clown behavior

smellslikeTUNA · 11/11/2011, 10:01 AM

my clown is healthy and active, eating well and swimming around. However, when the lights go off at night he immediately swims from bottom-mid tank up to the very top of the water by the overflow teeth. Is it possible that he is just scared of the dark tank, or could it be because he needs something to host in? I feel bad if hes looking to host, think I am going to get a hammer coral this weekend and see if he'll warm up to that.

charleneatkins · 11/11/2011, 10:38 AM

I am not laughing about fish being afraid of the dark. My little green spotted puffer would go bonkers when I shut off the light, got him a nite lite and quieted right down.

bellis31 · 11/11/2011, 10:46 AM

Mine immediately cower down to the bottom also... after a minute they relax again...

This is where a dimming light cycle with LED's would be cool.. No more shocked fish when the lights go out suddenly.

crzytrace · 11/11/2011, 11:00 AM

I wouldn't worry that he has something to host him. I also wouldn't buy a coral just for your clown. Most clowns will host anything from a powerhead to a specific corner of your tank. my pair of ocellaris go between 2 different goniporas during the day and switch to the hob refugium and heater at night, when their homes pack it in for the night. They have also killed a green goni from too much cuddling, or whatever. Some corals do not take well to clowns swimming around in them. I have tried anemones but they prefer gonipora for some reason... My point is they will do fine without a coral or anemone to host them

pgammon · 11/11/2011, 04:57 PM

Mine do the same thing, as soon as the light goes out, they go straight to the top near the overflow teeth. Just make sure you have it covered, I've had to fish mine out a few times.

Voodoodauley · 11/12/2011, 12:50 AM

My pair always hang out by the filter inlet tube up at the top of the tank when the lights are down at night. When the lights came back on they swim front and center within a few minutes. I have no Anemones or reef though. just a fowlr. My clowns couldn't be happier though.

bundybear1981 · 11/12/2011, 06:16 AM

Mine head for the front left corner near the top of a night n sleep there From what I've read on threads on here its quiet common clown behaviour

Hydrostatic · 01/08/2012, 11:29 PM

My clowns like to swim up to the over flow as well. When I switched to a larger tank I had turned the lights off and easily caught them while they were "sleeping". Way better than a hook or water bottle trap....

00Warpig00 · 01/09/2012, 10:49 PM

My Yellow Stripe Maroon sleeps in the back corner by the overflow too. Does this in my 180. Slept right by the HOB filter during the entire QT period in the 20H also. I know exactly where to look for him at night.

Nick

Joshz400_03 · 01/10/2012, 01:22 AM

Mine shoot right up to the top left corner as soon as the light goes out. They do this every single time and spend most of the night there. With my new LED they now shoot down into the rock when the light comes on because it's so much more bright.

11/11/2011, 10:01 AM	#1
smellslikeTUNA Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 453	clown behavior my clown is healthy and active, eating well and swimming around. However, when the lights go off at night he immediately swims from bottom-mid tank up to the very top of the water by the overflow teeth. Is it possible that he is just scared of the dark tank, or could it be because he needs something to host in? I feel bad if hes looking to host, think I am going to get a hammer coral this weekend and see if he'll warm up to that. __________________ -Great minds don't think alike, they innovate!- 57g Oceanic Illuminata \| Kessil A150W 10K LED \| 1x 453nm Stunner \| Trigger Systems Sump/Refug \| Reef Octopus NWB-110 Skimmer \| RKL+ System \| 2X Evo 750gph \| BFS RO/DI

11/11/2011, 10:38 AM	#2
charleneatkins Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: andover ct 06232 Posts: 1,819	I am not laughing about fish being afraid of the dark. My little green spotted puffer would go bonkers when I shut off the light, got him a nite lite and quieted right down. __________________ Hope keeps things alive and looking forward Current Tank Info: 28,55 & 90g mixed reef,10G FW

11/11/2011, 10:46 AM	#3
bellis31 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 1,021	Mine immediately cower down to the bottom also... after a minute they relax again... This is where a dimming light cycle with LED's would be cool.. No more shocked fish when the lights go out suddenly. __________________ 80g Custom + 29g Sump BM Curve 5 Skimmer - Eheim 1262 Return Pump 2 Vortech MP10wes + 2 Vortech MP40wes 2 Radion G3's + Apex Jr Controller + WXM

11/12/2011, 12:50 AM	#6
Voodoodauley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Roy, Wa Posts: 30	My pair always hang out by the filter inlet tube up at the top of the tank when the lights are down at night. When the lights came back on they swim front and center within a few minutes. I have no Anemones or reef though. just a fowlr. My clowns couldn't be happier though. __________________ 46g Bow Front FOWLR. 2 Black Spiny Urchins, 1 Brittle Star, 1 Choc. Chip Star, 2 Clowns, 1 PJ Cardinal, 1 Banggai Cardinal, 1 Blue Damsel, 2 B/G Chromis, 1 6-line Wrasse, 2 Pep. Shrimps. Current Tank Info: We have about 5 Aquariums, with our largest being a 46 gallon bow front FOWLR. The rest are freshwater.

11/12/2011, 06:16 AM	#7
bundybear1981 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia Posts: 685 Blog Entries: 1	Mine head for the front left corner near the top of a night n sleep there From what I've read on threads on here its quiet common clown behaviour __________________ Tank inhabitants : 2x Clownfish, 1x Blue Koran, 1x Foxface Lo, 1xCoral Beauty, 1x Blue Tang, 1x Sailfin Tang Current Tank Info: New Build : 250g (6x3x2) with 2x RW15 pumps, 2x 2200lph return pumps, Tunze ATO, Jebao Dosing Pump, AquaOne G220 Skimmer

11/11/2011, 11:00 AM	#4
crzytrace Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: IA Posts: 60	I wouldn't worry that he has something to host him. I also wouldn't buy a coral just for your clown. Most clowns will host anything from a powerhead to a specific corner of your tank. my pair of ocellaris go between 2 different goniporas during the day and switch to the hob refugium and heater at night, when their homes pack it in for the night. They have also killed a green goni from too much cuddling, or whatever. Some corals do not take well to clowns swimming around in them. I have tried anemones but they prefer gonipora for some reason... My point is they will do fine without a coral or anemone to host them

11/11/2011, 04:57 PM	#5
pgammon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Eastover, SC Posts: 282	Mine do the same thing, as soon as the light goes out, they go straight to the top near the overflow teeth. Just make sure you have it covered, I've had to fish mine out a few times.

01/08/2012, 11:29 PM	#8
Hydrostatic Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 5	My clowns like to swim up to the over flow as well. When I switched to a larger tank I had turned the lights off and easily caught them while they were "sleeping". Way better than a hook or water bottle trap....

01/09/2012, 10:49 PM	#9
00Warpig00 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Schaumburg, IL. Posts: 621	My Yellow Stripe Maroon sleeps in the back corner by the overflow too. Does this in my 180. Slept right by the HOB filter during the entire QT period in the 20H also. I know exactly where to look for him at night. Nick __________________ 180G - 5 Yellow Tail Blue Damsels, Two Lined Sleeper Goby, Royal Gramma, Flame Angel pair, Yellow Stripe Maroon Clown, Pearlscale Butterfly, Australian Harlequin Tuskfish, Magnificent Foxface, Yellow Current Tank Info: 180G FOWLR Established 10/2010

01/10/2012, 01:22 AM	#10
Joshz400_03 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 87	Mine shoot right up to the top left corner as soon as the light goes out. They do this every single time and spend most of the night there. With my new LED they now shoot down into the rock when the light comes on because it's so much more bright.

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