I have a mated pair of percula clownfish that furiously peck at the Seachem Ammonia Alert at the top of their tank every few minutes. After they are done pecking the female will go lay on her side behind the clay pot for several minutes, almost looking dead but breathing normally. She does this all day and all night long, which I believe is making her tired and needing to nap frequently. The last time I saw them picking at the ammonia alert was right before they spawned 6 weeks ago, so it may just be a sign of spawning - even though she laid her eggs in the clay pot.
My concern is due to the fact that the lying down part of this is relatively new behavior and I had a brook outbreak in another tank in the same room (>10' away) but fear I may have accidentally contaminated them at some point with my hands or a piece of equipment not sterilized properly.
She feeds like a mad man and eats everything I put in the tank, and has no visible signs of disease. If she is laying down when I walk in the room, she'll bounce right up and start begging for food. The male is definitely in spawning mode, furiously swimming around the female at all times.
A short video: http://youtu.be/odVoxwf4sDY
My questions:
1.) Should I be concerned, or is this typical crazy clownfish behavior?
2.) Should I leave the ammonia alert in the tank or remove it? ie; Is she pecking at it because it is bothering her?
After dealing with the brook outbreak in my other system, it's hard not to be on high alert.
Any advice or reassurance would be appreciated!!!
Thank you,
Todd
My concern is due to the fact that the lying down part of this is relatively new behavior and I had a brook outbreak in another tank in the same room (>10' away) but fear I may have accidentally contaminated them at some point with my hands or a piece of equipment not sterilized properly.
She feeds like a mad man and eats everything I put in the tank, and has no visible signs of disease. If she is laying down when I walk in the room, she'll bounce right up and start begging for food. The male is definitely in spawning mode, furiously swimming around the female at all times.
A short video: http://youtu.be/odVoxwf4sDY
My questions:
1.) Should I be concerned, or is this typical crazy clownfish behavior?
2.) Should I leave the ammonia alert in the tank or remove it? ie; Is she pecking at it because it is bothering her?
After dealing with the brook outbreak in my other system, it's hard not to be on high alert.
Any advice or reassurance would be appreciated!!!
Thank you,
Todd
