Are my clowns depressed?

New&no clue · May 19, 2019

Hi,

I have a 55 gallon tank with a small cuc and 2 clown fish. I bought them on Friday morning and since then they have sat in the corner of my tank and swim up and down, but they won’t venture out. Is this normal, are they just getting use to the tank, or are they sad? They eat when I feed them. They love frozen brine shrimp and go crazy grabbing them, but if some float outside of the 4inch column of water they like to be in they won’t go get it. I’m sure I’m just being a concerned fish mommy, but just wondering if there was anything I could do to help them feel more comfortable in their home.

Hitman · May 19, 2019

I have 3 black and white clowns that have never left the right side of my tank and 2 cinnamon clowns that have never gone more the a foot from their Anemones. They are clowns just being clowns lol

408Dartfish · May 19, 2019

It’s normal clownfish are weird. When I added a new clown my tank he didn’t eat for a week. Now eats everything.

siggy · May 19, 2019

I normally would say "Bring in the Clowns" to cheer someone up, but in this case yes I believe that is normal. Welcome to R2R

Mariette · May 19, 2019

Do they have a host? If they’re adamant about staying in 1 spot, stick a nem there. From what I’ve read, they’re more likely to accept a host that way. Just figured if you’re worried about em and they don’t have a host, this could add some enrichment

New&no clue · May 19, 2019

No, I don’t have any corals yet. My LFS told me to start with fish and move on to corals later. In his words “fish are dirty, they will live in almost any condition, corals are prissy and need pristine conditions, so start with fish, practice, get a system in place, and then more on to corals.” Idk if that’s the right way, but it’s what I’m going with.

Thanks for the reassurance on the clowns behavior, I will just let them be and stop trying to set up a play date with the peppermint shrimp.

siggy · May 19, 2019

Good advice

Jekyl · May 19, 2019

Mine only leave their corner to eat and bite me when I stick my hand in the tank. Clowns are jerks

Westside Guy · May 19, 2019

New&no clue said:
Hi,
I have a 55 gallon tank with a small cuc and 2 clown fish. I bought them on Friday morning and since then they have sat in the corner of my tank and swim up and down, but they won’t venture out. Is this normal, are they just getting use to the tank, or are they sad? They eat when I feed them. They love frozen brine shrimp and go crazy grabbing them, but if some float outside of the 4inch column of water they like to be in they won’t go get it. I’m sure I’m just being a concerned fish mommy, but just wondering if there was anything I could do to help them feel more comfortable in their home.

My 2 Gladiators acted in a strange manner when I first introduced them to my tank and I posted a thread about this behavior.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/is-this-normal-behavior-for-2-new-clowns.584102/

They should acclimate and hopefully like mine now swim (usually as a pair) all over the tank.

The bottom line is that clowns are clowns!!!

Mariette · May 19, 2019

New&no clue said:
No, I don’t have any corals yet. My LFS told me to start with fish and move on to corals later. In his words “fish are dirty, they will live in almost any condition, corals are prissy and need pristine conditions, so start with fish, practice, get a system in place, and then more on to corals.” Idk if that’s the right way, but it’s what I’m going with.

Thanks for the reassurance on the clowns behavior, I will just let them be and stop trying to set up a play date with the peppermint shrimp.

I’ve also been given that advise. Don’t know if it’s right or not. Sounds legit. You’re clearly a good fish mom trying your best. Keep up the good work. I’d put a thumbs up in here but i can’t figured out how ppl do that...

Westside Guy · May 19, 2019

By the way, based on what I have read on R2R don’t rush putting anemones in a new tank. Many say wait for a year and my LFS told me anywhere from 6 months to a year and to be patient.

MyReefRobbedMe · May 21, 2019

New&no clue said:
No, I don’t have any corals yet. My LFS told me to start with fish and move on to corals later. In his words “fish are dirty, they will live in almost any condition, corals are prissy and need pristine conditions, so start with fish, practice, get a system in place, and then more on to corals.” Idk if that’s the right way, but it’s what I’m going with.

Thanks for the reassurance on the clowns behavior, I will just let them be and stop trying to set up a play date with the peppermint shrimp.

That’s good advice and tbh sounds like a decent LFS . More times than not some LFS try to reel in enthusiastic ppl and take their money . Just take it slow aNd build up the things you can’t see like the bacteria needed to stable out your new system . Keep up your husbandry routines and 4-6 months in try out something . I would advise not adding anemone until after 10 months to a year mark . . Maybe couple Zoas or Green star polyp can feed your temptation around 2 month old mark .
Water changes fix about everything .Don’t add chemicals that promise to fix this and that . Any help ya need this is the place to ask .

vetteguy53081 · May 21, 2019

They should be at least chasing food from corner. Is there high current, bright light or other aggressors in that corner area?

New&no clue · May 21, 2019

They have started to venture out more and more, I mean that is definitely their preferred spot to be, but they will go to the other side of the tank now and explore a little. They seem to move around more at night, but I don’t know if that’s because the lights are lower or if it’s because the dogs and kids aren’t running around making noice.

lapin · May 21, 2019

Tank raised clowns only know the corners of the tank as being a safe place. They will explore, but might end up just hanging out in that corner. It has taken about a year for mine to host in a torch thats 3" from their corner. They lay eggs every 3 weeks or some where up and down that corner.

ChiSox Rabbitfish · May 21, 2019

I had a clown stay behind the heater for ever only came out when it was feeding time he also never let anything else come close to the heater

srad750c · May 21, 2019

It’s a clown thang, mine have stayed in same corner of tank for the last 4 years, they didn’t event go to the RBTA, when it got it 3 years ago. They recently moved to a cluster of mushrooms last week. It’s just clowns.

McPuff · May 22, 2019

My clowns act the same way. They have decided to "host" my return outlet in the upper left corner of my tank. They just wiggle around up there all day and night and rarely venture out very far. I'm always surprised when I see them down by the actual rock and coral. They are strange and because of where they hang out, I often forget I even have them. :0)

MombasaLionfish · May 22, 2019

Clowns will host anything including equipment the male clown usually is the one to explore more while the female guards her layer.

Bayareareefer18 · May 22, 2019

Mine did the same for a long time. Eventually they explore the tank more.

Now I would almost welcome them back to the corner rather than my gold nugget digging up my tank