Female Clown Preparing Nest?

[NeedBiggerTank]

I'm just curious if my female clown is preparing a "nest" and is ready to spawn? She has cleared the HA off the side of her favorite rock - an area of about a quarter in diameter or slightly larger. She keeps going to this same spot and keeps cleaning it - there is actually corraline algae growing in this spot now... She seems rather mad at the HA that keeps growing over her prized spot and removes the HA rather roughly. LOL

Then after she's cleaned the spot, she wiggles over it several times. Cleans it a little more, then returns to the wiggling. Is this just normal clown behavior, or is she getting ready to spawn? Just curious.

 

[nightfire]

my female clown acts the same way with my HA too but doesnt wiggle....she attacks the HA like you say though lol

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

So nobody else has a clown with a rock fetish? LOL

 

[XtremeFromHell]

My clown has a rock fetish, my male and female clown, but theyve been at it for about 4 -6 months now and no eggs yet :/

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

Good to know that my clowns aren't alone in this bizarre behavior. I just wish she'd clean the rest of the rock off!

 

[estutesman]

When my clowns spawn, they clean a larger spot. If they are mature enough that they should be spawning, and they appear to have bonded, you might try some of the tricks like extra feeding and raising the temperature to encourage them. Perhaps you could even show them pictures of nude fish in compromising positions as well. HeHe.

 

[nightfire]

Good to know that my clowns aren't alone in this bizarre behavior. I just wish she'd clean the rest of the rock off!

im with ya on that lol

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

ROTFL - Fish porn?

They do seem to have bonded - they actually both wiggle over the same spot - female first, then the male (only nothing is "happening"). If other fish get too close while the clowns are near their "spot", the female chases them off.

My temp is set at 77 - and this time of year, stays right on 77 all the time (I use two heaters in the winter, because my house is so cold). In the summer the temp flunctuates from 77 to 79. So, do I need to turn up the heaters?

I think I probably already over-feed (or at least, they are very well fed). LOL They get spectrum finicky fish pellets in the early AM, soaked in garlic guard. When I get home from work, they get a 3-part mixture of thawed Prime Reef, Mysis shrimp and Oyster eggs (also soaked in garlic guard). Then their bedtime snack is freeze dried Cyclop-Eeze and some Formula 2 flakes. Very small amounts at each feeding - what they consume in about 1-2 minutes - plus, I don't feed my corals directly (although I do add 1 teaspoon of Mark Weiss Reef Bugs once a week).

I've also been feeding the "short-cake" instead of my 3-part mixture twice a week.

 

[Mikeyjer]

My pair of clown that's been spawning will clean the spot where they laid their eggs. I actually witness her laying eggs one day and the male going behind to fertilize the eggs. It was a neat thing to watch. They're very much on schedule with their egg laying, They started laying eggs on Friday, then hatch the following Friday. Then they laid eggs again on Monday, then hatch the following Monday. Then the process starts back on Friday, but recently they were a day behind schedule and laid on a Tuesday instead and hatched Tuesday. I'll see when they lay this time around.....

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

Well, maybe mine are simply practicing.

 

[estutesman]

Having a baby is a big consideration. Imagine the consideration of 500 fry...

 

[Mikeyjer]

Having a baby is a big consideration. Imagine the consideration of 500 fry...

That's not the only issue, you have to raise their food!!!! Which it's not easy to do if your tight on schedule like me..... So I have not raise any of their young period.