Clownfish egg laying cycle changing

[eagerreefer]

Hello all,

I've had a pair of clownfish for roughly around 3 years now and they have been spawning very consistently for the last 18-20 months. Always the same cycle with a new clutch every 14-ish days. After the last hatch they haven't spawned for about 4 weeks now. The female looks like she is pregnant although not overly so, and there are some days that I think she looks like she is getting close but then the next day she will look a bit slimmer. I would say she looks like she usually does when she is around 2-3 days away from spawning. They are both otherwise eating well and acting normal. No abnormal behavior in any other fish. Anyone else experience anything like this and should I be concerned? Thanks all in advance.

 

[sixty_reefer]

@Jay Hemdal may be able to add some valued knowledge on this

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Sorry - I don't know what this could be other than perhaps they are immediately eating the eggs so that you don't see them sticking to the nest?

 

[eagerreefer]

Sorry - I don't know what this could be other than perhaps they are immediately eating the eggs so that you don't see them sticking to the nest?

It's possible, but that would be quite a deviation from regular behavior. They eat the fry after hatching but I have never observed them eating their own eggs.