Ouch! Is your clownfish trying to bite you? Are they just trying to protect themselves and their home? Let’s find out why you are being bitten by your clownfish.
Why Does my Clownfish Bite Me? Clownfish are very territorial fish and will attack and bite anything that enters their territory including us.
Clownfish are not the most protective species of fish, but they’ll defend themselves. If they believe the large figure of your hand is threatening, they may nip or bite at it.
It’s important to note if it’s only the female clownfish that is biting you or if the male is also joining in. Females are much more aggressive and this may be a normal reaction.
Does a Bite from a Clownfish Hurt?
We all have a different tolerance to pain, but we prefer not to feel any. The pain from a clownfish bite should not last too long.
A bite from any species should hurt a bit. It also depends where we are getting bitten. The spaces between our fingers are more sensitive than the fingers themselves.
Some of us have built calluses over the years on our hands or fingers and will not feel any pain from a clownfish bite. We may laugh at it and feel a little ticklish.
Imagine sandpaper rubbing against the tip of your finger. This is how some people describe the feeling of being bit by a clownfish. Wearing finger gloves or full rubber gloves are easy fixes if you wish to never be bitten by an aggressive or protective clownfish.
Are Clownfish Poisonous?
The short answer is no! But please don’t touch them if you can! Clownfish have a layer of mucus on them and they need it. If you touch them, you might risk removing part of this layer.
Why do clownfish have mucus on their body? They are hosted by anemone in their aquarium. The anemone is actually poisonous and kills different species of fish and enters or touches its tentacles.
Anemone feast on these fish, but the clownfish also get a share of the remainder. This is a healthy relationship because the poison on the anemone doesn’t affect the clownfish. It’s all about the mucus!
So please steer clear from that urge to touch, stroke or pet the clownfish. Sure, they are cute, but they are not cuddly! The clownfish needs the mucus to protect itself from the poison on the anemone.
What to do if You Are Bitten by a Clownfish
Uh oh. You stuck your bare hand in the tank and a clownfish bit you. What do you do? Are you worried about poison entering your skin? Don’t be! Clownfish are not poisonous.
It may hurt for a while like the sting of an insect. It may feel more like rubbing against sandpaper. The best news of all is that the feeling doesn’t last.
We are much more resilient than clownfish and we can handle it. It’s always a good idea to be safe if we are concerned. If there is a wound, we can use:
- Iodine
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Ethanol alcohol
- Saline water
Put on a bandage for a short time and don’t be too concerned. Learn from the encounter and decide whether or not you wish to try again. Finger gloves or rubber gloves will do the trick. Slip on or two on and fear not! The clownfish will never hurt you again.
Why Has my Clownfish Suddenly Started to Bite Me?
Everything was going so well. You were feeding your clownfish by sticking your fingers in the tank for days, weeks or months. All of a sudden, you’re being bit! What happened?
Well, the clownfish are growing up right in front of your very eyes. They’re maturing, mating and delivering eggs. They are calling the aquarium and the anemone their home. You are now turning into a threat.
The eggs may need protection from other species of fish or neighboring clownfish. The female is turning increasingly aggressive. She doesn’t want you or anyone entering her space. She’s got babies to save.
Clownfish are crazy, silly, protective and sometimes unpredictable. They may bite your knuckles if you stick your hand in too deep. They may try to jump out of the water and bite.
They are not the most aggressive fish, but they are capable of biting. It’s best to avoid contact and keep our hands protected as well.
Do Clownfish Have Teeth?
Yes! Clownfish do have teeth but they are small. Their jaws are powerful for their size and they’ll use them for protection.
The teeth feel like sharp pieces of sandpaper. Imagine cutting sandpaper into little triangles. Then touch the points and feel how a clownfish’s teeth would feel. It isn’t pleasant, but not as bad as a shark!
Why Do Clownfish Attack Humans?
Clownfish will attack human hands or anything a human wants to stick into the tank! They are just being clownfish. They are known to be aggressive, but we should be able to handle it.
The feeling of being bit can range from a small sting or drawing blood and hurting for a little while. It isn’t considered serious and shouldn’t require much medical attention.
There are some crazy stories, however! Can you believe that a clownfish once jumped out of a tank and bit someone in the eye? These stories cannot be verified because the internet is also crazy and full of urban legends.
The clean and simple is protection. In order to preserve themselves and their fry, they might attack our hands.
How to Stop Your Clownfish from Biting?
Wear gloves! They also make finger gloves. Some people also have toothbrushes for dogs that are just a piece of rubber that slips onto the finger. It’s basically the same principle.
We’re covering any part of our hand or arm by wearing protective equipment. Rubber gloves are cheap and readily available. Slip them on and you won’t get bit again.
If you really want to stop the clownfish from biting you can remove them from the aquarium and put them on their own. You can remove the female clownfish, but it’s best to keep the mated pair together.
Conclusion
Make sure there’s plenty of space in the tank for clownfish to freely swim around and protect their space. Sticking our bare hands in the tank is not recommended.
A biting clownfish is normal. They do this, but they aren’t usually vicious about it. This is a tactic to protect their habitat, their mate and their offspring.
Instead of trying to stop it, stop yourself from getting hurt. Wear gloves and thank us later!
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