Clown keeps digging up sand?

[cblount]

I have 2 maroon clowns and one of them keeps sticking its tail in the sand and shaking it. Then it causes the sand to fly everywhere. Why would this be happening?

 

[myreef05]

It's an act of submission to the female as that is how they set their territory for beginning to mate I believe. They are "preparing" the nest site I was told.
Anyway you look at it, it is an act of submission from the smaller male to the dominant female and they might be starting a courtship. What are their sizes?

 

[coraljunky]

Yep

My maroons do the same, they're making a sand bed, to spawn.

 

[codyjp]

mine is doing it too but it seems he is trying to clear the sand away from my anemone. he is really causing a big mess.

 

[cblount]

Originally Posted by myreef05
It's an act of submission to the female as that is how they set their territory for beginning to mate I believe. They are "preparing" the nest site I was told.
Anyway you look at it, it is an act of submission from the smaller male to the dominant female and they might be starting a courtship. What are their sizes?
They have grown a lot. But I think the big one about 2 1/2" or more now. The smaller one is about an 1 1/2".
If they were preparing to mate how long would this take?

 

[cblount]

Originally Posted by coraljunky
Yep

My maroons do the same, they're making a sand bed, to spawn.
Have your maroons spawned before? If so can you see the eggs?

 

[jennythebugg]

i have a question about that to we have a tomato clown in our 150 just 1 clown and no anemone but it does that all the time, it has caused an avalanche that killed our goby , why would a single clown do this ?

 

[dawman]

My Ocellaris pair do the same and hoping they will spawn soon ! Have a maroon pair I bought at my LFS and waiting for my other tank to cycle . Can`t wait .

 

[cblount]

I hope that they are getting ready to spawn. How old do they have to be?

 

[babyb]

my maroons do that to but its the bigger one that does it the big one is about 3 inches and the smaller one is like an inch maybe an inch and a half

 

[cam78]

Originally Posted by codyjp
mine is doing it too but it seems he is trying to clear the sand away from my anemone. he is really causing a big mess.
Exactly what is happening to me. SO ANNOYING!!! I don't have another clown in my tank so why would a single clown do this?

 

[skipperdz]

its his home...making it as comfortable as it can be...also if there are other fish he is marking territory