Behaviour after dark

[bjorky]

My two clowns spend most of the day close to their favourite rock however AS SOON as I put the light out they both head up to the filter outlet pipe in the rear/centre of the tank. They stay behind the pipe close to the surface of the water all night...every night.

I can't find any information on why they do this and any help would be greatly appreciated! :what:

[ssheipel]

Do they have an anemone or another coral to host?

If not they may be hosting the powerhead under the "danger" of nightfall. Just a guess as I've read clowns will host just about anything sometimes.

[bjorky]

No anemone in the tank (yet?) That sounds reasonable - I didn't know they hosted at night so i had assumed (wrongly) that they were hosting the rock, as that is where they hang out all day. Thank-you v.much

[Balkos]

my ocellaris hides behind the output on the lefthand side of my tank at the very top every night too. I don't have an anemone.

[MCDAVIES]

I don't think there is anything to worry about. Perc's are creatures of habit. Mine used to do the same thing at night (hover around one of the overflows on my tank). Over time, they discovered a coral they like (a big torch I put in a couple of months ago) and now they spend their nights cuddling him...

Don't be disturbed about their behaviour...it is part of their charm!

Mark

[psiico]

Mine do the same, sort of. They swim up and down the front left corner of the tank after dark. I wasn't worried about it because I've seen so many posts about other people's clowns also exhibiting similar behaviour. All my other fish would hide in a cave at lights out, not these guys.

[DaveA]

Yup, sounds perfectly normal. Just a place they feel safe at night. I had a Tomato clown once that would dig a hole in the sand every night. He was still very visible but I guess it made him feel safe.

Dave

[bjorky]

thanks guys - they do have the most amazing habits

[Marcus]

My clowns (percs) go behind the skimmer box every night. I think they like to sleep there because there is not much current. Not really sure though.

[create_a_reef]

When I had a pair of Gold stripped Maroon clowns they would dissapear in a bubble anemone, they would stay still for about 30 mins after the lights came on too. They looked like they were wrapped up in a warm blanket and didn't want to get up.

Brent