Large clown constantly digging

[atraperegrinus]

I have a large 4" clown in my 55g tank, and it keeps digging holes. Alot of holes all over. It's to the point I'm getting frustrated because it throws sand all over my rock then it takes me an hour to clean it up.

Does this mean something? I read a hoLe here or there is normal but I'm talking 10+ holes easy if not closer to 15+. Is there something I can do? I feed daily, do I need to feed more or? Thanks guys!

[davocean]

They often sweep an area or clean rocks before they spawn, or think they want to spawn.
Any kind of host, nem or alternative should keep it in the same place, rock at bottom of that area may stop sand sweeping.
Does she have a male?
I see 3 clowns in your sig, generally not a good idea.

[atraperegrinus]

Yea, I picked the tank and the fish up from a local selling thier stuff, I'm tempted to try to get rid of the big one, there's 2 that are 1.5-2inch. And then this big old guy. None of the 3 really hang out near each other at all that I've seen, so I'm not sure. They each kinda have ther own corner they stick too.

[davocean]

Hmm, hard to say how that will turn out if the female is feeling the need to breed.
If you can post a pic or 2

[atraperegrinus]

I'm at work until 11pm, I'll throw up some pics when I get home. Or I'll put some up tomorrow morning, which ever gets me better pics. Thanks!

[CStrickland]

I think sometimes they do that if they have flukes. Like it itches them so they flash and toss sand around. Just a thought if you aren't sure it came to you healthy, idk a lot about diff diseases though.

[atraperegrinus]

Previous owners had it for 5+ years and I've only done water changes, so I don't know if there a high likelyhood of that in this situation is there? I'll search it up and look for it though.

[kurt_n]

Three clowns and a damsel probably isn't a long term good thing. But regarding digging... I have a single clown (along with a few other fish). Had it going on 9 years now. It digs all the time. Same spots all the time though... I smooth them back out, he digs them back out. It's kind of a game these days now.

It could just be a "get used to it" situation. Sometimes trying to manage a tank to our preference is an act of futility and frustration.

[davocean]

I can't tell you how many times I've seen posts on here about clowns sweeping sand and creating a sand storm, this is a very normal thing, most likely nothing to be concerned about.

[atraperegrinus]

Originally Posted by kurt_n

Three clowns and a damsel probably isn't a long term good thing. But regarding digging... I have a single clown (along with a few other fish). Had it going on 9 years now. It digs all the time. Same spots all the time though... I smooth them back out, he digs them back out. It's kind of a game these days now.

It could just be a "get used to it" situation. Sometimes trying to manage a tank to our preference is an act of futility and frustration.

yeah, at the start, he/she had only 2 spots it dug in, i was 100% fine with that, but it has now jumped to digging literally EVERYwhere, it's a bit too much lol

here is some pics, they are large so i will only link them

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...2022.55.04.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...2022.55.15.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...2022.55.19.jpg

like i said, I havn't noticed any particular 2 sticking nearby to eachother yet. the darker one seems like he has issues swimming? maybe size related? so he kinda sticks to the bottom few inches of the tank, the medium yellow one, likes to either hang out in a corner alone, or swim the perimeter, the big one digs holes, and generally is a grumpy butt all the time.

i took video aswell, i'll throw it on youtube and edit for the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HcfjYqD30E
here's the video link, don't mind the total overfeed i did, I'm much more tired than i realized and dropped in way more than i should have. doh was trying to go quick to take vid and get to bed, i'll check back in the morning.

either way, how they are there in that video is about how they are all the time, pretty much always spread out like that.

[Dkuhlmann]

Yes, you do have a problem with three completely different species of clownfish. The maroon and the Clarkii are both very aggressive fish. Can't tell what the other one is, maybe someone else has an idea but it's the one that I would keep out of the three. Man what a mess, how did this happen buying 3 completely different species of clownfish?

I'm pretty sure your digging problem from the Clarkii is because she want's to spawn and has no mate.

