Clown constanly swimming by water surface

[Schoeny]

Everyone else's tank pics I've ever seen the clowns are in the bottom 1/2 of the tank.

Mine is alone in there for now (his buddy died of unknown causes) with no other fish. Even when both were alive, this on was the bigger/leader clown, and they did the same thing. He stays in the back of the tank, just below the water surface, and swims toward the surface against the current.

He doesn't seem to be trying to breathe, because he never actually breaches the surface to take in air, and *sometimes* he'll be lower, but he hovers there 90% of the day (unless it's feeding time of course).

He eats a ton, water params are all in check 0-0-(10-20) Amm-NiTri-Nitra, and I have a Koralia 3 pointed at the surface so I know there is plenty of agitation. And there is nothing in that corner for him to be "hosting"....

Anyone else's do this? Just confused and thinking maybe there was a reason.

 

[t4zalews]

this is normal clownfish behavior. I've had fish do this on many occasions. The loss of the other clownfish could have an influence on this behavior, I'm not sure. If you want it to come down I'd suggest having something lower for it to find safety in. Maybe not an anemone, but somethign else. If its eating fine, I wouldnt have a concern. Clownfish do stupid things.

 

[dcombs44]

How long has the fish been in the tank?

Were the 2 clowns quarantined separately from the display prior to placing them in the display?

If they are new to the tank, chances are that they were unhealthy to begin with.

If it's eating, and it's breathing doesn't appear to be labored, and there are no outward signs of problems, just keep doing what you're doing and hope for the best.

If its health goes downhill, and it would die, I would leave your tank fish free for a bit and start utilizing good quarantine practices going forward to help keep disease and infection out of your display.

Good luck.

 

[BonsaiNut]

this is normal clownfish behavior.

This is normal clownfish behavior for a captive bred clown. When someone says this, I can almost 100% guarantee they have a captive bred clown.

It is NOT normal clownfish behavior for a wild caught clown (which would be instantly dead if it exhibited this behavior in the wild).

 

[Biermann]

I've had 2 pair of clowns. One pair of True's with a huge female that I was told was wild caught (not positive just what I was told), and a pair of Grade B Picasso's. Both of the female's have shown this behavior. I think it is do to not finding a host they like. When I added a BTA to the tank and finally got the female true perc to host it she stopped going to the top of the tank. As soon as the anenome was gone she began swimming at the top again. The female picasso still swims at the top coming down every once in a while to visit the male who is hosting a toad stool.

Not an expert opinion, just my experience.