clownfish courtship?

[JumboShrimp]

just purchased a new clown for my tank... The resident clownfish, is fanning the new clown, I was wondering if this was a sign of dominance or submission?

[km133688]

well, I don't really know but what the fanning is about. I can tell you about my two tomatoe clowns and how they worked out, maybe that will give you something to look for.

I started with a large tomatoe when I got the initial setup as an ongoing concern off ebay. 4 months later, I got a small tomatoe from an LFS. It was maybe 1/4 the size of the other.

Day one: big clownfish (mama) took run after run at the new commer (not yet named). He was only interested in eating and never made an aggresive move to the big fish and would just flip out of the way when mama got close enough.

Day three: mama stops running at Glibert (now named), simply because he is the same tank. Gilbert sleeps on his side at night on top of the showpiece rock in the tank. Mama sleeps in the sand underneath. Mama runs at Gilbert only at feeding time.

Day six: mama tolerates Gilbert. Only occassionally runs at him as a reminder I figure.

Day 10: mama has taken a definite interest in Gilbert. She swims out from behind her rock, circles around Gilbert and then goes back into her sand hole. Gilbert is apparently thick headed. So after a few days Mama decides to be more aggressive and actually pushes Gilbert into her home. Now he gets it.

AFter that they start sharing food. Sucking it in and then spitting it back out in front of the other. Mostly Gilbert giving to Mama but sometimes Mama returning the favor. Now inseperable. Gilbert follows mama everywhere slightly behind and to ond side. She protects him from other fish it almost seems.

one month after getting Gilbert, an RBTA anemone is introduced. Mama takes 3 days to figure out what it is and what it is for, but then hosts it and owns the middle of the tank. Gilbert is in tow.

Three months pass. Both fish are eat twice daily ad labitum (not sure of spelling) (i.e. the get fed till they stop eating). The two anemones move into a cave. Mama likes it. Two weeks later, cleaning activities are noted. Three days later, Gilbert is missing, then seen hanging upside down in cave. He is mouthing eggs.

So that is the mating I observed. Can't say I really saw any fanning but here was certainly a lot of interaction. I'd say any recognition of the two fishes between each other is a good thing.

Good luck, Kevin