Sebae Clown hording food or feeding anemone?

[jimmy40741]

I recently bought a sebae clown and a sebae anenome, and every time I feed my fish the clown will eat some flakes and some flakes (especially larger ones) he will take back to the anemone and push the flake under it or in between the anemones tenticles. My local fish store told me that sometimes a clown will actually feed an anemone, but I was wondering if mine is doing that or is he just snagging food and storing it away under the anemone for himself.

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by Jimmy40741
http:///forum/post/2536362
I recently bought a sebae clown and a sebae anenome, and every time I feed my fish the clown will eat some flakes and some flakes (especially larger ones) he will take back to the anemone and push the flake under it or in between the anemones tenticles. My local fish store told me that sometimes a clown will actually feed an anemone, but I was wondering if mine is doing that or is he just snagging food and storing it away under the anemone for himself.
There is actually no evidence that clownfish take food to their anemones intentionally, to feed it. This has been discussed before and in this instance IMO its proof to the contrary. The other theory is that clownfish use their host to store food for themselves. Fortunatly for the anemone it gets frequent free meals. However your fish seems to be keen on the fact that his food goes missing if he places in the anems tenticles so stuffing it under it seems to be a good alternative.. LOL I think thats hilarious.

 

[njdiver1]

My sebae has been hording food from day one - even before we got an anenome he used to take the biggest piece of food he could find and hide it behind the rocks for later - he is a huge pig!!!

After the anenome, he constanly takes food to it - who knows whats going on in that little head of his!

 

[jimmy40741]

Thanks for the responses. I've never heard of a fish hiding food like that, but obviously that's what he's doing since your's was/is doing it too. Now that makes me wonder something else. Whenever one of the smaller fish like my green chromis get near the anenome he chases it away, and whenever my CBS gets close to the anenome he will put himself between the CBS and anenome. I thought he was protecting the anenome, but maybe he's just trying to protect his stash instead. LOL

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by Jimmy40741
http:///forum/post/2536955
Thanks for the responses. I've never heard of a fish hiding food like that, but obviously that's what he's doing since your's was/is doing it too. Now that makes me wonder something else. Whenever one of the smaller fish like my green chromis get near the anenome he chases it away, and whenever my CBS gets close to the anenome he will put himself between the CBS and anenome. I thought he was protecting the anenome, but maybe he's just trying to protect his stash instead. LOL

Thats tge debate... im inclinded to think they are food stashers, not anemone care givers.

 

[reefmate75]

well i drop in froze chunks and my clowns will take a chunk and put it in the anemone but if you watch them after that they will pull it right off again when they are ready to eat more, but the anemone dose get away with some of it but i do not belive they are tring to feed it that they just know other fish do not want to go around them

 

[tizzo]

I never heard that was a debate. hmm? But everything my clarkii couldn't fit into his own mouth, he'd give to the anemone. I would, for the entertainment of company put a whole silverside in the water, the clown would always giv eit to the anemone.
But if it were food he could swallow, then he would.
I kinda think if they were smart enough to store food or the future, then they would hafta catch on that giving it to a meat eating animal is just stupid.

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by Tizzo
http:///forum/post/2537062
I never heard that was a debate. hmm? But everything my clarkii couldn't fit into his own mouth, he'd give to the anemone. I would, for the entertainment of company put a whole silverside in the water, the clown would always giv eit to the anemone.
But if it were food he could swallow, then he would.
I kinda think if they were smart enough to store food or the future, then they would hafta catch on that giving it to a meat eating animal is just stupid.
Yea I heard about it on here once then I researched it and read in several other places that although the common explanation is that the clownfish assumes the care taker role of the anemone. There is enough evidence to support the idea that perhaps it is just trying to store food.

I by far not saying that is the case but I have read many stories about this. So I believe it is possible.