Open water swimmers until they host?

[Joeb1983]

Hey guys and gals,

First off there is nothing wrong with my clowns or my params. Just an observation that came to light last night that raised the question are clowns open water swimmers until they host?

I have 4 pairs of clowns in 4 different tanks. I actually just received a new pair in a last week and noticed that none of my clown pairs seem to pay any mind to any of my rockscapes in any of my tanks...

I have a 2 mated pair, the third is getting there and the newest arrival are still way too young.

One mated pair (my oldest) stay in one corner of the tank (36 gallon bow) 24/7 and only leave to feed or defend their corner. I'm assuming they hosted that corner. (No rocks, corals, nems, or equipment... Just a glass corner). lol!

My other pair (almost mated) swims around the tank (45 standard) together periodically all day long, but always out in the open; never seem to go near/through the rock-work or corals and like my other pair seem to favor corners.

The other mated pair in the 60 gallon cube basically just swim from corner to corner and again, completely seem to pay no mind to my rock work (center column style). They both sleep vertically in the same corner every night.

The newest arrivals have been in the tank (15 gallon basic nano reef) since last Friday and again avoid the rockscape and follow the glass from corner to corner all day long and sleep in separate corners at night.

Is it because they are all tank raised/aqua-cultured, see their reflection, or are they just not the type of fish to swim around/through or seek cover/sleep in rockwork?

Let me know your thoughts as this puzzles me.

 

[Joeb1983]

Anyone?.. Do your clowns act similar or different?

I know once they host something (Nem, coral, power head, heater, return, overflow etc...) lol! They wont stray too far from whatever that object may be.

 

[raythepilot]

Clowns are actually nem food for the first part of their lives. They hatch as larvae and morph into the adult form after a few weeks. The larvae are readily consumed by anemone.
Sometime after transforming into the adult form the look for a host. I'm not sure how long after this phase change occurs will they finally bond. I'm actually trying to find that out myself.

Now that I look at it I guess I didn't answer your question. sorry.

 

[Joeb1983]

Haha! Thanks for the reply at least.

I love all my clowns don't get me wrong, but it's just frustrating they seem to stay/swim in one area.

In my case the most uninteresting places like a top or bottom corner away from anything. It's like they are truly infatuated with the glass...

 

[shifty51008]

After clowns hatch they swim to the ocean surface to feed for 1-3 weeks. After meta they then swim back to the ocean floor to find an anemone to escape being eaten