clown nipping at anenome

[yardrat]

my percula clown is nipping at my new long tenacle bubble tip anenome. is he just grooming or is this a sign of aggression?

 

[bammbamm74]

While my long tenacle was alive, my percula would "suck" on the tenacles. Looked like he was cleaning it. But then the anemone died... low ph....

 

[lerch]

My clown would nip at my bubble tip whenever it would close up. It seemed like he was trying to open it. I would think everything would be fine as long as he doesn't pull any part off.

 

[jacksonpt]

when you say nipping... do you mean he's actually biting down? I have a maroon clown that lives in my bubble tip. He will at times seem to be biting the BTA, but actually all he's doing is gumming it, for lack of a better word. He puts a tentacle in his mouth and closes his mouth, but doesn't really bite down... not enough to do any damage to the anemone.
HTH

 

[yardrat]

well at times it looks like he's just picking at it. then he chomps down on it and it reacts to his bite, so i wouls say that yes he is biting.. then he looks like he's grooming it... he will not let my maroon clown near it either. it's about 6" dia... i feel it should be big enough for both?

 

[10k]

Sorry but it is very doubtful that a percula and maroon will share the same anemone. They are territorial, and the anemone seems to be home now to the perc. Biting is somewhat normal though. Some clowns will actually feed on the flesh of their host in a natural setting