Strange Behavior during introduction

Mel13anie · 04-09-2007, 11:14 AM

Ok.........went to the LFS on Saturday. I wasn't really in the market for another False Perc but he was so cute. The stripe that goes around the middle did not connect so instead of a stripe he has 3 large round white dots. One on each side and one on top. He was so unusual that I brought him home. He is very small so I thought things might get interesting when I put him in the tank with Shark Bait (my other false perc). I turned out the lights and sat back and watched. The two were swimming around the tank together. I thought for sure the little one would go and hide but I was wrong. They were swimming all over together. The only time it got crazy was when the new clown went near the BTA that my other clown hosts in. Then the larger clown would turn side ways and quiver. After a while.............the larger clown would swim up to the new clown and do this even when it wasn't next to the BTA. Is this a sign of dominance or what? I have seen post where the clowns would dance during or before mating. But I feel pretty sure we aren't at that stage yet.....LOL

Weatherman · 04-09-2007, 11:36 AM

Usually, the "epileptic seizure" dance is done by the smaller, submissive fish. The larger, dominant fish may wiggle a bit in acknowledgement, but not a lot.

I suspect (although I haven't read anything to support this), that the epileptic seizure dance is something male clownfish are pre-programmed to do. A juvenile clown may not have received the hormonal trigger to "know" how to do it, yet. A larger female may still "know" how, but uses the wiggles as an acknowledgement, rather than appeasement.

If my suspicion is correct, your larger fish is a male, and your new fish is a juvenile. The juvenile probably doesn't know what to make of the weird wiggling the male is doing. As the juvenile grows older, it will turn male first (clowns are protandrous hermaphrodites). Then, whichever of the two is the most dominant will turn female. You may see a wide variety of behavior from each of them as they determine which sex each will be.

ScruffyRubicon · 04-09-2007, 11:43 AM

As the new clown grows, chances are the center stripes will connect. This is very common in juvenilles. The shaking is exactly what was descibed by weatherman. He is being submissive.

Tynan Rasmus · 04-09-2007, 11:50 AM

yeah my little guy "twitches" quite often when the female hits him.

leveldrummer · 04-09-2007, 01:34 PM

id like to see some pics of this little fella, you cant start a thread talking about how cute he is and not give us some shots!!

Mel13anie · 04-09-2007, 02:20 PM

I will post some tomorrow............sorry that was very insensitive of me!

ScruffyRubicon · 04-13-2007, 10:06 AM

Did you ever get those pics?