Clown behaviour?

[jroescher]

I have a large tomato clown that likes to put her tail in the sand, then shake it (for a lack of a better description) real hard creating a huge sandstorm. She's managed to clear a spot almost to the bottom of my 6" sandbed. I just keep filling the hole back in. Since it's mostly Southdown, it turns my tank into a milkshake. She's been in this tank for about 2 years, and does it occassionally ever since.


Anyone know why she does this? Or what I can do to stop her? I yell at her but she doesn't listen.

[Gseclipse02]

what I can do to stop her? I yell at her but she doesn't listen.


you can take her out of water for an hour im sure she will stop .... :)

[Kristy]

Our female maroon does the same thing near her anenome. I was under the impression that it's some sort of "nesting" behavior to prepare for laying eggs.

Not only does ours not listen to me when I yell at her, but we have gotten in many the power struggle over her covering corals near the anenome with sand, or even picking up and moving smaller corals away from her anenome, as far as two feet down the tank. Guess who always wins these little battles? Not me. She tends to get her way.

[CoryDude]

Kristy's not kidding. This fish has a real attitude problem. That clown was giving me the evil fish eye, when I walked in the room

Have you checked w/TexReefer? I know he's pretty good w/clown advice.

[blindside]

Sounds to me like kristy is right. It sounds like your clown is clearing her nesting spot

[Mr Cob]

I agree with Kristy that she is clearing the spot for a nest.

I would add a flat rock to the spot she kicks up. She probably is clearing the sand and waiting to hit a surface which is why she keeps going until she gets to the bottom of the tank. Mine did the same thing so I moved the rock with the anemone up higher and away from the sand and now my pair keeps that area spotless...never any detritus build up in their home :)

[jroescher]

Let me see, female, looking for a nesting spot, bad attitudes, me always losing the arguments and battles.... I think I'm starting to understand.