Clown Fish behavior

Pvillarraga · 04/27/2012, 10:03 PM

Today one of my clown fish was near the top of the tank and kept tilting to one side and then squirmed really fast almost like a seizure. This went on for about 20 mins. Could it be going through a sex change? checked the levels everything is fine and the other clown is acting normal. They have been in the tank for a week. And are about an inch to an inch and a half. The LFS said they were babies

izzy123 · 04/28/2012, 05:09 AM

sounds like a mating ritual...... practice maybe?

You could ask "snorvich" about this, he has great knowledge on reef fish

Hope this helps

Ron Reefman · 04/28/2012, 05:41 AM

Was that behavior in the evening? I've seen clowns sleep near the top of the tank and they do act kind of strange when they sleep and aren't in an anemone. I have a pair of ocellaris that sleep near a sandy bottom at a front corner of the tank, even though there are 2 RBTA they could use. Kids, who knows why they act the way they do?

00Warpig00 · 04/28/2012, 10:01 AM

Clowns are strange. I was positive that my maroon had brain damage after I got him home.

Nick

CHG107 · 04/28/2012, 10:10 AM

Every so often I will see one of my clowns doing this. It will just free float, tilt to one side then do this twitch for 3-5 seconds then goes about his business. I have had my clowns for a few months and I noticed them doing this days after I got them.

I wouldn't be to concerned, my clowns are strange sometimes too

aleonn · 04/28/2012, 11:05 AM

The clown fish are establishing dominance between each other. When I paired up my clowns, one of them twitched and the other charged if I remember correctly.

Andrew · 04/28/2012, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleonn

The clown fish are establishing dominance between each other. When I paired up my clowns, one of them twitched and the other charged if I remember correctly.

Correct. From my experience the smaller one or the male will be the one more likly to twich more often. Once in awhile I would have a larger female do it now and than but nearly as much as the male.

04/27/2012, 10:03 PM	#1
Pvillarraga Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 195	Clown Fish behavior Today one of my clown fish was near the top of the tank and kept tilting to one side and then squirmed really fast almost like a seizure. This went on for about 20 mins. Could it be going through a sex change? checked the levels everything is fine and the other clown is acting normal. They have been in the tank for a week. And are about an inch to an inch and a half. The LFS said they were babies

04/28/2012, 05:41 AM	#3
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Was that behavior in the evening? I've seen clowns sleep near the top of the tank and they do act kind of strange when they sleep and aren't in an anemone. I have a pair of ocellaris that sleep near a sandy bottom at a front corner of the tank, even though there are 2 RBTA they could use. Kids, who knows why they act the way they do? __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

04/28/2012, 10:01 AM	#4
00Warpig00 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Schaumburg, IL. Posts: 621	Clowns are strange. I was positive that my maroon had brain damage after I got him home. 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

04/28/2012, 05:09 AM	#2
izzy123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Belgium Posts: 504	sounds like a mating ritual...... practice maybe? You could ask "snorvich" about this, he has great knowledge on reef fish Hope this helps

04/28/2012, 10:10 AM	#5
CHG107 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: New York Posts: 205	Every so often I will see one of my clowns doing this. It will just free float, tilt to one side then do this twitch for 3-5 seconds then goes about his business. I have had my clowns for a few months and I noticed them doing this days after I got them. I wouldn't be to concerned, my clowns are strange sometimes too

04/28/2012, 11:05 AM	#6
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	The clown fish are establishing dominance between each other. When I paired up my clowns, one of them twitched and the other charged if I remember correctly.