Clowns mouthing at me.. worried.

[Be4Sims]

I recently moved aquarium to a better viewing position, beside where I sit most of the time.( and added live rock to it as well)
Now that I can observe my pair of False Perculas up close, I see that they are are constantly making this opening and closing movement with their mouths.
Is this normal?
I have had them for six months now and I never noticed it before, did they just start it? or did I just notice it now.
Do all fish do this? or do just clowns do this?
I am very attached to them and am concerned that it may be a sign that they are ill or something?
I searched for videos of clowns but none were close up enough to see their faces and mouth movement.
If you could be so kind, could you please observe your fish's mouths and report back to me , please. (I would of course go to a LFS but I live far far from any in the boonies in Canada.)
Thank You

 

[bobbravo2]

Water parameters? Do they look like they're hyperventilating?

 

[Be4Sims]

thanks for answering,

What does Hyperventilating in a clownfish look like?
I have heard of it on forums . But have no idea the symptoms in a fish .
They eat great, seem happy enough, maybe a bit less perky.
78 °F salinity at 1.024 pH 8.4

Water parameters? Do they look like they're hyperventilating?

 

[bobbravo2]

How about ammonia?

In general - if clowns are eating, I wouldn't be too worried. Try varying their diet too

 

[juniorrocketdad]

Sounds like they are establishing territory, I know basslets do it all the time, if your describing hoe they just open there mouth really wide than I wouldn't worry, they are prolly just getting used to you being there

 

[Be4Sims]

So everything seems fine with the water..
It's just this mouthing thing that they are doing.
Does your fish do it ?
am I just fussing over nothing?
thanks

 

[bobbravo2]

Mine do it too

 

[Be4Sims]

Mine do it too

so maybe I am just a overprotective fish mom ?

 

[DropTheB]

so maybe I am just a overprotective fish mom ?

I've had my clown for 7 years. She's been doing it since day one. She does it a bit more when I'm near the tank or if I stick my hand in.

The difference between a clown doing it normally and hyperventilating is that when they hyperventilate they stay near the top of the tank. This is usually a sign that they are having a hard time "breathing" and not getting enough o2. The fish will move towards the top and swim erratically. If they are just bobbing up and down and doing it that's fine. When my hand is in the tank mine goes into turbo with the mouth movements and then proceeds to attack me lol. Hope that helps

 

[juniorrocketdad]

Ya basically it is like a warning to stay away from their territory f their not sucking air from the top your good

 

[Be4Sims]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply to me .
Its reassuring that they are being "normal" clowns. and not hyperventilating.
They are quite young, a year and 3 months old, and seem to have recently bonded and have hosted a 4" plant pot.
The female was being very mean to the smaller one, but now lets him in the plant pot with her.
And she just started attacking my hand about two weeks ago!
So I'll taking it as another warning, like you said, to keep away.