Female maroon nesting???

[heckaman]

Ok... so i was told by a friend that my female is getting ready to spawn. She is in the nesting stage? She is removing coral and anything she can get her mouth on from a specific rock. She is picking up pieces of crushed coral from substrate and placing them on rock. She is also very protective of specific area in tank. No fish can swim near or she darts at them. Also keeping male pretty close. Any ideas or helpful hints?????

 

[Aquatiq]

Maroons are one of the more difficult species to get to spawn from my reading, but still very possible. You mentioned her cleaning off a specific rock, which is a very good sign. I'm not sure what your tank's current inhabitants, and chemistry is like. However, I'd recommend the following to encourage egglaying:

- Increase temperature to 80 degrees F temporarily
- Feed your maroons brine shrimp (if not currently in their diet)
- Sit back, and perpare for the blessed day when you see the eggs!

I'm sure you've heard this before, but pick up Joyce D Wilkerson's Clownfishes book. It is an amazing book, especially for someone expecting or preparing for eggs.