Lip locked true percs?? With pics.

[spleify]

I recently purchased a new true percula, I already had one in the tank. The new one is very healthy and is eating, but the old one just will not leave the new one alone. They fight like crazy. They fight, bite, and get head to head like in a face off, and then they lock lips for like 20-25 seconds. I'm pretty sure this isn't normal. Are they hurting each other? Are they just not compatible? I have two false percs in there also and they could care less about the new addition. Thanks in advance for any help.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/117519LL_Perc_2__Medium_.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/117519LL_Perc_1__Medium_.JPG

[jmait769]

spleify - This thread started by JHardman may help you understand their behavior: <a href="http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=215098
" target="_blank">Pairing Your Clownfish</a>
Also, you may want to post this in the <a href="http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=36
" target="_blank">Anemones & Clownfish Forum</a>.

HTH

Jay

[Reefmack]

Reminds me of the behavior of my cichlids (freshwater). In that case it's a case of determining dominance.

[TomRep]

The new one you added, was t in a tank by itself? If not, was it the largest out of the tank? A harsh pairing like this could mean you have 2 females. I've paired many percs and Osc. and had no harsh outbreaks UNLESS I had 2 females. Good luck!
Tom

[Jim_Leyland]

didn't think you could have 2 different types of clowns in 1 tank? they are probably just determining dominance like said above.. is it possible to have a school of clowns? that would be cool

[papagimp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9868587#post9868587 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jim_Leyland
is it possible to have a school of clowns? that would be cool

Ocellaris would have a better chance from what I understand at forming small "schools" of sorts, but would require a very large tank to keep this type of behavior. In some parts of the Bangaii Islands, groups of clowns and bangaii's will host together in large anemones seemingly without confrontation. Not something I would personally try to recreate in my home aquarium, no where near big enough. And natrually, big differences between fish living in a wide open reef vs. being cramed in a tiny glass cage.

[coast2coast7390]

woow thats wierd

[jepuskar]

Maybe they are just getting FREAKY!! Doing the horizontal clownfish dance....ohh yeah baby...put a little clown fish on me...whoaaahhhhhh

[jarhead714]

this is exactly what my cichlids do in my 90gln fw tank. It is a dominance issue. they way it is always solved with cichlids is to change the environment around. fish get used to a certain area and in time it becomes their territory. move a few rocks around if you can and it should calm the older one down.
With my cichlids i usually also see it more when there are babies around or a female is knocked up! and in that case dont move anything around. so take a close look and good luck and if u see babies well congrats!