Clown Fish Hosting Issue

[Mish1]

I have a clown fish that appears to be trying to use my tongue coral as a host. I don't think the tongue coral likes the attention. The clown fish spends time tucked into the tentacles as well as I noticed the clown fish rubbing it's head into the coral. I have noticed the corals tentacles have not been fully extended since the clown fish started spending time in it, a little over a week now and the coral just doesn't look happy.

Have clown fish been known to be aggressive when wanting a host enough to injure or possibly kill said host? Is there anything I can do the help the coral or stop the clown fish from wanting a host instead of removing one of them?

 

[Blown76mav]

My clowns hose in yellow polyps and sometimes the zoa's. They can destroy a coral if its not meant to be "hosted in" The yellow polyps don't seem to mind the the zoa's close up instantly.

You could try moving the tongue to another part of the tank (other side far away) that may help.

good luck

 

[Tnconcept]

Move it away from sight.

 

[Dalbery]

Throw a bubble tip anenome in there and that clown will lose interest in everything else.

 

[shifty51008]

Throw a bubble tip anenome in there and that clown will lose interest in everything else.

that is not always true, I have had it happen and read alot of other threads where people have had anemones in their tank but the clowns will still choose something else over the anemone.

 

[Ston3]

I agree, I have a 6" BTA and yet my clowns still prefer my brain coral.

 

[crazy4salt]

I would put an inverted strawberry basket over the coral to keep them out of it.

 

[Mish1]

Thank you for all of the tips. I think I will try moving the coral and using the strawberry basket trick.

I am a little disappointed. I was really excited to see the clown starting to host in the coral until I started seeing how the coral was reacting.

 

[Mish1]

Just thought I would post a pic of the offender before things get moved around.