Clownfishes are normally found in association with sea anemones, and don't tend to wander too far from such homes. More than a lot of reef fishes, they're used to staying put.
That funky swimming style is what makes
A. percula and
A. ocellaris so cute. It also has a function in social dynamics with other clowns of the same species. Generally, excitement leads to a a more vigorous up-and-down rock, and so does being further down the pecking order.
Clowns do swim normally when looking for food. Maybe your fish is new and confused/agitated. A settled
percula or
ocellaris can swim around more, but never loses the tendency to huddle and rock when agitated.
BTW, if you are interested in giving that clown a 'home', consider Corallimorpharian '
mushroom anemones'. They are far easier to keep (and even propagate) than corals or the very difficult true anemones, and are often adopted by clowns as hosts. If not adopted, then the shrooms remain very handsome additions on their own.
hth,
horge
[ 08-17-2001: Message edited by:
dark horge ]
