Clownfish biting Magnifica’s mouth

The new fish on the block

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 14, 2013
Messages
717
Reaction score
306
Location
Okaloosa, FL
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey all,

I have been observing a behavior that I have never seen with any of my other clowns.

I have a pair of Picasso Clowns, and they have been biting/ pushing the anemones mouth.

This will happen periodically throughout the day, but it happens very often as my lights are ramping down, and the nem lets out some water before the lights turn off.

At first I didn’t think much of it as it was only the female that was doing this, but now she has most stopped and the male has picked up the behavior and is a little more forceful when doing it. I have seen the anemone physically react to the male biting it.

Is this a normal behavior?
 

KrisReef

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
May 15, 2018
Messages
15,183
Reaction score
31,173
Location
ADX Florence
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I suspect that it is normal and that it is helpful for the anemone's health, somehow? My observation on clownfish in bubble tip anemones and plate corals is that the host would thrive with the fishes tending it..
 
OP
OP
The new fish on the block

The new fish on the block

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 14, 2013
Messages
717
Reaction score
306
Location
Okaloosa, FL
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I suspect that it is normal and that it is helpful for the anemone's health, somehow? My observation on clownfish in bubble tip anemones and plate corals is that the host would thrive with the fishes tending it..

Yeah, I figure that’s the case, but after seeing them cause a physical reaction from the nem I just wanted to make sure. I am babying the heck out of it, because of what kind it is. But slowly I’m starting to step back and let it do its thing.
 

KrisReef

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
May 15, 2018
Messages
15,183
Reaction score
31,173
Location
ADX Florence
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Yeah, I figure that’s the case, but after seeing them cause a physical reaction from the nem I just wanted to make sure. I am babying the heck out of it, because of what kind it is. But slowly I’m starting to step back and let it do its thing.
I think I saw some of your other posts about this nem?

I know you are being watchful and the truth about clownfish is that they are very aggressive with their invert friends. They have been implicated by hobbyists of killing coral that they tried living in. I still think these are just doing their jobs and it will be fine, but I am also aware that you are being vigilant about this interaction and trust you will step in if it becomes necessary.

I don’t think that it will go badly.

Pictures for the envious and curious would be greatly appreciated as a way to document this journey.
 

D-Nak

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 15, 2011
Messages
1,597
Reaction score
1,424
Location
Bay Area, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Unfortunately, it's not normal. Healthy magnfica have tight mouths and don't like getting picked at.

I've seen this happen with my gig when it wasn't healthy. The clownfish would try to "dive bomb" into the mouth. The anemone eventually died. Hopefully this isn't the case with your magnifica.

I suggest that you keep the clownfish well fed. If they're eating a lot and still doing it then you may want to separate the anemone and the clownfish. They may just be an extremely physical and rough pair of fish.
 
OP
OP
The new fish on the block

The new fish on the block

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 14, 2013
Messages
717
Reaction score
306
Location
Okaloosa, FL
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Unfortunately, it's not normal. Healthy magnfica have tight mouths and don't like getting picked at.

I've seen this happen with my gig when it wasn't healthy. The clownfish would try to "dive bomb" into the mouth. The anemone eventually died. Hopefully this isn't the case with your magnifica.

I suggest that you keep the clownfish well fed. If they're eating a lot and still doing it then you may want to separate the anemone and the clownfish. They may just be an extremely physical and rough pair of fish.

Darn, not what I wanted to hear but I appreciate your input nonetheless.

That being said, I think you might be onto something with keeping the clowns better fed.

Right now they are only fed at night, because I leave for work in the morning about 3 hours before my lights come on.

I have an auto feeder I just need to get it set up, once that’s done I will try seeing if feeding 2-3 times a day helps.


Thanks guys!
 

D-Nak

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 15, 2011
Messages
1,597
Reaction score
1,424
Location
Bay Area, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm glad that you were able to capture it on video. I envisioned something completely different. Your magnifica looks healthy and its mouth is tight. It looks like the clownfish may be investigating, looking for food or possibly just some comfort, but it doesn't appear to be doing anything that concerns me.

If you're able to drop the current down a bit, to enable the mag's tentacles to elongate and sway a bit more, the clownfish may feel more at ease by allowing it to lean against or "cuddle" with the tentacles, and it'll stop going near the mag's mouth.
 
OP
OP
The new fish on the block

The new fish on the block

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 14, 2013
Messages
717
Reaction score
306
Location
Okaloosa, FL
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm glad that you were able to capture it on video. I envisioned something completely different. Your magnifica looks healthy and its mouth is tight. It looks like the clownfish may be investigating, looking for food or possibly just some comfort, but it doesn't appear to be doing anything that concerns me.

If you're able to drop the current down a bit, to enable the mag's tentacles to elongate and sway a bit more, the clownfish may feel more at ease by allowing it to lean against or "cuddle" with the tentacles, and it'll stop going near the mag's mouth.
Will do! I have my wave maker on random so it doesn’t stay that strong all the time, but I will drop the peak intensity a bit and see how it does.

Thanks!
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

ASSUME MONEY AND TIME ARE NOT A FACTOR: IF YOU COULD START OVER WITH YOUR TANK, WOULD YOU?

  • Yes. I would love a fresh start.

    Votes: 45 38.5%
  • Maybe. At times I wish I could start fresh, while other times I'm happy where I'm at.

    Votes: 33 28.2%
  • No. I'm happy with where I'm at in my reefing journey.

    Votes: 31 26.5%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 8 6.8%
Back
Top