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-   -   Clownfish and Cherub angelfish battles (https://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1291610)

Razzagas 01/11/2008 03:32 PM

Clownfish and Cherub angelfish battles
 
I have a 65 gallon Mixed reef tank with over 100 lbs of LIve rock that is very well established. I have noticed lately that my year old pygmy angelfish (centropyge argi) has been showing up with flesh wounds and torn fins. Today I witnessed him dive-bombing the percula clown's area of xenia which they have taken to host in. He does this constantly and the clowns fight him away. Why would there be this aggression between the two fish? There is plenty more room in the tank for the angel to swim in, and the clownfish do not bother the angel when he is not trying to swim in their xenia. It almost appears as if the angelfish is trying to hide in the xenia with the clownfish.

Is there any way I could reduce this aggression/territory battle?

ezcompany 01/11/2008 03:53 PM

rearrangement of rocks, reintroduction of the fish

snorvich 01/11/2008 04:25 PM

Anemone fish (clownfish are one type of anemone fish) are very territorial over what ever area they choose to associate (what you are calling hosting). They will protect it especially as they mature where you have a male and female.

Razzagas 01/11/2008 05:58 PM

I do have a male and a female pair. It is not the aggression of the clownfish that concerns me. The pygmy angel could easily avoid the aggression of the clownfish by staying away (the clown fish only protects his area but doesn't bother the angelfish anywhere else). Why would the angelfish keep returning to a spot in the tank were he gets attacked by the clowns? The area the clowns are in is such a small portion of the tank that I cannot understand why the angelfish keeps returning instead of staying away. It's like the angel is looking for trouble!!

revstu 01/11/2008 10:33 PM

I have witnessed the same behavior from my cherub dwarf angelfish and my two clownfish. Its a 75 gallon reef and the cherub will swim into the clowns corner and will fight with the two clowns, get the worst of it , only to come back later and do it again. Sometimes the cherub gets torn up pretty good. He will then quit for a couple of weeks and then start all over again. Been doing this for over a year.

Razzagas 01/11/2008 11:42 PM

That's exactly the same behavior I have witnessed...Is there anything that can be done?


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