Maroon Clown Behavior

[Mort]

I have two GSM clowns, one is almost twice the size as the other.

They have been making what I suspect is a nest. The big one has been
"fanning" a large hole in the sand. The two of them have been hanging
around that hole all day.

Are they getting ready to breed?

Anything I should be concerned about?

The water is quite cloudy because of all the sand being stirred up.
Anything I can do to discourage this behavior other than seperating the
clowns?

TIA

~Mort

[Richard Reynolds]

> I have two GSM clowns, one is almost twice the size as the other.

the big one is the female, small is male, thats normal sizing, so you have a pair.

> They have been making what I suspect is a nest. The big one has been
> "fanning" a large hole in the sand. The two of them have been hanging
> around that hole all day.

totally nomrmal

> Are they getting ready to breed?

that or slightly more likely setting up there teritory which can be thought of as the
first step to breeding :D

> Anything I should be concerned about?

nope

> The water is quite cloudy because of all the sand being stirred up.
> Anything I can do to discourage this behavior other than seperating the
> clowns?

nope and seperating the clowns isnt the answer, with gsm's the tank is no longer your tank
its there tank, and they will do with it what they please

you could provide a flower pot and see if they will make that there nest. its not uncommon
for them to do so, and it might keep them off the sand, but its not 100%

>
> TIA
>
> ~Mort
>
>
>


--
Richard Reynolds

[MarkJD]

I have a single Maroon clown in my tank and it has recently started doing
the hole digging. Nothing I can do about it :shrugs:


Mark

[Don Geddis]

"Mort" > writes:
> I have two GSM clowns
> They have been making what I suspect is a nest. The big one has been
> "fanning" a large hole in the sand.

I've just got a single gold-striped maroon clown. It also digs huge holes
in the sand. To me, it seems more like a territory-protecting maneuver.
I filled the holes back with sand, and the clown digs them out again.
The clown is "protecting" three rose anemones that are on the live rock,
but near the sand level. Also, if I put any other loose corals, or even just
loose rocks, nearby the three anemones, my GSM will knock them over or push
them out of the way.

Haven't figured out a way to stop it yet, other than only putting very
secured items nearby (burying coral roots in the sand, only large rocks in
the area, etc.).

-- Don
__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Don Geddis http://reef.geddis.org/

[Harald]

"Mort" > wrote in message
m...
> I have two GSM clowns, one is almost twice the size as the other.
>
> They have been making what I suspect is a nest. The big one has been
> "fanning" a large hole in the sand. The two of them have been hanging
> around that hole all day.

I have a single Tomato which exhibits the same behaviour.

--
Harald
130 g Skimmerless SW Tank
290 lbs/6" DSB
70 lbs LR
3 B/G Chromis, 1 Tomato Clown, 1 Lawnmower Blenny, 1 Foxface, 1 Blue Regal,
1 Cleaner Wrasse, 1 soft coral.


33 gal Skimmerless SW Nano
80 lbs/6" DSB
39 lbs LR,
1 - Yellow Wrasse, 1 Decorated FireFish, 1 Bangaii Cardinal