ocellaris behaviour

[myxsptlk]

Hi guys,

I just got two false clowns and put them in my tank, it's about 70 litres of water (apologies, I don't know what that is in gallons, 15? 20?)

I had a little sixline in there for a week before this and it gave them a bit of stick initially but after awhile everyone seemed to play nice, the wrasse only flaring up if either of the clowns got too close to him.

One of the clowns is just doing his thing, swimming and being.. well normal. The other guy however has just been "surfing" the surface of the water? He/She's been darting around in a square along the perimeter of the tank, with its nose just above the water level. And not just mosey-ing along. She's (she's the larger of the two so I'll just stick with she for simplicity) really going at it! She's swimming even faster than I've ever seen the sixline go. She's been doing that for a good couple hours now and still going strong. I don't think it's a lack of oxygen because the wrasse and other clown are perfectly fine and her mouth is still below the water level.

I turned off the lights and hour ago and I've just checked in on her and she's still doing it. Slower, but still at it.

The water parameters are all good, the wrasse isn't and hasn't been bothering her, he's gone to sleep in his little hidey hole. The other clown like I said is just normal and seems to be adjusting really well. I asked on my local forums and they said it could be hungry. I fed the clowns and she had a few nibbles then carried on. The wrasse and other clown ate quite a bit more. Someone suggested that it could just be stress and leave it be till tomorrow morning.

I've never heard of this behaviour and I'm really worried because these were the first two clowns to come into my town for the past 3 months. Marine fish are few and far between here in New Zealand and much dearer. I'm not worried about the cost of the fish, but I've been waiting for ages to get my hands on a pair of clowns and don't want to have to wait for another three months, if that.

Anyone have any suggestions? Anyone seen this before? Thanks guys

 

[Lmecher]

I wish I could more helpful but my best guess is stress. I know how you feel, so I sympathize with the helplessness your feeling. How was it acting before you purchased it? Were you able to observe it's behavior? Sometimes they can display some pretty wierd behavior when stressed. I once had a new 6line that swam very fast in circles on and off for the first few days, I thought there was something wrong with it, turned out to be fine. Keep us posted, I for one am interested in how things develope. : )

 

[rkelman]

I agree its stress related. I haven't had one do that but clowns are a very strange fish. They have some really weird behavior at times. I wouldn't be too worried about it honestly. Any interaction from you will just add to the problem. I say just leave it alone and if its healthy it will be ok. If its sick but has no outward appearance of illness there is likely nothing you could do. Can it swim lower in the water? Is it choosing to stay on the top or does it seem like it has no choice?

 

[Zaita]

If it's the larger then it's the She

But as rkelman said, clowns are very strange fish. My Occ Clowns will lie in their anemone still as anything until the current pushes them out. Or will go play chicken with my Coral-Banded and his Claws.

While my B&W Occ will lie in the sand =\ Strange fish indeed. I'd just leave the fish alone for a day or two. They don't need to be fed every day and this will give them time to adjust to their new environment. Also making sure they have something to host/hide in will be beneficial. Even if it's just a piece of PVC pipe.