Murder in the Reeftank

[Anonymous]

I have witnessed a murder in my 100 gallon reeftank. Let me describe the plot and see if you agree.
I have an S Haddoni that is home to a mated pair of Ocellaris Clownfish. The suspect; a 3 inch female, the accomplice; a 1.5 inch male.
I also have an LTA, home to a 3.5 inch female Maroon.
It all started when I decided to find a mate for the Maroon. It was one of those dusky nights when you have to pull your collar up. I entered the smoky LFS and the guy at the counter gave me a nod. And then I saw him, a sleek 1.5 inch Maroon that was just oozing cool.
After the standard acclimation period, I released the clown into his new world. Little did he know that he would only see two minutes worth of it.
The Maroon came over first. He gave the new male a few nudges and suddenly cool was a thing of the past for the new male. He retreated to an overhang near the center of the tank. What the little man didn't know was that a murderous female and her swarthy companion call the center of the tank their home.
The male Ocellaris struck first. He nipped the new male a few times and he retreated even further. No sooner than the male Maroon poked his head out to see if the coast was clear, the female Ocellaris grabbed him by the fin and brought him to the S Haddoni which then wrapped the male up like a December blanket in New York City.
What I observed next would prove to be the defining moment in the intentions of the female. As soon as the S. Haddoni began to strangle the male, the female Ocellaris left the anenome to scout around for food.
I submit the following facts:
People debate why clownfish are able to live within the deadly tenticles of anenomes. Is it the hypothesis of customized mucus chemistry? The hypothesis of innate protection? The hypothesis of thick or inert mucus?
Maybe we don't know, but that female clown sure did.
Since we know the female wasn't bringing the male to the anenome for tea and crumpets, we know that she knew BEFORHAND exactly what that S Haddoni would do to that innocent fish.
The fact that the female Ocellaris and her parner didn't go back to the anenome to make sure that the fish wasn't moving in to their home indicates that the female KNEW what fate had befallen the male.
Did she actually pull the trigger? No. Did she premeditate the killing of an innocent fish? Let me put it this way: If I tie a man to a set of train tracks and leave him there, I wouldn't actually be killing him, but being that I know what a train would do it would make me guilty of murder.
That fish knew as well and what's worse, she shows no remorse whatsoever.

 

[Anonymous]

Entertaining and informative. Well done sir (or ma'am).

 

[teevee]

well done, but i am trying to figure out if you actually put three clowns of two different species into one tank. if so, why? of course it won't last.

 

[brewerbob]

tv,
No, he had a mated pair of Ocellaris and a single Maroon.

The victim was to be the young lover for the old spinster (Maroon). She rejected the young stud and he was left to wander the tank on his own. Homeless and desitute. The Ocellaris saw the young stud eyeing his mate and wasn't willing to share his bride. Since her (Ocellaris) reputation as a society leader had been sullied, she quickly and quietly disposed of the youg up-start (Maroon).

 

[Anonymous]

If you try that again maybe do it when the lights are off....

 

[Anonymous]

Are you kidding, no telling what that ***** would do under the cover of darkness.

 

[Slimjim]

Ya my lady friend did somthing like that LMAo dude sorry that he had to die. id send hem a rose but theres no body to send it to lol

 

[Minh Nguyen]

....... The fact that the female Ocellaris and her parner didn't go back to the anenome to make sure that the fish wasn't moving in to their home indicates that the female KNEW what fate had befallen the male.
Did she actually pull the trigger? No. Did she premeditate the killing of an innocent fish? Let me put it this way: If I tie a man to a set of train tracks and leave him there, I wouldn't actually be killing him, but being that I know what a train would do it would make me guilty of murder.
That fish knew as well and what's worse, she shows no remorse whatsoever.

You are putting human emotions and thoughts into the fish here. All it was, was competition. It was just the mater of survival for the Ocellaris clowns and their offspring. Why should she show any remorse? She was just trying to eliminate completion without even though of it. It was all programmed into her, to increase her offspring chance of survival.
To know and show remorse, imply knowing right from wrong. If the fish know right from wrong then we all are guilty of murder because I am sure fishes have died under our care before for all of us.
I am sorry that you lost the fish but what happened was YOUR FAULT, not the fish's fault. You should know that difference species of clown fishes would not tolerate each other. The older and larger maroon that was in the tank was tolerated because she may be too big for the Ocellaris to do anything about it. The new young Maroon clown is another mater. He is new, he is weak, he is an easy target and he is dead. That can happen if you mix clown fishes and it happened here.
I have a Sixline pair that kills my female mandarin. I remove the Sixline and return him to the LFS. I don’t think that the Sixline was wrong and murderers. They just act from their instinct.
Minh Nguyen

 

[wombat1]

Unfortunate. Clowns have to go through an acclimation process to a new anemone. This is why you'll see them gently rub against it with their mouth or bite a tentacle when an anemone is first introduced into the tank, rather than just dive straight into the tentacles. I'm sure it didn't help that an S. haddoni isn't a natural host for maroon clowns.

