clown sucking

[doakota1]

Is it normal for a clown to suck on the tentacle of a rbta ?

 

[davocean]

Yep, most believe they absorb sting cells that way in order to gain immunity to stings.

 

[doakota1]

Yep, most believe they absorb sting cells that way in order to gain immunity to stings.

Ok thank you for the quick response

 

[WaffleWalffle22]

Yep, most believe they absorb sting cells that way in order to gain immunity to stings.

Actually by sucking on the anemone's tentacles it causes the anemone to secrete more mucus which the clown rubs on their skin so the anemone can't detect the clown, thus not stinging it. :rolleye1:

 

[davocean]

Actually by sucking on the anemone's tentacles it causes the anemone to secrete more mucus which the clown rubs on their skin so the anemone can't detect the clown, thus not stinging it. :rolleye1:

There have been at least a couple different theories on this depending on which books you read, that's why I was somewhat vague in my explanation because really we still know very little about these animals, but most agree somehow it is how they gain immunity, and normal behavior.

 

[elegance coral]

I had a little male ocellaris that would hold on to a tentacle when he got tired of fighting the flow. It was kinda cute. He'd just be flapping in the breeze with a tentacle in his mouth.

 

[ousnakebyte]

Caught this little one in the act off Sulawesi:

My understanding was that the cnidocytes were not discharging the nematocyst when the clowns are (properly) hosting. But... I guess that does depend on who you ask.

Cheers
Mike