Maroon Clown Problem!!!

[wastememphis]

I got a Maroon clown fish last night, and a new one this morning. The new clown went after the one that was already in the tank. I put food in there, which the new clown ate... the other clown didn't. The new clown bit a part of the back fin of the clown which was already in the tank. Will they stop fighting?! Right now the lights are off becuase it can hide easier with out being attacked. I have to go to work later tonight and I just want to make sure they'll stop fighting. The new maroon clown took to the long tip anemone the other clown was attached too at the store. They came from different stores and I called the one back when I put the new clown in, they said that the fish will stop fighting tonight but I just need to know since theres a piece of the clowns fin missing!!! Help?

The tank has been up for a month, the water quality is fine, its 29 gallons with 45lbs of live rock... 35lbs of sand and has 160watt power compacts on it. The only things in the tank are the two Maroon Clowns and the long tipped anemone. I'll post a pic of the clown that was bit first... then one of the new clown inside the anemone.

[wastememphis]

Here is a pic of the new Maroon Clown with the Long Tip Anemone... this one is going after the one that is scared.

[mogurnda]

Sex in clownfish is determined by age and social standing. They start as non-differentiated juveniles. The dominant fish becomes a female, number2 becomes a male. Left to their own they become females, and therefore larger and dominant. This process does not reverse.

If you got 2 maroon clowns that have been on their own for any length of time, the chances are very good you have 2 females and the smaller will be killed. If you got a larger one and a small one that has been living in a crowd, then the chances are good that the small one will differentiate as a male. There will be some sparring, and the male will do "epileptic" dances of submission.

[wastememphis]

They are both the same size... at both stores where I bought the fish, they were kept by themselfs with anemones. Though both places said they will be fine after fighting for a day, I don't want to risk anything... I hope they're not both female and one kills the other! That wouldn't be pleasnt at all...

[mogurnda]

Your LFSs are probably wrong, but I hope they were right.
If you want to know more about pairing clownfish, have a look at this (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=215098).

[greeneyedlady]

I have two Maroon Clowns myself, they bickered and fought with each other for about a week and then settled down, but I do not have an anemone in the tank with them so they did not have any territorial disputes to settle, that might be a problem. I had one clown a week before I introduced the second. And though one took alittle beating you couldn't separate them now if you wanted to. I've had them about 5 maybe 6 months now and they are a tag team when other fish get in their territory. Kinda cute actually. I have a 75 gal tank though so that might make a difference as well. Just keep the lights off for a while and keep an eye on them they should be ok.

[mogurnda]

GEL,
How old were the clowns when you bought them?

[wastememphis]

I got scared and took the fish back to the store... I kept the fish which attacked the first fish... mainly becuase it was more active and I actually saw it eat. The other one was bit on the fin and was most likely too scared to eat. In place of the maroon clown I got a ''Cup Leather"??? maye... it looks like a Toadstool... I'll post a picture when it starts to come out, I just put it in an hour ago so it won't look that neat. But when I post a pic if anyone can identify it, it would be apreciated... and if you know what supplements I put in it to make it grow better that might be nice :) The store told me what it was but I forgot it while putting it in the tank. :p

[mogurnda]

Sorry if I seemed alarmist. A few people around here have lost clowns when mature females were mixed.

Most softies don't need much in the way of supplements. My leather grows like a weed (I'm fragging it again this weekend) with just light, Ca, and regular water changes.

[wastememphis]

Thanks i didn't want to risk hurting my fish anyway! I'll post a pic tomorrow

[wastememphis]

Hey,

I found a small maroon clown fish and i bought him... hes in my tank now they are fighting a little but I just turned the lights off... the new clown is one inch long and the one thats in there is three inches long... hopefully they will be alright.. the big one is trying to bite the other one... but like how greeneyedlady said hers fought for a week... i'll just wait this one out.