What the heck are my clowns doing?

[Bill_Moorman]

Some very odd behavior today when I came home from lunch. The clowns (who laid eggs about 4 days ago and have been over the past few months) were literally throwing rocks at my corals.



what the heck is going on? Lol

 

[Crabs McJones]

Are your corals close to where they layed the eggs?

 

[Bill_Moorman]

The Duncan is. On that overhang to the left is where they spawn. She literally took a favia frag on a plug in the sand and flipped it away.

 

[Bill_Moorman]

Is this because they are spawning? The tank has been set up this way since January and never had a problem. Idk what to do!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Is this because they are spawning? The tank has been set up this way since January and never had a problem. Idk what to do!

I wouldn't be concerned. They both appear healthy. Most likely its just the male cleaning house. Mine does this occasionally, but he'll blow the sand away with his tail.

 

[Bill_Moorman]

I’m more concerned for my corals. Lol I don’t want them to kill the coral!

 

[Alfrareef]

Lovely! Those tiny guys are great!!

 

[reef lover]

Move the duncan away...mine did that to a fungia until i moved it...

 

[Crabs McJones]

Move the duncan away...mine did that to a fungia until i moved it...

Now see mine spawn in and around my duncan colony and have never bothered them, possibly because the duncan is hosting my clown pair?

 

[Bill_Moorman]

So odd. They’ve spawned there at least 10 times over the past 6 months and have never cleaned up like this before.

What’s nuts is the female is almost 16 years old and the male is probably around 12.

 

[MTBake]

Those clowns are perfectly healthy and doing what clowns do once they pair off and determine that a spot will be their home. They are cleaning it up to their preference. I had this problem with a pair of Maroons 12 or so years ago. The big one could move rocks the size of my fist without issue. Had to trade them to my lfs.

You'll probably have issues till they are comfortable, IMO. I have a young pair myself right now and kinda dread when they start doing this. I know they will. Only a matter of time.

Having something to host them helps a lot. I hope my Duncan coral grows a few more heads before they find it