clown rough w/ anem

[salty420]

my female clown has bonded with my new rbta. she is very protective of it and will not let the male or any other fish near it. i wonder though if she is treating the anem too roughly. she plows into it over and over till she's comfy and then she grabs a tentacle and bites/sucks on it to keep from floating away. is this normal? the anem doesn't seem to mind, it hasn't moved or anything other than turning into the LR (towards the back of the tank) at night. it just seems that she is beating it up or something. when it deflates (to poop or whatever) she's even worse, trying to open it back up and ramming into it. i've never had a clown and anem before so i really don't know how the clowns usually act. thanks so much for any insight!

 

[reefman13]

This behavior i normal for this kind of relationship, however, if you notice that it is becoming over the top, try to rearrange her territory (reaquascape) and see what happens.

You should be okay though.

 

[Toddrtrex]

What type of clown is it, and what type of anemone?

Also how big is the anemone compare to the clown?

I personally have witnessed clowns "loving" an anemone to death. I usually happens when the anemone is smaller.

 

[seapug]

Toddrtex is right, the nem should be about 3 X size of the clown, or they often can molest them to death.

 

[salty420]

i'd say it's almost 3x the size. the clown is a bk/wt occelaris, the anemone is a rbta. she is roughest when the nem is deflated a bit - usually at night. would the nem try and move if it was bothered by her?

 

[rkelman]

My Occelaris seemed to calm down after a while with my carpet.. I don't know how long it took as it was gradual.. I'd say the first week was the worst then it slowly got better til now she's not hard on it at all.

 

[salty420]

ok thanks guys. she actually left the nem last night and let the male spend a little time in there so hopefully that means she's chilling out a bit.