Strange Pink Skunk Behavior

[dmweise]

I have a pink skunk clown pair. They have been getting along very well since I got them. Just recently the larger of the pair has been running the smaller one off or not letting it in the anemone that they have been hosting in.

Is it normal for clown pairs to have spats like this? Did the smaller clown cheat on the other with my hawkfish?

[ErikH]

The larger ones tend to be female since they are sexually dimorphic. She's probably just hoggin' the nem for a bit, trying to show the man who's boss. He'll just hang out and drink a few beers till she chills out....

Oh wait, we're talking about clownfish!

[Third Coast Tropical]

Is the male showing signs of physical abuse? Cuts/Abrasions? If so, thats probably not good, but if the male appears fine when all is said and done...then it should be okay (hmmm, I suppose that was fairly obvious..lol). She is establishing dominance as ScorpiNO suggested and as long as the male still apperars healthy and the only thing happening to him is being chased, then it is probably okay. How big is the anemone? How big is the tank? I have 4 pairs of clown currently with anemones, in all cases, the female uses the anemone more so than the male, and she is always in charge; however, they all share. I had an issue with my saddleback where the female was chasing the male continually .....the answer to that problem was to give them more room, and since moving them all chasing/aggression has diminished....
Good Luck

[dmweise]

Its a 90 gallon tank. There is lots of room. The male and female are in good health other than the occasional parasites. Last week I had a bout of ick in my tank. The fish are all over it but still recovering I guess. The male, ever since I got him has had a nibbled back fin. I think the female tugs on it.

The female has been a bit more aggressive since moving to the larger tank. The anemone is about the size of an adult human skull.

My chromis on the other had do show signs of spousal abuse. I think the female doesn't like the husband drinking all day.