Clown Nesting????

Hi all,
I have 2 clowns I bought last Christmas, and during this last week, they started to clean a spot beneat the rocks. They dug a hole 5cm x 5cm with about 2cm deep, cleaned the rocks nearby and riped some caulerpa of...they even keep my lysmata away. Could they be preparing a nest? Should I feed them diferently? I'm feeding a frozen food I bought, specially for them, and some flakes...should I give them something else...
They seem happy and getting bigger...

I'm not an expert on it, but mine have spawned as well. They are sure acting like they are getting ready to lay some eggs. If they like the food and it's not changing your parameters any then keep on it and don't change. I use a frozen store bought and a frozen I made with some flake every now and then. Mine have gotten fat too

Hey Paulo. it does sound like they are getting ready to lay eggs. There is not anything special you need to do. You can feed them a little extra if you want. The extra feeding will make the eggs a little stronger.

Give this thread a read and the two that are linked at the bottom of the first post in this thread if you want to raise them. Clownfish Spawning

Paulo? any updates? and where are the pics you promised?lol

Well the updates aren't so many as I would like, eheh. The female really seems to have a little belly and the both are cleaning the spot thoroughly. The female is a little aggressive towards the male. She also eats like if the world is going to end tomorrow...
Besides that, nothing really new. I'm planing my small tank to keep the larvae.
As for the pics, sorry but you have to wait till tomorrow, because here in Portugal it's night, and the clown are taking a nap...eheh.

Great they may be a bit young yet but half the battle is getting a pair to bond to each other, nature will take care of the rest lol

Keep us in the loop Paulo! They could lay tonight or it could be weeks, you never know

hey paulo! ..........yeppers! sounds like your clowns are definitely spawning!!! .....the first few batches will be small and weak....you may even see that most of the eggs in the first few batches don't make it to hatching..........but as long as you don't disturb their environment, they'll keep laying eggs for quite a while now! cool beans .......keep us posted on their progress!

Hi all,
thanks for all the support. My lights will soon be on, and I'll take some pics.
I'm getting some green star polyps today, do you think that putting them in the opposite side of the tank will annoy them? (the clownfish, of course...eheh)

No, i dont think that will bother them at all.

Originally Posted by paulojbsilva

Hi all,
thanks for all the support. My lights will soon be on, and I'll take some pics.
I'm getting some green star polyps today, do you think that putting them in the opposite side of the tank will annoy them? (the clownfish, of course...eheh)

from my experience just don't mess around with THEIR area lol, mine laid clutches three times and I had to move them to a new tank, nothing since but Im hoping

Well, not quite in focus as I would like, but I preferred to make a small crappy video. Hope it shows better what the little ones are doing. They sometimes wonder around their small cave, but rapidly get back...

I think they are experimenting right now. Just feeling out the waters so to speak

nice video! look like a happy couple

They also do something weird, but it probably as a meaning. They kind of vibrate over the same spot they are cleaning. Is this also normal? Hope they're not having marital problems...eheh.

lol, yes its normal. Its mock spawning (i dont know if thats a real term but thats what im calling it)

When they start to spawn for real you will see them do this as they are laying and fertilizing the eggs

YES!!! looks like we have yet another couple that are planning on spawning! ..........they seem very happy and healthy and looks as though they're "testing the water"!!! cool beans paulo!

Originally Posted by chris&barb

lol, yes its normal. Its mock spawning (i dont know if thats a real term but thats what im calling it)

When they start to spawn for real you will see them do this as they are laying and fertilizing the eggs

Thanks...never thought that after only 4 months in my tank, and being a tank that doesn't have skimmer...well, it makes me believe I made it to balance the water with live rock filtration only...

perhaps......but please keep in mind that clownfish are damsels and damsels are very hardy fish...they can survive in not-so-perfect conditions, whereas corals and clams (and some other fish) can not .......but you're definitely doing something right there for sure!!!

Thanks, at least I try to do my money can do...eheh.
By the way, feeding time.