Odd Behavior

[kynekke]

Just wanted to pass this by the "experts". I have 2 false perc's that aren't very old or very big, I've had them for 2 1/2 months. One of them is doing something very strange throughout the day... he puts his tummy down on one of my rocks and then twitches. Ok ok, that makes me sound nuts but that's what he does! He's eating well, interacting with the other perc normally... just that weird twitching thing and he'll do it at least twice an hour-ish.
Do you think he might be sick?

 

[michaeltx]

how old is not very old?
I am not sure what the mating behaviour is on clowns but it might be something like that is it always the same spot he is doing this at?
Mike

 

[kynekke]

Yes it's always the same spot on a rather large rock. I've had them for 2 1/2 months and the LFS had them for 2 weeks before that but I've no idea how old they are. If size is an indication they are about 1 1/2" long. I don't have the lights for an anenome (though my LFS disagrees) so the poor guys don't have a natural house, hope they aren't miserable.

 

[michaeltx]

thats a miscoception about clowns they do not have to have an anemone to host in they do fine with or with out them.
the could be geting ready to spawn they will pick a spot and clean it and get it ready before they do spawn. I cant say 100% though.
the one thing I can tell you dont get an anemone because you think the clowns have to have it because they dont and if you are doing a reef tank the anmone brings up its own sets of chalenges.
Mike

 

[kynekke]

Ahh didn't know that!! I wanted one because I think they are beautiful but not if they are going to mess with my coral! I have a hard enough time keeping coral alive without an anenome messing with it.

 

[michaeltx]

yeah if they start wandering which they all do they will sting everything in their path and could damage or even kill other corals.
Mike

 

[princess8077]

I have 2 young percs (1 spose to be a true, the other is a picasso).
They are very funny fish! They come to the front of the tank and seem to want to be petted. They will follow my finger and if they are at seperate ends of the tank, they both race to get to my finger first ( I trace the outside of the glass, so no, I'm not touching them even if they'd like it or I would!)
They also wiggle and rub all over each other constantly, sometimes they get tail to nose and give each other love taps (it's very light tapping and wiggling against each other) funny stuff to watch them. They are the same size right now - 1" so we'll see which way they swing!