Clownfish spawning?

[mcfa2403]

I posted this in the clownfish and anemone forum, missed this forum entirely somehow (oops) Anyways here it is...

So my female just started biting the wall of the corner my clowns host and seems to swim circles around the powerhead that is directly above. She and the male have both been shaking in a way my wife describes as "seizures". From what I've read this seems to be the behavior they exhibit as they nest in preparation.

The female is a black onyx and the male is a snowflake I have had the female 6 months and the male just over a month. Water parameters are optimal other than nitrates reading 5 on salifert. Of note water temp was raised 4 degrees over the last 24 hours (was set at 77 when temp dropped a couple weeks back to keep it from over working when we were having trouble with the thermostat)

Also purple tang and yellow corris wrasse seem to be harassing that area more than usual but the female seems to make them regret the decision each time.

Any info would be great! I know its too late to prepare to raise the eggs but I don't want the situation to be more stressful for them than it already is, plus it would be nice if they laid again.

 

[smtank]

Typically the male cleans the area. Clowns will do the shake dance whether they are about to spawn regardless. The female should have a rounded abdomen.

I would not give a second thought to how stressful it might be for the clowns. The clowns will be fine if they are indeed in preparation for a spawn.

It's initially a daunting tasking raising the larvae/fry. Some simple research on the topic and you might decide never to take on that responsibility.

 

[mcfa2403]

I will likely never raise them, however my LFS said he would take the eggs (he has full set up for breeding and rearing). I have seen them shake dance before this has just been more intense than usual. If there is no worry of excess stress then it is not a big deal if they are or aren't, I was just worried for the health of my fish.

 

[woods4542000]

If you want to give eggs away put a tile where they normally lay , easy to remove that way.