space there is in the box for it to swim around, as well as how much agression is being shown. The second method may or may not work.

If I may ask, how big is the tank? As I've found maroons are almost impossible to live with in smaller systems, where as in larger ones they have no problems at all and are nice as any other fish (except when something gets to near to their home).
 
It's a 55... I have a breeder net I could try. It's already getting less and less aggressive. It is no longer chasing him unless it gets to close now.
 
The 2 fish are pretty similair in color - strike 1, the new fish is the only target - strike 2. Hopefully strike 3 doesn't come at nite in the dark with a power struggle over sleeping room amongst the rocks.They don't have to bite to cause stress related illness. Hopefully things will work out but if not heres what I've done-

Add seaweed sheets (Norri) immediately to distract and stuff the clown also hopefully get the 2 eating togather. Add another fish - fast lil' bugger Wrasse or Damsel or something similair, give the Clown multiple targets (like you'd do w/ Cichlids, Brycons, Piranha, Pikes, etc..) If your tanks ready for one - Maroons will host Bubble Tips, Long Tenticles, Carpet, and Sebae Anemones, might cut down on her perceived terror-tory, if she'll host it.

And of course worse case senario (I've never had this happen yet) - trade the Flame in on a Potters or any other angel that's not Purple, Red, and Yellow. And in the future with aggressive fish, add 2 fish at a time not just one.
 
It's a good sign that the agression is dieing down, in the 55 you should probably be ok, once the maroon gets used to the idea. Otherone makes a good point about feeding a norri sheet, and worst case about adding another fish or replacing the flame. Another good point he made would be adding a hosting anemone assuming you want or can handle one, in my experience your best bet is the Long tenticle, as maroons quickly host them in my experience. Had one maroon host two different LTs in the same tank at the same time actually was quite amusing, swimming back and forth between the two haha.
 
Cool, the aggression has stopped altogether now.

I plan on getting a nice reef capable LED light soon, and when I do I'll probably be adding an anemone.

Thanks for the help! They are both swimming freely with no issues now.
 
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