O Clown Behavior Change

[DeltaUguy]

I have an Ocellaris Clown in my 25 gallon tank and his behavior has changed over the past few weeks. He used to swim all over the tank and was a fearless little fish (he used to nip at my arm when I stuck it in the tank to fix some rock work). Now he just hangs out in a large cave in one side of the tank, never venturing very far from it. He retreats back into the tank whenever I walk up to the front. He still eats ok, but he doesn't come up to the surface any more, he just waits for the flakes to fall to the bottom.

There are no other fish in the tank, just some reef crabs and snails and one peppermint shrimp. He's a young fish, just starting to get his third white stripe around his tail.

Anyone have any ideas?

[fishfreek]

It may sound stupid but it may be that he has adopted that location as his home/host.

My maroon clown spends 90% of its time around a particular rock structure in its 20 gal tank.

[DeltaUguy]

I thought about that, but I didn't think clown fish were "cop-a-squat" type fish. But I guess that could be it.