[juniorrocketdad]

Originally Posted by Dkuhlmann

Yes, you do have a problem with three completely different species of clownfish. The maroon and the Clarkii are both very aggressive fish. Can't tell what the other one is, maybe someone else has an idea but it's the one that I would keep out of the three. Man what a mess, how did this happen buying 3 completely different species of clownfish?

I'm pretty sure your digging problem from the Clarkii is because she want's to spawn and has no mate.

The third is a percula look at the eye

[atraperegrinus]

Yeah, like i said i purchased the tank from a local who was moving out of town, they already had all the fish, i only took over ownership.

after looking it up in google that does seem like what i have

1 percula, 1 clarkii and one maroon? so clearly the people i got the tank from were a little dense.

anyway, so is the recommendation to try to rehome two of the three and get a second of the same breed of the one i keep?

would it be a terrible idea to rehome one, and try to find 2 so that there is 2 pairs? or would that be too much for a 55 gallon?

[Sk8r]

One pair of anything but percs is going to demand all 55 gallons as territory if allowed to go into mating behavior. They are all damsels. Clowns are damsels that specialize in anemones, and nems themselves can get rather much, dominating a 55 so that no other corals thrive.

[davocean]

This is exactly the reason I thought we should take a look at what you adopted.
Agree that you will need to rehome 2 of 3.
Your percula is a picasso, hands down that would be my choice to keep and perculas are typically not as aggressive as the other 2.
It's amazing that clarki has not gone to town on the other 2...yet.
I'd keep to one pair in that size tank

[atraperegrinus]

Originally Posted by Sk8r

One pair of anything but percs is going to demand all 55 gallons as territory if allowed to go into mating behavior. They are all damsels. Clowns are damsels that specialize in anemones, and nems themselves can get rather much, dominating a 55 so that no other corals thrive.

Okay, I really prefer the color of the maroon and the perc over the clarkii, the tank is 55 gallon petco tank, i only ever planned to add some snails/hermits, and down the line after acquiring some good lights a BTA for the clowns.

would if be safe to rehome the clarkii, look into getting a second perc, and hold onto the maroon for now? i really love his color in comparison and would hate to get rid of him.

I do plan to upgrade tanks, but that is all based entirely on money, so timeframe isnt known quite yet.

Originally Posted by davocean

This is exactly the reason I thought we should take a look at what you adopted.
Agree that you will need to rehome 2 of 3.
Your percula is a picasso, hands down that would be my choice to keep and perculas are typically not as aggressive as the other 2.
It's amazing that clarki has not gone to town on the other 2...yet.
I'd keep to one pair in that size tank

the clarkii does snip at the other 2, no contact, but its very fussy, so with the added digging and aggression i was pretty sure re homing was required.

[Sk8r]

If the maroon is your favorite, get rid of the other two clowns. That fish will max out at 6", and pretty well rule the 55. Very few fish can co-exist with her. Those that stand a chance are wrasses, maybe dottybacks, maybe a blue-velvet damsel, maybe a watchman goby. Do not go for pairs of anything: the tank is too small for that, and it spikes aggression. Never try to net her: use a colander. The cheek spines would catch in net, perhaps injuring her gills. Cigar-shaped fish are likely going to fare better, for one thing because their body shape evades her rushes easily, and because they do not rouse her ire in the first place---ie, they don't have a big body outline that ticks her off. I've named fish that are canny and elusive, one that burrows (the goby) and fish that have their own quota of aggression, but, being what they are, have no reason to fight with a giant damsel. It will be a lively tank with some fussing, but likely no nipped fins.

