Interesting behavior

[smslavin]

Hi all,

I've been lurking for about a week or so and have found quite a few answers to questions about my new tank (50 gallon) setup. Currently, I have a snowflake moray and a maroon clown (female). Lately the clown has been exhibiting an interesting behavior and I think she's trying to intimidate the moray. She has totally rearranged all of the sand on the bottom of the tank by putting her tail fin down and giving a few flicks. So much so that I need to go out tomorrow for more sand as the glass is now exposed.

She did a great job mixing up the sand and cleaning out the diatom growth. However, now it appears that she is trying to limit where the moray can hide in relative peace. Has anyone seen this? Is it normal?

The moray has become a bit more brave in the past week and has been out swimming around quite a bit. Part of me thinks he is starting to out grow the hiding spot he has been in. While I'm out tomorrow for sand, I'll pick up a bit more live rock to try and create a little cave system for him.

I also think that the clown needs a companion or two. I'd like to add a bubble tip anemone and a few other fish and corals. I do need to retrofit the current lighting setup in the tank but I'll save those questions for another post. What would be good companions for the clown and moray? I was reading a bit about triggers last night but I'm not sure that I have the tank size for them. Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Sean

 

[Anonymous]

A large adult female Maroon clown needs space, and can easily overwhelm a 50 gallon tank...same goes for an E. quadricolor all by itself.

It sounds like you're a bit inexperienced to be thinking of an anemone at this point anyway.

You also don't have enough tank space for any trigger that would be compatible with an anemone in a tank that size.

You might consider a Sixline wrasse, or an Argi angel. Stick with hardy fish at this stage.

Jim