Is this Clownfish Breeding Behaviour?

Discussion in 'Tropical Fish' started by HollyG, Feb 29, 2012.

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  1. HollyG

    HollyG Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    My 2 oscellaris clowns have been together for about 8 or 9 months now and I have noticed some behavior that I have never seen them do before that seems to look like they are preparing a place to lay eggs. I need some help identifying this though. (I'll post a video tomorrow if I catch them doing it again.) I have been noticing my female picking and biting at the base of the frogspawn she hosts all the time and it's always on the right side. She has been doing this for about 1 week that I have noticed. And just noticed the male starting to do the exact same thing in the same spot for about 2 days now. I had to get rid of my cleaner shrimp because it was constantly chasing my yellow clown goby and red spotted trimma, and ever since I got rid of him the clowns have started doing this behaviour a little more often. The female sometimes turns completely sideways along the main branch or "trunk" of the frogspawn and starts shaking. Similar to how they decide domanence to eachother etc.... but they have been together for 8 or 9 months and it is quite obvious who the female and male is, and she will do it against the frogspawn regarless if the male is near by or not. Is this the start of them preparing a place to lay eggs? Like cleaning the spot first? From what I have read it sure looks like it... but I dunno... what do you guys think? And if it is how long until I should expect to see some eggs?
     
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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    The female has to be around age 2. The male can be much younger.

    The female will look full bodied, swollen abdomen.

    The male will be the most aggressive cleaner initially.

    There are a couple members on here that successfully breed and raise the fry, not an easy task.

    Good luck.
     
  4. HollyG

    HollyG Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    I'm not 100% sure how old the female is... I got her 1 year ago and I'm not sure how she was when I got her. The male isn't as aggressive at cleaning as the female is but it seems that every day that goes by he is doing it more and more, he also looks like he's "fanning" the place aswell, i forgot to mention that. I'll have to catch them on video so you can get a better guess as to if it is pre-spawning behaviour or not. I never actually planned on breeding them... my tank definately isn't big enough for it lol but we'll see what happens... I will dfinately be looking up on how to care for the fry etc just incase they end up spawning.