Tomato Clown

[republicanreef]

Can anyone tell me why in the Hell my Tomato Clown insists on destroying my sand bed. I even it out, and clean it. Then he comes along and dusts it all back up again. He used to have a host anenome and im guessing he misses it, and he no just bored, and intent on making my tank look like ass. At least it prevents my sand from gathering too much algae on the top.

 

[guppie]

It could be because it lost it's host, I have heard of them doing that when that happens.

 

[tkblazer]

my tomato did the same thing...kept fanning the sand around with his tail...looked kinda funny, like he was doin the twist

 

[ivanfj]

Mine does that too!!
Mine is like he is digging a hole or something. He usually sleeps there too. Before even my damsel does that as well. Maybe my clown learned it from the damsel.

 

[killafins]

The tomato clowns are trying to make a suitable home for an anenome. Often, anenome's go into other fish's territory and although the clownfish is protected in the anenome, it isn't protected out of it.

 

[buzz]

That is just what they do. It isn't just tomato's that do this either. Many clowns do.
Mine used to dig a hole and sleep in it at night.....yes, it would lie on it's side in it's new hole, kind of like a bed.
If your system can support it, you may want to consider getting an anemone - perhaps a BTA. Make sure your lighting is good enough, and that water conditions are excellent...good current, meaty foods, etc...
There are, of course, no guarantees that any clown will take to any anemone, but IMO, there is a very good chance yours will.
Mine hasn't dug in the sand since I got my BTA, almost a year ago.

 

[republicanreef]

It did have an anenome but it died after a year. I purchased the Clown as an adult and the anenome was pretty small, and he still messed up my sand. I guess size does matter.