Clownfish Breeding Behavior

[ScruffyRubicon]

So I have had a pair of young True Perculas for a little over 3 months. I'm sure one is now the female. She has rapidly outgrown her mate.

My question is that they have yet to lay eggs. They have done their little clownfish jiggy dance for about amonth now, but the last few days it seems to be changing. They are looking around their anemone more and straying as much as a foot away, which they have never done. Their behavior has changed as well. They male now darts rapidly at her anytime she is more than 6 inches away and he seems more aggressive. Is this a good indication that the time is near for them to start breeding? Are there other behaviors that I might see as they get closer?

 

[Letmegrow]

They usually need to be together longer and be older to actually spawn.

They are just going through the dating phase now.
I have had a pairs of clowns upwards of 3 years together and they NEVER spawned.

Not every pair will mate.

 

[kentrob11]

He's chewing her arse for not cleaning the toilet before going outside to mow the grass...Is your male clown wearing a wife-beater by any chance?







:rollface:

 

[ScruffyRubicon]

Why Yes! He is wearing a Wife Beater.

 

[Kathy55g]

You have a mated pair. If you want them to spawn in a hurry, feed them 2 or 3 times a day until they ignore the food each time. Feed them until the hair algae in your tank is uncontrolable. Use the highest quality frozen food you can find. Do this for a couple of years, and soon they will be laying eggs right and left.

Ha ha. Folks with reef tanks usually don't want to ruin them, as I did, getting their clownfish to breed. They may still breed without the sledgehammer feedings. You just have to be patient, keep the water quality high and consistent, and wait for them to be ready.

 

[sirreal63]

It is fun to watch...mine have decided a mat of zoas is their new home, the female isn't bothered too much by them but the male is having some issues with the toxins. I was worried about the poor little guy but I have learned it is normal when they host in zoas. Other than the black spots he is as normal as ever.

 

[ScruffyRubicon]

Now spawning yet, but my male has decided that it is much more fun to swim upside down against the female when she moves anywhere.