Is this weird Clownfish behavior?

[KingReef]

I received two clownfish from DD yesterday. They are in QT and are absolutely racing around the tank. They have hardly stopped swimming. The larger of the two is racing back and forth and the smaller is racing top to bottom. They were left lights out yesterday and this morning just room lights were on. I fed them and they seemed to eat anything that was in their path, but they are just swimming like crazy. Is this normal? Will they calm down?

 

[Old Fritz]

One of my pairs of clowns go up and down one side of the tank all day. I even had a pair that liked to ride an airstone's bubbles to the top of the tank. I wouldn't say they were racing though. Are they breathing hard? Notice bright red gills? Having a good appetite is a good sign

 

[KingReef]

They look fine (amazing even). No hard breathing, no discolorations, bumps or broken fins. Just swimming like they are being chased...

 

[j.falk]

It's usually due to stress...if you have lights on the tank, turn them off and see if that helps calm them down.

 

[KingReef]

Wasn't running lights on the tank, but the lights were on in the room. Will shut them off for the day and see what happens. Thanks!

 

[Westside Guy]

My 2 Gladiators did some crazy stuff for the first few days until they became acclimated to their new surroundings.

 

[jayala12]

One of my pairs of clowns go up and down one side of the tank all day. I even had a pair that liked to ride an airstone's bubbles to the top of the tank. I wouldn't say they were racing though. Are they breathing hard? Notice bright red gills? Having a good appetite is a good sign

That’s funny. Mine chill right up against the pump intake so they don’t have to swim in my biocube. Clowns r clowns huh

 

[hllb]

Someone recently posted something similar, with a video. After a couple of days, they were acting normally.

 

[j.falk]

Wasn't running lights on the tank, but the lights were on in the room. Will shut them off for the day and see what happens. Thanks!

Every time I buy new clowns they always do this for the first few days. I've always found that keeping the lights off seems to help them get over it quicker. Good luck with them. I'm sure they'll be fine once they get used to their new surroundings.

 

[D-Nak]

Do you have anything else in the QT tank? I have pieces of large diameter PVC pipe in mine to allow the fish to swim into them. Makes them feel more comfortable and may stop your fish from swimming around so frantically. It's totally normal for clownfish to do this though.

 

[KingReef]

Thanks for the suggestions and reassurances. This morning, the fish are swimming around like normal and are very relaxed. Guess I just need to re-adjust to having fish again.

 

[Westside Guy]

Thanks for the suggestions and reassurances. This morning, the fish are swimming around like normal and are very relaxed. Guess I just need to re-adjust to having fish again.

At the end of the day they are Clowns, don't try to figure them out and simply watch and enjoy!