Inbreeding --> strange clownfish behavior?

[Trever]

I've heard about clownfish inbreeding problems.

My pair of clown fish are so gonzo in their behavior, that I wonder if part of it could be inbreeding?

Sometimes they are chill but mostly they are hyper active (I will say, they are "babies", and I am overfeeding them a bit). They race up and down the glass with their noses against it a lot, swim into the power head current with a frenzied activity level, and obsessively cruise against the glass (going back and forth right up against the glass).

They're behavior doesn't seem to make any sense or be a part of any adaptive natural patterns that would make any sense.

They don't seem to be pacing or exhibiting any signs of illness or tank problems, and my water parameters are good and stable. It just rocks now, so there's nothing for them to host in, if that matters.

I have a new Royal Gramma who is exhibiting text book behavior for that kind of fish. S/he is doing great.

The clowns seem to be doing great too, but they're just so stupid.

 

[jamie1210]

Clowns can act pretty strange sometimes, regardless of whether they're captive-bred or WC. This is especially true if they're in a new environment. How long have you had them for?

 

[Trever]

They've been in the tank for 3 weeks. I introduced the Royal Gramma two days ago, and the clowns still act stupid, but everyone gets along well so far and the Gramma has "helped" in the sense that now the clowns are more interested more often in other parts of the tank other than just the edges... they cruise around in the rock work more, sometimes even following the Gramma. They're going places they wouldn't go before.

 

[chizerbunoi]

That sounds like normal clownfish behaviour to me. I think they see their own reflection. Remember Flo from Finding Nemo?

Mine used to play a bubble game as well. Every time the powerhead made bubbles on the surface, they would pop them.

I bet your clowns are observant and will interact with you. Try hand feeding pellets to them. They might eventually pull the pellets out of your fingers as mine did.

 

[Trever]

@chizerbunoi I have wondered if they are chasing their reflection, I hope not.

They are friendly, that's for sure. If I put my face over the edge of the glass in the corner where they tend to be most of the time, and where the feeding ring is, they almost always come to the surface and stick their heads out at me. We look at each other and coo. I assume they're trying to kiss me of course, not bite my face off.

They love to play with the feeding ring tie that attaches to the wall/magnet. It gives them just enough room to swim over it without coming out of the water, and this activity seems to give them no end of pleasure (as if "Look what I can do!").

Don't get me wrong, I love the little guys.

I am just not sure about all the swimming nose into the corners and against the glass. And the hyper active current chasing (a lot, but they spend hours a day pretty chill too).

They sleep in the most bizarre places, but I guess that's typical.

It's worth wondering (seems to me) if everyone thinks their clowns are strange, if that's from inbreeding? Or do wild caught do the same sorts of things?

 

[Rickybobby]

Hide if you can and watch what they do. I find mine are so excited to see me they go nuts. But if I leave the room they settle down and go places in the tank I’ve never seen them go

 

[chizerbunoi]

It's worth wondering (seems to me) if everyone thinks their clowns are strange, if that's from inbreeding? Or do wild caught do the same sorts of things?