Clown Convulsing?

[intenseimage]

I have a pair of clows in my tank (one Perc and one Oce) and they get along VERY well. The Perc is 2.5x the size of the Oce and has taken on the female role quite well and loves to chase her little mate when he gets a little too clingy. On those nights he is banished from the frogspawn to reside in my green stiped shrooms which he happily LAYS down in. He gets so comfy that you would think he died and the current left him there!

Ive noticed him do something in the past but saw it again last night which reminded me to post about it. He will be swimming along and out of nowhere convulse rapidly like he is being electrocuted. After a quick little shake session he returns to his goofy self like nothing ever happened.

He eats like a pig and other than the "shakes" is 100% !!

Any ideas?

 

[cvrle1]

Does he shake when he is close to the female or after she attacks him?

If thats the case, it's fine, thats his way of letting her know that he is submitting and that is is on the same page with her. One of my false percs does this a lot.

 

[intenseimage]

He isnt really close when he does it (or at least I havent noticed) but its not in relation to when she chases him

 

[cschweitzer]

This will usually only happen when the female is near him...make sure to look for her. Not necessarily chasing him, but she'll get really close and start getting close to nubbing him with her nose. He will do a little "clownfish dance" where he shimmies. Usually, they will do this in a sideways position or one of a few submissive positions

You should check to see the female whenever he is doing this. If she is not close, I can't help you with what the problem may be...if she is close then there should be no problem, just a sign of submission.

 

[intenseimage]

Every time that I have witnessed it he has been vertical - face up to the surface

 

[rogart]

How long have you had them?

 

[intenseimage]

Several months now ...

 

[rogart]

There is a clownfish book by a woman I think her name was Wilkerson or something like that. There is regime clowns go through to pair up. If they have been together several months, they are on the down side. The male shakes to let the female know she is boss. It is not always right in front of her. Mine used to do it when she just pointed in his direction even across the tank. However, after 6mo shaking they now sleep together. When the female shares her sleeping spot at night they are done with the ritual.