Clown Fish Behavior

[Txase1]

Hi RC, I am new to the hobby. So I need some advice. I have a black ice percula clown and a black and white in a 55 gls live rock tank. It looks like they've paired up. I've had them for 48 hours and they seem to only hang around at one end of the tank. When I feed them, they do come out, but most of the time, they stay in the corner. In the last two mornings I have found them in the corner swimming on their side. I thought they were sick, but once they saw me they came back down and looked normal. Is this normal? Any description of behavior or books would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rubasu]

If it's in the top corner in the morning, that may just be where they go to sleep... Mine do that as well sometimes.

As far as being in the corner all day except for feeding, you said that you've only had them for a couple days, so they are probably still a little nervous. They should come out over time and start swimming around. Everything you said seems normal to me.

 

[Txase1]

Cool! Thanks! I really appreciate it. I spent three months putting the tank together and not rushing. So I really don't want to screw it up. I want to do it right.

Thanks!

 

[Clownfish Chris]

I have had them "lay down" on the sand when the lights were off. They would always perk right up when the lights came back on. Never had a problem until I killed em off by not QTing a new addition.

 

[Txase1]

Nice! Thanks for the info. How often do you feed them? I've heard anywhere from five times a day with a fixed amount per day to once a week. I'm leaning towards a small pinch of flakes a day alternating with frozen shrimp.

 

[davocean]

Clowns typically have a sort of nesting instinct that tends to keep them in one place most of the time, usually in a host if one is provided(Anemone or sometimes a soft coral among other things)
Feeding once a day is fine, but do try to alter their diet some, NLS pellets and mysis seem to be mines favorite.

 

[nuttyd]

When i had clowns in my 55, they would do the same thing. For mine, was finding a calmer spot in the tank with lower flow. Might be they are avoiding a high flow zone by staying on one side.

 

[Txase1]

Ok. It is all making sense. The corner the "sleep" in is protected by the cover that covers the plumbing. So it acts like a little cove.

Thanks!

 

[Txase1]

My clowns got out of the corner and swam all over the tank all afternoon and evening. Thanks for your'alls input. I really appreciate it.

 

[Shawn O]

Mine sleep up in the left rear corner every night. They don't usually venture out for the morning feeding but are the first, and most aggressive, eaters for the evening feeding. They usually go to bed before the night time feeding. During the day they swim above and behind 'their' rock and don't normally swim in the rest of the tank, except for during feedings. hth.

 

[bitwise]

I have found them in the corner swimming on their side. I thought they were sick, but once they saw me they came back down and looked normal.

Mine do the exact same thing. The day I got mine I put them in the tank and then went out for several hours. I came back at night, my apartment was pitch black. When I turned on my apartment lights I saw them on their sides on the surface. They looked like they were dying. I panicked. After looking online I was relieved to find that was normal.

My female especially, still, sometimes will look like she is bobbing up and down and swimming weird. The second I walk close to the tank though she perks right up and swims normally thinking she is going to get fed.

 

[e048]

mine sleep on top of koralia powerhead and they host a blue shroom garden in the day time and don't like visitors in their garden my hand included

clown's are weird in my other tank my clowns host the overflow box lol