Clownfish Question!! :)

[Evyllchyld]

Well, I've had my two clowns for about a month now since they've paired up. How long untill they start spawning and getting a spot ready??? (If ever) I looked in the FAQ and can't find the answers I'm looking for. Everynight about 30-45mins before lights out for the tank, my clowns get really active and follow eachother all around the tank. They go up near the powerhead, and swim around that for a few mins (they ONLY do this about 30-45 mins before lights out) They go in places that they only go near when lights are about to go out. Tonight, about 15 mins before lights out, I noticed the larger clown (who may or may not be female yet??) digging her nose into a piece of LR... she did this about 5-6 times, each time switching sides of her nose, if that makes sense. I thought I read somewhere that this could be the female preparing a nest for eggs?? Either that, or i'm COMPLETELY wrong... lol. Any help, or signs to lookout for. I'm thinking its nothing since they didn't pair up untill a month ago.

 

[stykthyn]

sounds like they are just settling in for the night. clowns will actively bite/clean their spawn site for several days before they start to spawn.

 

[Evyllchyld]

But is what the female was doing chosing a spawn spot??? I really think they are still young, but idk. If she is, then awesome! But i'm really unsure.

 

[stykthyn]

they will hang oout over the spawn site 24/7 and usually wont stray too far from it. once you see them pick a spot you will know it. I know it sounds vague, but when you see it you will know. I dont keep any anemones anymore, but all my fish will pick out a piling or a cave and they will spend 90% of their time sitting over it or darting around it. another dead giveaway is that it is where they sleep. But seeing as they haev only been together a month it may be a while before any true mating behavior is observed. how big are they? Percs are usually around 2-2.5 inches before they start to spawn regularly.

 

[Evyllchyld]

Thats what I figured about the size. Mine are still way to small, and for the rest of your description, i was laughing... cause they are in a nano, so they really have no choice but to do everything you've described :rollface: Thanks for the info! I guess it was just me being over excited.
I was just surprised to see what she was doing.

 

[stykthyn]

since you are in a nano , try gettind a pvc elbow and arrange the rockwork over it so that only the hole sticks out. I use elbows in my breeder tanks and the fish love em

 

[Evyllchyld]

I made my rockwork sorta like that, I have a nice doubled sided elbow type cave that the female hangs in all day, and doesn't allow the male in completely yet... but hes getting there.