Clownfish pregnant?

[hamiltonguy]

I noticed that my female clownfish has been blowing sand the elegance coral that she and the male are hosting. Also noticed a "bulge" in her stomach. Is she about to lay eggs or just fat? Are there any tell tale signs to look for in a clownfish that's about to lay eggs?

Btw I've had the pair for almost a year now.

 

[Toddrtrex]

What type of clowns?

She could be gravid (( believe that is the term for being full of eggs, not technically pregnant )).

The blowing sand could mean that, but not always -- my clarkii pair does that all the time, even b/t spawns.

Have you noticed then actually cleaning a part of a rock? Common to see them using their mouths to clear algae away.

 

[hamiltonguy]

False percula clowns. The closest rock is the base of the elegance coral that's hosting them. The reason I mentioned the blowing Sand as possible sign is because she has never done this since i've had her.

Would me staring at them disrupt the spawning cycle, IF the are spawning?

 

[Toddrtrex]

I don't think staring at them will effect things. When my pink skunk pair spawned for the first time (( harder to get to spawn then average clowns )), I was able to take a bunch of pictures of it. They didn't seem to care at all.

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

Occys are fun to watch

Are they rubbing there 'bellys' on the nearest rock? Watch for them to do the scoot, the male will try to entice the female over to a flat rock (if you dont have any flat rocks near them, try putting a small piece of new clay pot or slate near the elegance they like) and start "scooting" with his belly on it to get her to approve the site for a nest. Once they settle on where the nest will go its just a matter of time and being fed properly (they have to be FAT!).

See also:

mofib.org