[GilliganReef]

Originally Posted by Sk8r

If the maroon is your favorite, get rid of the other two clowns. That fish will max out at 6", and pretty well rule the 55. Very few fish can co-exist with her. Those that stand a chance are wrasses, maybe dottybacks, maybe a blue-velvet damsel, maybe a watchman goby. Do not go for pairs of anything: the tank is too small for that, and it spikes aggression. Never try to net her: use a colander. The cheek spines would catch in net, perhaps injuring her gills. Cigar-shaped fish are likely going to fare better, for one thing because their body shape evades her rushes easily, and because they do not rouse her ire in the first place---ie, they don't have a big body outline that ticks her off. I've named fish that are canny and elusive, one that burrows (the goby) and fish that have their own quota of aggression, but, being what they are, have no reason to fight with a giant damsel. It will be a lively tank with some fussing, but likely no nipped fins.

How long does it take for Maroon to reach 6"? I have had mine now for little over 2 years and she is only about 3 1/2" right now. Maybe a little bigger hard to measure when she in tank and never really leaves her cave when I am around the tank up close.

[davocean]

Maroons are pretty, I've had several pairs over the years, great in pics, but none came w/out biting!
Of course all clowns can do that but maroons are a little more known for this, so just keep that in mind in making your decision.
The maroon may tolerate other tank occupants compared to the clarki, which would probably dominate the entire tank.
All of the picasso or perculas I've had were fairly passive as clowns go, but occasionally I see a comment on them being otherwise.
Good luck either way and post on here when you are ready to try to pair whatever it is you plan to keep.

[davocean]

Originally Posted by GilliganReef

How long does it take for Maroon to reach 6"?

That would be about max size and would take a pretty long time to reach that size, though that can vary depending on the particular clown, conditions, and feeding.
Hard to put an exact number on it, 4-5 years or so maybe?

[atraperegrinus]

Originally Posted by GilliganReef

How long does it take for Maroon to reach 6"? I have had mine now for little over 2 years and she is only about 3 1/2" right now. Maybe a little bigger hard to measure when she in tank and never really leaves her cave when I am around the tank up close.

good question, mine is tiny, barely over an inch right now, maybe 1 1/4"

it'll be a year or so until i finish my last basement room and am able to get a bigger tank, so if it takes years to be an issue then would I be okay?

it'd be between the maroon and the perc, but i'd love to keep both if i could.

the maroon as it is right now, is a lazy butt, just sits in its cave and kinda sticks to one main area right front and center of the tank, the perc is all over and i love how active it is.

i think they would both be more active if the clarkii was re-homed though.


edit: okay now im confused, i thought you said not to pair any of them up because they will take over? Or did u mean not to pair up 2 different sets?

like i said overall goal for this tank as it is now is just the clean up, snails, hermits, maybe a shimp? a BTA anemone and the current inhabitants, obviously with whatever changes i need to make now. Plan to rehome the clarkii for sure at this point. that leaves the maroon and the perc. thats a very tough decision. esp if i need to pair one. kinda makes me sad.

[davocean]

You may pair up one of the species.
Your maroon may be more active when the clarki is gone.

[atraperegrinus]

Oh, that still leaves the purple damsel, will it be okay? totally forgot about that little guy.

if i get a second perc, then do i 100% for sure need to get rid of the maroon?

also for the perc, could i get a generic perc, or would i need to find a specific picaso perc like the guy above mentioned?

So confusing. Slightly regret buying the tank as a whole now, wishing i would have started fresh. lol

[Reeferz412]

My maroon did it daily in the corner and she pushes any frags I glue near her cave until it falls off. I placed a rock between the glass and the end of my rockwork to blockade the corner and the flow of sand she piles up to the front. Now when she digs, it hits the rock lodged between the glass and rockwork and falls back into the small hole she digs. She was pretty ****ed but the anemone she hosts moved from her sand storm hitting it so she stopped all together. Solemnly, she will brush some sand up now.

[davocean]

Don't regret, you are off to a better start than many.
Keep only one species of clown.
You can add any perc you wish to that picasso.
Most will tell you to ditch the damsel, it may not be bad, it won't harm clowns, it could be aggressive to other fish especially later as it gets older or claims territory, especially to new additions down the road.