Is there another explanation for this? HELP!

[fishyfun2]

Hello,
Newbie here. My 2 juvenile ocellaris clowns have been in my tank for about 2 weeks. Is there another reason besides infection that a clown would rub one side of his face in the sand and then flick sand with his tail? Some behavioral ritual that I know nothing about? I keep looking for something wrong with them, but nothing has really shown up. Sometimes before he dives into the sand, he swims around crazily like something is bugging him. Both eating like little pigs. Only one other fish in the tank. It's a 29 gallon.
Any help would be appreciated, I have a thread about this in the fish disease forum, but haven't gotten much of a response. And also, some pale spots I was seeing on the other clown (written about in the other thread) seemed to have resolved. Yesterday's water parameters are in my first thread, but I can repost them if needed.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!

 

[lexluethar]

Normal. They are creating their home in the sand. Some clowns host rocks, power heads, and heaters. When they host they constantly pick and rub against these surfaces. That is what you are experiencing.

 

[fishyfun2]

Thank you for your help! I keep looking for something wrong with them, I think I've learned my lesson about not doing the QT myself. (Had LFS do it, much too stressful!!!)

Yeah, now today he's rubbing on my nano PH, still no other signs of illness.
Thanks again for the reply!

 

[the_hadleys]

You know, I was just wondering something similar! We have a perc and he's gorgeous, eating regularly but there's a small pile of empty snail shells in the corner of the tank and he's constantly rubbing on them, he sleeps right next to them, when the hermit crabs wander over to inspect them, Johnny - the clown - pushes at the hermit till he leaves.
I was guessing that he'd decided to host the shells but wasn't sure. If that's the case, I'm a little disappointed, I had hoped he would take a liking to our frogspawn or torch...

But what can you do, I guess... He's still a blast to watch!!!