what's the deal with my clowns

I bought them as a pair back in june or July they have been fine and happy but starting a couple a weeks ago every now and then they start this. are they playing or fighting?

[video]https://vimeo.com/77866956[/video]
 
Most likely you didn't buy them as a pair... From the video, it looks like the two are roughly the same size.. they might be determining dominance.
 
@etphi wrote:
Most likely you didn't buy them as a pair... From the video said:
+1 -- I agree with etphi.

They may have been purchased as a pair, but it would have been wrong IMO to sell as a bonded pair, which is when they've already gone through determining dominance/ gender and the size is not usually that close.
 
Clowns often times when moved will re discover their dominance once an teritorial area is established (can take a few months). Altho it is true the female is normaly significantly larger then the male, there are some instances where they are both almost identical sizes. I had a black OC pair who were the same size and layed eggs quite regularly. The only whey i could tell the female apart is when she was pregnant. Quite the odd pair really they did everything different. The female often times would guard the eggs while the male was on protection duty (normaly its the other way around). Female also fanned the eggs alot.... like i said weird pair. This pair was also my most aggressive. I couldn't even keep snails in the same tank. When i siphoned their tank they would bite my hand if it even came close to the water. I should add that their spawn were perfectly healthy fish.

My point is, They may be a pair. You have to watch if 2 months go by and they are still chasing eachother or one is beating up on the other u need to split them. ive had triles and tribulations with many pairs and 2 months seems to be a good hinge where as most pairs that are still hurting eachother after 2 months will wind up never pairing or killing the partner. and those under 2 months still have a good chance to accept dominance and establish a good working order.

Also as you probably know, Clowns are hermaphrodites, meaning, they can change their sex. The sex change between male to female is much more common then female to male. Although in situations it has been found that after a long period of time housed with a more domonant female a female clown can change back into a male producing the sperm needed to create life. This situation is extreemly rare tho.
 
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