Damsel rubbing behavior

[oakengineer]

I have a Lemon Damsel that has been digging and rubbing itself on the corner of the aquarium. The white line you see on the edge looks like sand that seems to be stuck to the calk. I'm assuming he somehow put it there Here's a video:

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/r9s6ljzhojhpo7f/AADCrr8kmVVM_msIs2j5ARYwa

What does this behavior mean? I've heard fish rubbing on objects can be a sign of parasites. Although this is the only fish that does it, and the bare spot at the bottom of the tank makes me think its a nesting thing. I don't have any other damsels, by the way.

 

[ginpang]

Damsel rubbing behavior

It does seem like pre -spawning behaviour. Strange that you have only one.
Can you hear a faint clicking sound if the room is completely quiet?

Apparently the female makes a sound to invite a male to spawn like clownfish ( clownfish are somewhat sophisticated damsels!)

Otherwise could be a just a territoriality thing. Especially if you can't see external parasites neither on the body, fins or gills or stringy translucent poop which indicate internal parasites....

If it keeps up for more than a week, I would probably be curious and put in another smaller one [emoji4]

 

[oakengineer]

It does seem like pre -spawning behaviour. Strange that you have only one.
Can you hear a faint clicking sound if the room is completely quiet?

Apparently the female makes a sound to invite a male to spawn like clownfish ( clownfish are somewhat sophisticated damsels!)

Otherwise could be a just a territoriality thing. Especially if you can't see external parasites neither on the body, fins or gills or stringy translucent poop which indicate internal parasites....

If it keeps up for more than a week, I would probably be curious and put in another smaller one [emoji4]

Interesting. Well I do have clownfish. I know they are similar species, but I wouldn't think they would be close enough to initiate mating behaviors.

I haven't heard anything like ticking. And I've been listening for a while because I thought a mantis shrimp might be eating my snails. I'm fairly certain at this point I don't have one. But If I could hear clicking over my pumps I would have by now.

 

[ginpang]

Damsel rubbing behavior

I don't think your clownfish is provoking this behaviour. Because clownfish pair up for life as damsels I believe mate in a harem setting even though I've had clients have surprise spawnings with only 2 fish. But for sure the males do clean and prepare a surface for spawning same as clowns.

You may search the fish breeding section of RC And type : "black axial chromis" ....This dude had his chromis lay eggs recently he may be able to answer you.

 

[Dmorty217]

If that's all your seeing I would rule out flashing caused by ich or flukes

 

[oakengineer]

The ironic thing about this situation is that I had two lemon damsels. One had the other to the point of near death. I got rid of the aggressor and nursed the victim back to life.