Clowns and digging

Bernie · Feb 27, 2012

Hi All,

I finally got fet up with my maroon clowns rescaping the tank and digging constantly and they are now at the local fish adoption center.

I'm contemplating a pair of true percs or maybe one of the designer colorations that are all around now, however if they are going to do the same digging, then no dice.

So can anyone lay some knowledge on me about other species of clowns behaviour?

Thanks!

revhtree · Feb 27, 2012

None of my clowns have ever dug like a pair of Maroons I had. My current picasso clowns host a frogspawn and occasionally move some sand around with their tale but not much.

Hyprviperx · Feb 27, 2012

my clarkiis do it... just the female though, i guess shes bedding

Lynnmw1208 · Feb 27, 2012

My ocellaris dig as well but not too bad. It's probably because they are dumb and won't host anything but the sand in the corner of the tank.

Steven R · Feb 27, 2012

My ocellaris dig also around the base of there anemone. And they also have a biting problem.

Troylee · Feb 27, 2012

Find them a host they should stop digging... My clarkii always did that right before lights out... I got a bubble tip for her and it never happened again...

Hyprviperx · Feb 27, 2012

i have 2 clarkiis and 2 rbta's and the large female still does it.

Joe S · Feb 27, 2012

IME, clownfish "digging" in the sand is a normal behavior exhibited both in the wild and in captivity. The sand can suffocate the fish's nest and I think digging is now an instinctual behavior exhibited by some clowns, regardless of nest presence. This does not mean all will do it, but it means it could happen in anyone's tank regardless of the presence of a host, the "stupidity" of your clown, or its species. Just my $0.02.

Hyprviperx · Feb 27, 2012

Joe S said:
IME, clownfish "digging" in the sand is a normal behavior exhibited both in the wild and in captivity. The sand can suffocate the fish's nest and I think digging is now an instinctual behavior exhibited by some clowns, regardless of nest presence. This does not mean all will do it, but it means it could happen in anyone's tank regardless of the presence of a host, the "stupidity" of your clown, or its species. Just my $0.02.

+1 as i had said earlier i think its normal bedding behavior... you see it along every water hole on a stocked golf course, giant 2-3ft holes dug exactly the same way as the clowns... its just a fish thing