Freaky clownfish behavior

[lenard_hester]

[Ok, I am going to explain this as best as I can. I have a maroon clown and a clarkii clown (I know I am not supposed to have them together, but they seem to get along fine). Anyway, the other night the maroon kicked the clarkii out of my sebae (sp?) anemonone (sp?) well anyway, tonight I saw what appeared to be pairing behavior. They hang out side by side and every once in a while the maroon will charge the clarkii and the clarkii would go into seizures and the maroon would back off. Is this possible? Can different species of clowns pair up and mate? I have never had a mated pair of clowns so I have never seen any pairing up, so I am just basing this off of what I have read. If I am just crazy let me know.]

 

[dvups1]

[Different clowns have paired before but not that different. The behavior that you are noticing is the same as the movement a clown displays when mating. However, in this case it is to signal to the aggressor that he/she is no threat.]

 

[Andy]

[Lenard,
As David mentioned the siezure behaviour while also part of the mating ritual is really just a sign of submission, where your Clarkii is relenting to the Maroon. I wouldn't count on seeing any eggs (much less fertile ones) anytime soon but on the off chance you do let me know and I would be happy to help you raise them.]