Why are my clowns being stupid?

[LobsterOfJustice]

For the past 2 weeks or so, they spend all day with their noses up against the glass swimming against it:



A black curtian obscures most of the view, but beyond that about 2' there is a 30 breeder full of water but nothing else which I use to mix new saltwater for water changes. Could they be seeing their reflections in this? I wouldnt think so... and if so, it took them about 7 months to notice.

 

[paper clip]

Could they have hosted there? The only clown I've had hosted on the front glass of the tank. He was always swimming right near the glass

 

[JPMagyar]

Captive fish.

Captive fish.

I am not a marine biologist, but I have seen this behaviour before many times in my own tanks. Typically it only lasted a few hours after introduction to the tank. My gut tells me that your clowns might benefit from a surrogate host like a sarcophayton coral as well as added diversion within the tank, but again I'm not a marine biologist and that's just the best guest of a hobbyist. Do you have a full tank shot?


Good luck and keep us posted!


Joe

 

[gman0526]

Not hosting behavior IMO, it looks like they're picking a fight with their own reflections. I guess it's their damselfish instinct showing up.

 

[Mikro]

I didn't think they saw their reflection, only the outside.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I tried an anemone for them but it died, made a few changes and I am going to try again. I have had them for three years, I haven't noticed this before. They have always lived in the back left corner of the aquarium.

Current FTS:

 

[JPMagyar]

Gut feelings only.

Gut feelings only.

O.K. again I'm no marine biologist, and I'm simply expressing my gut feeling based on a few sentences of information and a picture, but here are my thoughts:

1) Seems like a lot of fish for a basic set up.
2) I recently have come to favor less flow. 2 Tunzes in a 90 plus the return line is a lot.
3) I would try a few simple soft corals like a Frog Spawn

Sorry I don't have more time to explore all my reasoning and evidence for these suggestions, and I know there will be a myriad of other suggestions that will make the resolution all that more confusing, but I honestly hope it all works out for the best!

Joe