Who Gives A Fish Forums

I got home about 2 days ago and found my clove coflake on the tank floor, about 30cm below its usual spot on the rock. I put it back, no big deal, but then I walked away and came back to find it on the floor again. I thought, 'How odd', so I picked it up and put it back on the rock.

Five minutes later, I was grabbing a drink and saw the coflake falling out the corner of my eye. The clown was swimming away from the rock. I put it back on the rock and sat down in the kitchen to keep an eye on it.

About 2 minutes later, my maroon clown swam up behind the coflake and gave it a big push, sending it crashing to the tank floor. I couldn't believe it.

I kept picking up the coflake and putting it back, thinking the clown would get bored, but it didn't. It's been doing this for a day now, and it's getting annoying.

If this keeps up, I'll have to move the coflake to a different spot and try another one there. Maybe the clown just doesn't like the coflake anymore.

Has anyone else had fish do something like this? Any idea why my clown has started doing this?

I think I know what's going on here, the coflake's in the clown's territory and he's just trying to keep it out. He'll keep moving it every time you put it back, so I reckon you should just find another home for the coflake and let the clown have its space. It's possible he's trying to breed there or something, who knows, but it's definitely territorial behaviour.

I'm worried the coflake might've gotten hurt from all those falls.

Yeah the coflake's fine, don't get it though, why it's trying to get rid of it all of a sudden, been there as long as the clown has, about 6 months.

Had an idea today, took the coflake out to make a frag before all this started, polyps closed up, looked totally different, put it back, maybe the clown didn't recognise it, that's why it's pushing it away.

It's also possible that the clownfish is exhibiting nesting behavior, where it cleans out a spot it thinks is suitable for a nest, and in this case, it's pushing the coflake out of the way.

Will they do this even when they're the only clownfish in the tank, or is it a behavior triggered by having a mate or other clowns nearby?

Clownfish don't require a mate to show nesting behavior. They can still prepare a nest site even when alone.

Edit: Be cautious when putting your hands near that spot, as the clownfish gets bolder and more territorial, it might nip at you.

I've had a similar issue, my maroon clown's been rearranging small pieces of liverock every 2-3 months. He finds a new spot, then proceeds to move the little rocks around to his liking. It's quite entertaining, actually.

That's adorable, he's got his own little rock companion. I'm really hoping my clownfish will do the same when I finally get mine, still waiting for my tank and sump to arrive, fingers crossed it'll be here soon.