In the future, I'd suggest pairing the maroons in their own tank. It's a difficult enough process on its own w/o an extra pair of clowns in the mix.

 

[Anonymous]

I am sorry that you lost the fish but what happened was YOUR FAULT, not the fish's fault.

I am well aware that the fish is dead because I put him in the tank. I wrote the the story with a sense of levity dude. It was either that or put the fish on trial for murder.
I just thought it was fascinating that an animal would use a "tool" or something other than it's mouth, claws, etc., to kill another animal.

 

[Reefguide]

I love short stories ! 8O

 

[AllenF]

I am sorry that you lost the fish but what happened was YOUR FAULT, not the fish's fault.

I am well aware that the fish is dead because I put him in the tank. I wrote the the story with a sense of levity dude. It was either that or put the fish on trial for murder.
I just thought it was fascinating that an animal would use a "tool" or something other than it's mouth, claws, etc., to kill another animal.

Just dont drop a revolver in there

 

[teevee]

You are putting human emotions and thoughts into the fish here. All it was, was competition. It was just the mater of survival for the Ocellaris clowns and their offspring. Why should she show any remorse? She was just trying to eliminate completion without even though of it. It was all programmed into her, to increase her offspring chance of survival.
To know and show remorse, imply knowing right from wrong. If the fish know right from wrong then we all are guilty of murder because I am sure fishes have died under our care before for all of us.
I am sorry that you lost the fish but what happened was YOUR FAULT, not the fish's fault. You should know that difference species of clown fishes would not tolerate each other. The older and larger maroon that was in the tank was tolerated because she may be too big for the Ocellaris to do anything about it. The new young Maroon clown is another mater. He is new, he is weak, he is an easy target and he is dead. That can happen if you mix clown fishes and it happened here.
I have a Sixline pair that kills my female mandarin. I remove the Sixline and return him to the LFS. I don’t think that the Sixline was wrong and murderers. They just act from their instinct.
Minh Nguyen

that's exactly what i was getting at. why would someone risk three clowns in one tank, especially a maroon.

 

[Anonymous]

that's exactly what i was getting at. why would someone risk three clowns in one tank, especially a maroon.

If you guys read the whole post, you would find out that I ALREADY have 3 clownfish in my tank; a mated pair of Ocellaris and a female Maroon. They each have their own anenome's and there is no problems. In fact, the Ocellaris spawn regularly. They are respectful of each other space. I was merely trying to add a mate for the Maroon.

 

[Will C1]

i understand you mac. you just wanted a friend for the lonley girl. better luck next time. nice story.

 

[brewerbob]

You are putting human emotions and thoughts into the fish here. All it was, was competition. It was just the mater of survival for the Ocellaris clowns and their offspring. Minh Nguyen

How do you know what is going on inside of a fish's head? The tank is well fed and there is no real competition for food, habitate, etc. She's already breeding while another larger clown is in the tank.

I say pan-fry her and give her to the cat. 8O

 

[stealyourhouse]

I think everybody here is missing the point. It's not about showing remorse and it's not about competition. The point here is that the female Percula knew that the Anemone would consume the Maroon. I find that very interesting. Either the clownfish and the anemone are capable of communicating, or the clownfish are well learned in the behavior of anemones.

Were the Percula clowns captively bred? If so, it'd be even more interesting.

It kind of reminds me of the Tommyknockers.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

I think everybody here is missing the point. It's not about showing remorse and it's not about competition. The point here is that the female Percula knew that the Anemone would consume the Maroon. I find that very interesting. Either the clownfish and the anemone are capable of communicating, or the clownfish are well learned in the behavior of anemones.

Were the Percula clowns captively bred? If so, it'd be even more interesting.

It kind of reminds me of the Tommyknockers.

The fish was programed to act that way to eliminate competition. This actually happen prety frequent. It is not umigue by any mean.
Minh Nguyen

 

[jamesw]

Minh,

I agree with you. The fish was just following instinct.

I think the original poster knows this - but he/she just wanted to tell a humorous story about it. I thought it was sad but humorous.

Cheers
James

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Minh,

I agree with you. The fish was just following instinct.

I think the original poster knows this - but he/she just wanted to tell a humorous story about it. I thought it was sad but humorous.

Cheers
James

I know. After I posted my first post on this topic I thougt that I just take this too seriously. Just that I cannot delete the post.
It happened. Sad for the Maroon clown, but it is time to move on.
Minh Nguyen