Why clown fish kicks coral

[Qasim]

I have noticed my clowns are kicking up corals and throwing them around in the tank. I wonder what they are up to.

 

[ying yang]

Little buggers.
Took a disliking to it hey

 

[James M]

Clowns are picky in what comes in their area. They’ll most likely keep doing it until you move it or glue it down

 

[mochaclownlover]

Mine typically do this if I put something too close to their anemone (I have a 4-5 in. area around my nem rock that my clowns refuse to let me put corals XD) . If they have a favorite spot where they hang out they may also do this to keep the area clear

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Are they knocking off frags in one particular area or all around? They look big enough to lay eggs

 

[TheDragonsReef]

They pick a spot and that spot is theirs. They will move stuff and redecorate their spot as they please.

 

[Viva'sReef]

Are they hosting something close to that spot? Have they laid a clutch yet maybe in that immediate area?
It was the male that did it, I think he might just be protecting the pair's area/nem/eggs. Look under the rock and see if they laid a clutch

 

[Qasim]

They are hosting my torch and hammer since there are no Nems in my display tank. I ended up moving the coral to another place until I give them to to their previous owner.

 

[ScottJ]

That is video hysterical! Like watching my 2 daschund puppies playing. Nature is amazing!

 

[dedragon]

They do it a lot, clowns are smarter than we give credit though

 

[dedragon]

could be testing out a potential nest site but i suspect it was just clearing the area, wait til they start kicking sand up everywhere

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

Wow, just totally sized it up, lined up, and pow! Then they congratulated each other, mission accomplished! Hilarious!

 

[Qasim]

The male is the aggressive guy, the smaller one the kicks things around. The female is peaceful just hangs in the torch and hammer.

 

[D-Nak]

I have a feeling that the male is just trying to impress the female. Like "Yo! I'm cleaning up here, you know you like it! Let's make babies now."