Why do Occelaris kick up sand?

[Teremei]

It seems, whenever a host is not around their "favorite spot" they will kick up the sand alot. And this is a DSB so I don't like it. They also do it from time to time even with a host around. Why do they do this?

 

[TOURKID]

donno. but maroons are notorous for it. mine has made a barebottom in some places and a 7inch high bed in other spots.

she does it when i get to close to the tank, when other fish get to close to her nem, or when her nem touches the sand lol

 

[Teremei]

wow. So far nothing bad has happened in the tank. I have a 4" DSB and they have cut atleast 2" into it. Hopefully nothing too bad will happen.

 

[syntax357]

my tomato clown does this as well, If I remember right they are in the same family as damsels and my blue devil does this as well

 

[Teremei]

anyone know why? In my area (there favorite spot) it seems as though there is a nook for them under the rock they could hide in if needed. But at one point I moved their shrooms away and they increased their activity. As if they were "looking" for their "host".

Ny nems on my overflow box BTW. He's moved on to greener pastures (or brighter ones!)

 

[Newreeflady]

My female does this for her anemone (well, now she has two), seems to be just housekeeping, making sure to accomodate the anemone when it is near the sand.

jme,
-A

 

[James11]

My female clown does this as well (perc) they haven't made any holes or anything, but I can't figure it out either. There is no specific spot. But usually she does it around the nem and when the male comes around her a lot.

 

[rkelman]

Cleaning ritual for nesting possibly?

 

[Teremei]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8851046#post8851046 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rkelman
Cleaning ritual for nesting possibly?

Probably something like that. Some sort of instinct programmed into their brains. However I have seen an actual "cleaning ritual" when they first got their nem. The looked to be biting or kissing the rock (cleaning it off) before they laid their eggs. . Sadly the Nem met my overflow and is now in peices. I am now keeping an eye on several small peices who will hopefully grow new mouths. For a future move into a "nem safe" tank weeks from now.

 

[dc]

It seems to be what they do best.

 

[thing2do]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8837187#post8837187 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TOURKID
donno. mine has made a barebottom in some places and a 7inch high bed in other spots.

Mine do the exact same thing. But check this out my largest clarkie clown will go around the whole tank picking up the clean up crew and putting them in a pile, SERIOUSLY. Hes such a character. I enjoy it though.

 

[maww]

My akindynos female does this. She stirs p a big cloud of sand, then snaps up bits to eat.

 

[Teremei]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8860954#post8860954 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maww
My akindynos female does this. She stirs p a big cloud of sand, then snaps up bits to eat.

We've figured something else out. Might also be a technique to eating. Stirring up a bed to let loose sand pods to eat.

 

[GSMguy]

my maroons have one spot they kick up sand and make it bb but the male does it alll over the tank it seems to be a nesting behaivior

 

[dsteamn]

I have a mated pair of maroons. Its part of the symbiotic relationship for the nems. They provide the slime coat and protection for the fish and the fish make sure it has food and a clean environment to survive. Sometimes mine will clean in front of it and then clean paths to where it thinks it might go. When I first put it in, they kept the entire area clean for a foot in front of it. It finally settled where it wanted to be and now they will clean around it in all areas, but pretty much leave the rest of the tank alone. They will pick up snails, rocks and other things and move them around, but I look at this as boredom more than anything. I think its funny when they pick up one piece of sand, swim away and spit it out. Like that's really going to help anything.

 

[Teremei]

I noticed a blue damsel in a stores large display tank do this in a back corner. Just kicking up sand for the heck of it. I guess alot of fish do this sometimes huh.