Strange Clown Fish Behivior

[Cantra]

Max and Danielle are the names of my fish. They are in a 20 gallon tank with no other fish. They are both about one and a half inches in length. Max has chased Danielle out of her shell and is now staying there but thats not the weird thing. Max has attacked her basically he doesn't hurt her but he does nip at her alot and has put a couple little nicks in her tail though earlier today i did notice that when she got to close the shell he really did attack her and grabed onto her underside. Usually Max doesn't do that and Danielle will turn back around and open her mouth and go after him and he'll flip on his side and sometimes he looks likes he's having a siezure.

Another thing I've noticed them doing is rubbing up against a the shell that max took from danielle. Its the flat part and its not rough.

Whats going on?

 

[BIGgourami]

i think you may have named your clowns a little too early..

sounds like aggression derived from the female beginning to assert dominance


how long have you had them?

 

[Cantra]

I've had them for 2 weeks. I named them that way because at the time it fit and if Danielle turns out to be the male then I'll be changing the name to Daniel and Max's name to Maxine or something along those lines

 

[sweeTang21]

i agree, usually the female is the most territorial of the two. They both start as males, and the more dominant one will turn to female.

 

[spring007]

i agree, usually the female is the most territorial of the two. They both start as males, and the more dominant one will turn to female.

what? they are hermaphrodites?

 

[BIGgourami]

yup protandrous hermaphrodites