Twitching Clown.

[Leafer]

Quite a while ago I noticed my clownfish under stress. She would twitch and harass other fish. Her partner would exhibit similar behavior but not as drastically.

I’m pretty sure I have isolated the cause and I wanted to share this here to see if you folks had any comments or suggestions.

I have installed an Agualight 240w PC retrofit package for my current lighting (2 10k & 2 Actinic bulbs). I’m pretty confident that I’m not hitting fish with too much light because this is a very modest lighting option. Plus, I’m using a glass top which reflects back a bit of light.

I noticed when an actinic needed replacing (it was off for several days) she calmed down. I have since been running without one of the actinics. If I ever plug this back in she tells me right away that she doesn’t like it.

I do kind of like the little bit darker look during sunrise and sunset but I’d like to be able to run my lights properly. I have read how to test for stray voltage in the water. Is there and point to doing this as the lights are not in the water? Any other suggestions?

thanks

 

[cd77]

Wouldn't stray voltage trip your GFCI outlet?

 

[kookerson]

If it were stray voltage.....wouldnt the other fish be affected as well? Could it possibly be a mating thing? Sounds far fetched.........but maybe they are doing the clown mating dance whenever the actinics come on? Just a suggestion....... : )

 

[o.c.d.]

My clowns are a breeding pair and they snap jaws twitch and chase anything that comes close to their territory including me if I look to close female will rush the glass, This behavior increases when eggs a present,and has been going on for over 5 years.

 

[Leafer]

My GFI is defiantly not tripping. I have no reason to suspect an electrical issue, I’m just puzzled by this and looking for explanations. Perhaps she is looking for food and doesn’t like looking up at lights, I don’t know. What else could it be? I may try a 10k bulb there and she what she thinks of it or install a ground probe.

I don’t think it’s a breading thing because it only occurs when that light is on. Plus this has been pretty much the same deal for 6 months.

 

[jkriebel]

My female percula clown does this when I approach the tank or stare at her closely. It seems to be a terretorial behavior. Honestly I wouldn't be overly worried about it.

 

[kaihonu82]

one of my two clowns does this as well..i wouldn't worry

 

[Leafer]

I know clowns are quirky. Thanks for the comments. I monitor behaviors closely as a good indicator of how my system is doing. These two have so much personality that you have to take some things with a grain of salt (hehe). It’s just that the jaw twitching looks scary.

Anyway, I’m going to leave that light off for now. For the next few months I’ll be establishing my fuge. After that I probably will add my first few corals and address or upgrade my lighting.

 

[uscharalph]

I thought that was some sort of defense mechanism.

 

[trpigg]

it is territorial...I just finished rearranging my rock and the clarki i have was hiding...well in the mean time, the two percs i have rushed to the anenome that the clarki had been hosting in and they both were twitching like crazy...then the clarki chased them out and the clarki twitched as wel. It is a scare tactic for other fish.

 

[joesfiddy]

my clown will twitch every so often no signs of ich or anything and all the other fish are fine

 

[carlos_fb]

My male Percula does this when the female picks on him. I read somewhere that this is a normal behavior of the clowns showing submission. Once he does it, the female leaves him alone.