Clown spends all day in back bottom corner

[Magnapinna]

For his first week or two he was all over my tank, now most of his time is spent in the far left corner of the tank. At first I worried he may be getting sick but this has been going on for probably 2-3 months now. He's an enthusiastic eater and gets very excited at feeding time, in general any time I'm near the tank he's an active swimmer but otherwise he mostly just loafs around. He lays on the sand bed for a couple seconds at a time, turns around a few times, lays down for a couple more seconds, gets up and swims up/down the corner for a variable length of time. He spends a lot of time hunting pods and sometimes he'll venture across to the right far corner for a couple minutes. He only comes to the front of the tank and actively swims around if I'm interacting with the tank in some way.

The laying down is really what has me a little concerned because I've seen people say they don't normally do this. He's never still for more than a few seconds at most (except when sleeping). He's always seemed a little negatively buoyant since I got him (designer clown) so could it be that he's just got less stamina? But then that wouldn't explain his first ~2wks of active behavior.

He doesn't really seem stressed otherwise, since he's never given me trouble with eating and seems lively when he is active. When I watch him from a distance he just seems a little mopey or even bored. I know clowns have their reputation for a reason but it seems unusual even for them. Does anyone have feedback on why he's acting like this or if it's anything to worry about? Thanks

 

[tzabor10]

Any other fish in the aquarium? Does it have anything to host??

 

[Magnapinna]

Any other fish in the aquarium? Does it have anything to host??

Sorry to respond to this so late! He's the only fish in the tank as it's small and relatively new. I've been considering a tank mate but am a little apprehensive considering the tank size (10gal). I'm not concerned about bioload and the clown is still young and unaggressive (at least towards me and the hermits). But I don't want them to be crammed in for space. Planning to add corals in the very near future. He had a nem at the store but allegedly never cared much for it.

After him being in that corner for months though, today he's doing the exact same thing under my heater LOL. He has a giant crater dug so I'm guessing he's been there for some time. Same behavior, new location --- it's definitely a territory thing

 

[BiggestE22]

Sorry to respond to this so late! He's the only fish in the tank as it's small and relatively new. I've been considering a tank mate but am a little apprehensive considering the tank size (10gal). I'm not concerned about bioload and the clown is still young and unaggressive (at least towards me and the hermits). But I don't want them to be crammed in for space. Planning to add corals in the very near future. He had a nem at the store but allegedly never cared much for it.

After him being in that corner for months though, today he's doing the exact same thing under my heater LOL. He has a giant crater dug so I'm guessing he's been there for some time. Same behavior, new location --- it's definitely a territory thing

No big deal. My last tank I had started with a small clown. He did the same think until an enthusiastic hippo started to move around the tank. Then the clown started to do so as well.

 

[Redeemed]

My first fish was a clown and did the exact same thing. He will flourish once you get some more fish in the tank. I was sorry I bought him until I got a couple of cardinals, firefish and then he changed within one day and swims everywhere.

There's a scientific name for it but the problem lies in needing to see that the tank is "safe and all right". By bringing other fish in, he will see them and relax and be his/her normal self. I chanced getting another clown and they fought for over an hour and I was sorry I tried it.

Within a couple days, they became best friends and swim together peacefully now. They didn't pair up but they are friends.

 

[Redeemed]

I would like to reiterate getting a second clown is a cautionary ordeal. I would bring other peaceful fish in first.

 

[ScottJ]

I think you would be ok with one more fish. I have a single clown and a tailspot blenny in an Evo 13.5, basically the same size tank you have. They have been together about 4 years now. They share a barnacle shell. The blenny hangs out in it all day, and the clown sleeps in it at night. They do use the whole tank to swim in.

 

[Magnapinna]

Small update to this post --- have not added or changed a single thing in the tank and he's now active throughout the day and using all the space in the tank, especially for hunting pods. He doesn't spend any time at all in the corner anymore and prefers to be up front in full view. No more laying down either. Weird!