Clowns making a rut in sand bed.

[newbreefer]

Hey there, just picked up a set of clowns a couple days ago, and I love them. I have noticed on the morning one of them sits on the bottom of the tank. It usually takes a half an hour or so after lights are on that it gets up and moves. And throughout the day they take turns pushing the sand out of that spot. They are both healthy and swimming great. Eating. I see nothing wrong health wise. They are both only an inch and a half long...could it have eggs? Any info would be helpful. Thanks

 

[oscarinw]

Clowns are notorious miners like that. They will 'clear-out' a particular spot in the tank. Female Maroon clowns will move rocks, sand, hermits and more out of the way when you switch up things. Some contend this is in fact mating behavior in preparation to mating but I have seen some do it and never mate and seen some breeding couples not so much into it. I think it varies by individual but at least we can agree they have found their nesting spot.
Good luck with things!

 

[Haddonis Reef]

Funny how flows can be like bad puppies and dig, I agree that they have found the spot where possible spawning might take place.

 

[Mr. E Wrasse]

All the clowns ive had have done that. The cure? Get an anemone. Obviously if they are tank raised they wont have any clue what it is but when thwy are swimming around and brush up against it, they'll never leave haha

 

[JohnC]

I just picked up a pair of Clarkiis that are gigantic. I don't have a spot for them in my breeding system yet so I had to put them in one of my reef tanks. Talk about a trail of destruction! They dug one spot all the way down to the glass, pulled rocks off the reef, buried corals, ect! Can't wait to get them out lol

 

[newbreefer]

Lol when I first saw then I thought they were sick... Nope perfectly fine. Just having out I suppose

 

[Alanna102499]

See... Search Google and inevitably, here I am with the answer...

 

[Hot2na]

certain clowns "tail" the sand like that..percs, skunks, bicintus, to name a few are less likely to do that...thats why I do dedicated clown/anemone tanks..they can wreck a mixed reef tank real quick..

 

[Cuzuco]

Clearl<y they've spent too much time with your wrasses

 

[Katrina71]

Mine did the same and killed 2 plates. I look at it this way, her home, her decorating ideas. I respect it.

 

[Alanna102499]

Would adding a Nem help curb this?

 

[JJ Ligs]

My clowns do not but my stupid blue damsel has dug holes so deep I thought he would get through the glass bottom. My son and husband have two that fan but are too small to really do much.

 

[Katrina71]

Would adding a Nem help curb this?

If the nem hosts it maybe...

 

[maevepotter]

I call them sand puppies. Mine do this all the time. They sleep in a sand hollow. I only have 2 carpets and two bubble tips for them to choose from.....