Male clown started resting on sand bed

chris_pull · Oct 2, 2020

Hi everyone,

I know clowns are weird, I know I am a chronic worrier and should just keep an eye on it, I know my parameters are in check and that there's nothing obviously wrong. Yet, I can't help myself posting here for some reassurance and to check in case I've missed something?

Essentially, in the last few days, I've noticed my male clown resting in a specific spot in the substrate, between a Favia coral and the glass. He is not breathing heavily and there are no signs of fin damage or disease. I also haven't seen the female being overly aggressive.

Up until recently, this pair hosted a patch of sand in the back right hand corner of the tank (they made a bowl in the bed and keep it clean) but recently started moving more to the front corner and are sort of showing hosting behaviour to a goniopora (sucking on its tentacles etc), which is next to the spot the male is now resting.

I am assuming this is normal as after a few minutes he'll resume normal behaviour and is eating well. It'd be great to hear what others think though!

The tank parameters are:

80 litres (20 gallons), 3.5 months old, clowns have been with me for 2 months.
Ammonia (seneye) = 0.001ppm
Nitrate (salifert) = 5 ppm
Phosphate (Hanna ULR) = 0.08 ppm
Calcium (salifert)= 440 mg/l
Alkalinity (Hanna) = 7.5 dKH
Magnesium (red sea) = 1360 mg/l (this is a bit high)
Salinity (hanna probe) = 1.024
pH (hanna pen/seneye) = 8.2
Temperature (hanna pen, seneye, digital thermometer) = ~ 25.5˚C

I dose Tropic Marin all for reef daily (3.5ml on an auto-doser) and feed daily (Mysis or flakes). I also add amino acids and reef roids weekly.

The tank is moderately stocked with soft, LPS, and some very easy SPS corals.

Thanks!

Chris

Jay Hemdal · Oct 2, 2020

Hi Chris,

Sounds like you ruled out all of the common issues for this and have identified that "clowns are weird" I would agree with your assessment (grin).

Just a couple of things: you note that the female isn't being "overly aggressive" to me that implies that they aren't strongly bonded, and you need to watch that in case their pairing breaks down. Clowns are smart - while you are watching them, they are watching you, and may be on their best behavior...so observe them from a darkened room.
One other "clown symptom" - is your male holding its fins erect (especially the dorsal)? A happy clown will do that all the time, one with possible issues may let the fin fold up.

Jay

chris_pull · Oct 7, 2020

Jay Hemdal said:
Hi Chris,

Sounds like you ruled out all of the common issues for this and have identified that "clowns are weird" I would agree with your assessment (grin).

Just a couple of things: you note that the female isn't being "overly aggressive" to me that implies that they aren't strongly bonded, and you need to watch that in case their pairing breaks down. Clowns are smart - while you are watching them, they are watching you, and may be on their best behavior...so observe them from a darkened room.
One other "clown symptom" - is your male holding its fins erect (especially the dorsal)? A happy clown will do that all the time, one with possible issues may let the fin fold up.

Jay

Thanks a lot, Jay! Sorry for my slow reply. I've not seen him do it again since I posted this and he seems to be completely fine. As I expected, I panicked about nothing!

My female isn't really aggressive to him, she'll just occasionally head but him and he'll do his little submissive dance. I've not noticed any fin damage, for example.

Thanks again!

wonroc · Oct 7, 2020

At 6 am my tank lights slowly come on. When they do, my clown is resting near the sand and glass. 5 mins later he is swimming around active. He does this everyday. I chalk it up to resting,chilling out. Seems normal.