Clownfish discussion

Austin R · Aug 7, 2017

VP616 said:
Have a couple pairs of Picassos. With one pair, when all the lights are off, one "sleeps" on the sand bed and the other near the top of the waterline near the overflow grate. Both sleep on their sides and semi-float, flapping every so often.

As others have said, it freaked me out the first time I saw this when the lights came on and I immediately panicked and thought I had two sick fish. Come to find out that this is their "normal sleeping" behavior.

Normal behavior definitely varies for every clownfish, but they are always fun to watch. One pair probably thinks they are part dog because every time they see someone beside the tank, they'll hover near the waterline because they assume they are getting fed... again.

I had the same feeling and mine acts like a dog to every time he sees me it's funny

M&M Minnie · May 4, 2018

Hi guys, new here. I searched for a similar question but didn’t find it, hopefully I’m not repeating.

We have a pair of clowns for 5 months have always done everything together. Definitely female and male. They have hosted in the bottom back corner of tank. Recently Clarice (female) has switched sides to the opposite bottom back corner, by herself? She doesn’t look sick, eats just fine, but kind of stares at herself in the corner? She will randomly swim with the others but not nearly as often as before? Any suggestions?

Thank you~

davocean · May 4, 2018

Austin R said:
I'm curious of do clown fish sleep? May sound weird but I don't think I ever see him stop swimming I also have a damsel and he'll find a place and stay in it until I turn the light on in the morning. Also what's there normal behavior?

Actually not only do clownfish sleep, they can be very heavy sleepers, and it's a pretty well known trick that if you want to catch them for any reason, do so at night.
I have caught a number this way, sleeping in their anemone , sometimes they don't even realize they've been caught for a couple minutes.
I once had a maroon that was a mean pain in the butt, caught her, had her sitting in a cup, watched her wake a couple minutes later and just totally freaked out, it was pretty funny.

davocean · May 4, 2018

M&M Minnie said:
Hi guys, new here. I searched for a similar question but didn’t find it, hopefully I’m not repeating.

We have a pair of clowns for 5 months have always done everything together. Definitely female and male. They have hosted in the bottom back corner of tank. Recently Clarice (female) has switched sides to the opposite bottom back corner, by herself? She doesn’t look sick, eats just fine, but kind of stares at herself in the corner? She will randomly swim with the others but not nearly as often as before? Any suggestions?

Thank you~

Others meaning how many?
From same clutch?

M&M Minnie · May 5, 2018

Oh sorry, others in the crew. We also have a maroon clown, Naso Tang, firefin tang, purple fire stick goby, fire stick goby, dragon goby and scooter blenny. They all get along so well and are always swimming together.

Thank you

davocean · May 5, 2018

M&M Minnie said:
Oh sorry, others in the crew. We also have a maroon clown, Naso Tang, firefin tang, purple fire stick goby, fire stick goby, dragon goby and scooter blenny. They all get along so well and are always swimming together.

Thank you

Well if I understand correctly, a pair of clowns, and a solo maroon?
If so, expect the maroon may get ticky w/ other clowns

DeniseAndy · May 5, 2018

Mine sleep. Where is depending on the pair. Some like their nems, some like my overflow pipe, some like torch coral, and when new, they just liked a corner in top of tank. They are fun fish. Mean, but fun.

Someone mentioned blue spotted puffer sleeping, mine does too in the corner on the left side of the tank about 5" from top. Find him every night as lights go out. Same spot. Funny fish. Also, my wrasses would always go to bed (in the sand) same time each night.

Cute ocellaris!

To the other person, not sure three in the tank is a good idea. Someone is going down for the count and maybe two with a maroon in there. How large a tank?

M&M Minnie · May 8, 2018

DeniseAndy said:
Mine sleep. Where is depending on the pair. Some like their nems, some like my overflow pipe, some like torch coral, and when new, they just liked a corner in top of tank. They are fun fish. Mean, but fun.

Someone mentioned blue spotted puffer sleeping, mine does too in the corner on the left side of the tank about 5" from top. Find him every night as lights go out. Same spot. Funny fish. Also, my wrasses would always go to bed (in the sand) same time each night.

Cute ocellaris!

To the other person, not sure three in the tank is a good idea. Someone is going down for the count and maybe two with a maroon in there. How large a tank?

No we only have 2 clowns, the male is a maroon. They were a couple before we bought them. They were sold back to the store because the original owner had to move out of state and sold everything back.

Attached is a photo of what she does. This is a new corner of the tank and her partner hardly ever goes over there? They were inseparable before.

Sorry the photo is bad, if I get to close she thinks it’s feeding time and swims to the top.