Clown Behaviour

[Aquascaper]

My pair of Clowns have started behaving slightly odd recently and I was wondering if anyone has had experience of breeding Clowns at all as this appears to be breeding behaviour (I could be wrong).

Both my Clowns have hosted in a Sacrophyton for about 18 months and are so attached to it they will swim beside it if you move it round the tank
When it was moved to the new tank I placed it in such a way that it has rock wall on three sides and it forms a canopy over the substrate.

My Clowns now take it in turns to sit under the Sacro or on its lip, as if guarding something, they will only move when the other comes to relieve them and when the female is under it she will rub on the substrate with her side and kick up a small sandstorm with one or two flicks of her tail. She does this repeatedly to maintain a shallow groove in the substrate. At first I thought it could be Ich when I saw her 'flashing' on the substrate but there is absolutely no sign of any disease on any fish in the tank. They are very territorial over the Sacro but still have to allow the Pistol shrimp to roam under it as there seems to be a public footpath under there

Any ideas?

 

[crazyelece]

My clowns are behaving in the exact manners you have described with the new LTA. I have heard this can lead to mating, but not neccessarily. In my case I believe my male is too young yet, your case may be different. I'd recommend getting Clownfishes, by Joyce Wilkerson. It is suposed to be the best resource out there on clowns and an essential element to breeding them. I just got my copy but I haven't started to read it yet. Good Luck with it.