Seizure dance???

[jeffesaurusrex]

I just went to the LFS hoping to get a clownfish that was the same size as my very tiny (inch or less long) clownfish. Instead though, I got one that's about 2 and a half inches long. The LFS guy said that it was a female and that females are usually larger, which I have read here, so I agreed and took her. I got her home and introduced her into the tank and I saw the small guy kind of shaking and backing up onto the big one. Sometimes the big one takes a nip at the small one and usually he does the dance right after. Sometimes he does it if she kind of gives him a little chase. I read about this behavior also as a way that a male shows that he is submissive to the female. But will the female back off eventually? She doesn't constantly do it, just every now and again she will take a little dive at him.

Is the big one going to kill my small one, or is this a common thing? Is it a good sign they are going to pair? This is all happening less than 15 minutes after introduction. They do seem to stick pretty close together though.

 

[bradleym]

It's normal. It will probably always be that way, though it has no bearing on if they will pair up or not. It's just how they establish their pecking order.

 

[sneeze]

Totally normal. My B&W's have been together for three years. Male is about 3" and still does that with the female. I see it about once an hour now though now.

 

[deangelr]

normal.. if there is no physical damage to the male.. Then you've got a pair!

 

[cet98]

ahh...the "dance of love".... :lmao:

 

[reefpeep2004]

If your wife was twice your size, and she ran up to you and shook her fist in your face, you'd start shaking and dancing backwards too

 

[Whip316]

they wont stop doing the dance or even the chase part. my pairs still do it years later.

 

[jeffesaurusrex]

Nice to hear! Hopefully it does mean they are a pair. He was dancing with her within 5 minutes of being in the tank. No physical damage so far. Also they are now sleeping, about an inch apart. Young love!!

 

[jbax]

my 3+yr clowns no longer dance. the male knows his role and if he forgets she reminds him.

 

[Birdee]

My O's have been together for 7 years. She still nips and chases, he still does the seizure dance. I'd say very normal signs of :inlove:.

 

[donwilson]

As far as I know, the shaking/spasm is a sign of submission to the other fish. Then again, my female clown does the spasm dance to one of my powerheads, so maybe she knows her place in the tank?