Little Turd !!

I have a pair of Ocellaris Clowns and the male has become increasingly aggressive toward me. He bites at every opportunity that my hand is in the tank. I can't rearrange rocks or even target dose a coral without getting bit. He didn't used to be that way....but....now he's just a turd !!  Is there anything that I can do to curb that behavior? or...is it a problem of "once a turd, always a turd"? I get startled every time and make a huge mess when I pull my hand back and splash water everywhere. I suppose I could wear a glove.   or...maybe I'm just a whimp.

 

I bet they have some eggs they are hiding, or getting ready to lay.

Re arrange the spot they hang out in & that may settle them down.

 

mine started doing that right before they started laying eggs. i just put my hand in and let them peck away until i was some what used to it.

 

both of my pair bites ive had them for over a year and everytime mine hand goes in the tank they get me. ive tried making sure there feed before i go in and they still bite. once my hand is in there they usually only bite a few more then leave me alone.

 

Mine started doing that once... I just flick my fingers towards them so they know who is bigger. I think that teaches them a lesson.

 

LEE....you're alive!!!!!!

Nice to see you posting!!

 

I had the same problem at first with my bigger of my two clowns (I went through lots of shrieking and water splashing, ect). I read some advice similar to Lee's advice here and I started flicking my hand toward it whenever I put my hands in the tank and that taught em a lesson, they haven't tried to bite me since

 

Really?
That's strange - I've never really heard of clowns attacking someone when they put their hand in the tank - maybe yours are sick or injured in some way?
Just kidding - welcome to the "F'ing Clowns Club... /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif
They seem so peaceful...until you put your hand in the tank....

I peeled back a knuckle on a halide reflector once while yanking my hand out after being startled....
-Eric

 

yeah, I swipe at him with the turkey baster.. flick my finger... wave my hand ...and he dashes off....then when I'm concentrating on moving rock or feeding, he strikes back. I've even experimented by lowering the turkey baster slowly in the water...he'll watch until my fingers go below the water line...then he darts out and tries to bite my hand.

 

They mostly leave me alone unless I get too close to their area...like today as I'm moving rocks. That's why the male has been netted & is currently out of the tank.

-Eric