tomato clown question

[samidavis]

Hello, I`m new to the boards, i`ve had my tank for 1 year,I puut two tomato clowns in at the same time about 9 months ago, they were supposedly a mated pair,but soon separated,i have an LTA that the smaller anemonefish adopted,just two days ago the larger one finally has stolen the anemone from the smaller one,now here is my question...... the smaller one keeps charging the anemone and biting pieces of the anemone's tentacles off.....I think he is trying to get it to sting the larger fish.......does anyone know of this and if so,will it harm the anemone permanently. :help:

 

[thomas712]

Welcome to the board.
Sometimes clown fish will bite of the tips or even more of the tentacle of the anemone. This could damage the anemone quite severely. It's something you will have to keep an eye on so that the anemone doens't get too damaged. If this continues then you may have to remove the fish or the anemone.
Thomas

 

[jam1e]

just in case you didn't know .. the larger of your two clowns is the female ..and the smaller of the two is the male .. the female is usually the dominant one in a clownfish relationship .. so I think that the female is just using her authority and that once the male relizes his home has been taken over .. he'll stop .. but .. if I'm wrong and he continues to bite the anemone .. listen to Thomas712 .. he knows what he's talking about

 

[samidavis]

Thank you Thomas712 and jamie, My clownfish has stopped his destructive behavior.....the male has been evicted and the female has moved in,although she is allowing him to stay close by,but not in it,do you think she will allow him to stay in as time goes by?

 

[thomas712]

Originally Posted by samidavis
although she is allowing him to stay close by,but not in it,do you think she will allow him to stay in as time goes by?
Quite possible, but of course unknown.

 

[jam1e]

I have a pair of tomato clowns and they both share a rose bubble tip anemone I have in my 210 Gallon