Wierd clown behavior - kicking sand

CoRPS · 03/15/2009, 07:14 PM

I have two clownfish, not knowing that I should buy a smaller clown and a larger clown at the time I bought two clowns that were roughly the same size. They haven't really paired up but one definetly shows signs of dominance. The one who I assume is the dominant female has been seen lately rubbing her belly against the sand and using her tail to kick sand up. I saw her do it about three times today and it's something she has been doing for a week or so now. Anyone know why she is doing it?

mutateddogbone · 03/15/2009, 07:24 PM

i have a mated pair of maroons and my female does the same behavior all the time. my best guess would be its some sort of nesting behavior or a territorial thing. my other fish dont go near the spot where she digs up and chases them away.

smalls383 · 03/15/2009, 09:12 PM

I have heard that maroons are known for frequently kicking up the sand....unfortunately it is common enough that many people send them back to the LFS when they get sick of their constantly cloudy tank...

FirstContact · 03/15/2009, 09:19 PM

I have clown that likes to do that in the area where she sleeps.

michellejy · 03/16/2009, 09:57 AM

I have a tomato that does the same thing. I think it's funny that she is constantly rearranging substrate, rocks, thermometers, etc in her home.

intricable · 03/16/2009, 10:00 AM

The maroon clown in the SO's tank does this regularly. She even rearranges the frogfishes sand mounds because she doesn't like where he puts them. She'll try to move the rocks if she feels they are too close to her anemone, she THROWs frags across the tank if they're not glued down enough, and definitely is a sand mover. I think its kinda fun to watch actually :-D

CoRPS · 03/16/2009, 10:07 AM

Mine are oscellaris clowns, I haven't seen her do it today yet though.

Alaskan Reefer · 03/16/2009, 12:40 PM

I have a gold stripe maroon in a 20 hex, and without question I have a sand sifting clownfish. I have a mound of live rock in the middle with a hollow center, and my substrate is deep sand all around it, and bare bottom underneath it. Pretty cool and my sand is beautiful after a few years of this setup.

skippy2 · 03/16/2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CoRPS
Mine are oscellaris clowns, I haven't seen her do it today yet though.

I have false percs too. The female has been kicking up sand ever since she turned female. She was a he till his she died

Doolin · 03/16/2009, 01:21 PM

I also have a gold stripe maroon clown, and she does the same thing every once in a while.

03/15/2009, 07:14 PM	#1
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	Wierd clown behavior - kicking sand I have two clownfish, not knowing that I should buy a smaller clown and a larger clown at the time I bought two clowns that were roughly the same size. They haven't really paired up but one definetly shows signs of dominance. The one who I assume is the dominant female has been seen lately rubbing her belly against the sand and using her tail to kick sand up. I saw her do it about three times today and it's something she has been doing for a week or so now. Anyone know why she is doing it?

03/16/2009, 09:57 AM	#5
michellejy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: OH Posts: 1,076	I have a tomato that does the same thing. I think it's funny that she is constantly rearranging substrate, rocks, thermometers, etc in her home. __________________ Michelle Current Tank Info: 30G FOWLR Clownfish tank soon to be replaced by JBJ 28 Gallon Nano

03/16/2009, 12:40 PM	#8
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	I have a gold stripe maroon in a 20 hex, and without question I have a sand sifting clownfish. I have a mound of live rock in the middle with a hollow center, and my substrate is deep sand all around it, and bare bottom underneath it. Pretty cool and my sand is beautiful after a few years of this setup. __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress

03/16/2009, 01:21 PM	#10
Doolin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 260	I also have a gold stripe maroon clown, and she does the same thing every once in a while. __________________ Treasurer of WORC, a reef club in Western Ohio. www.worcreef.org

03/15/2009, 07:24 PM	#2
mutateddogbone Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 1,016	i have a mated pair of maroons and my female does the same behavior all the time. my best guess would be its some sort of nesting behavior or a territorial thing. my other fish dont go near the spot where she digs up and chases them away.

03/15/2009, 09:12 PM	#3
smalls383 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA Posts: 483	I have heard that maroons are known for frequently kicking up the sand....unfortunately it is common enough that many people send them back to the LFS when they get sick of their constantly cloudy tank...

03/15/2009, 09:19 PM	#4
FirstContact Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenn Dale, MD Posts: 1,613	I have clown that likes to do that in the area where she sleeps.

03/16/2009, 10:00 AM	#6
intricable Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 98	The maroon clown in the SO's tank does this regularly. She even rearranges the frogfishes sand mounds because she doesn't like where he puts them. She'll try to move the rocks if she feels they are too close to her anemone, she THROWs frags across the tank if they're not glued down enough, and definitely is a sand mover. I think its kinda fun to watch actually :-D

03/16/2009, 10:07 AM	#7
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	Mine are oscellaris clowns, I haven't seen her do it today yet though.