Strange Clownfish Behavior

[nilestr]

I have about a 4 in Maroon Clown that is always messing with the sand bed. The sand bed is about an inch or two all around. After a couple of months the clown started picking up mouthfulls of sand from one side and dumping them all the way over on the other side until almost all the sand was gone from the left side of the tank. After there was too little to pick up in its mouth it just wiggled the rest of the sand away till the glass on the bottom was bare. I moved the sand back evenly over the tank floor but the Clown just moved it all again.

Is the Clown making a nest? If so should I get another clown for it to mate with? Is this common behavior for Clown fish?

Any input is greatly appreciated

 

[Anonymous]

This is not unusual behavior at all for clowns, maroons in particular.

It may be related to nesting behavior, but IMO is no guarantee the clown would spawn anytime soon if it had a mate (which it may appreciate but is not mandatory, again IMO).

I suspect they do this on purpose because they know it irks us.

 

[wade1]

I agree, many of the larger clown species have fun rearranging their surroundings. (Kinda like wives sometimes!) Maybe it keeps them mentally occupied.

Wade

 

[mountainbiker619]

I had the same problem, then I bought a Anemone for the clown to play in. Has not touched the sand since.