Clownfish Hosting?

[bvanhoveln]

I have a new Wellsophyllia Brain LPS I put in my tank about a week ago. In the tank lives a Saddleback Clown - he has been there about two months. Yesterday I noticed that he was hosting in the Brain - he swims up and is trying to nestle in between the folds.

Will this harm the Brain in any way? I am worried the fish may hurt the flesh or at least not let the Brain get optimal light while burrowing in.

Anyone have any experience with this or know if it will eventually kill the coral?

Thanks

 

[cschweitzer]

For almost any species of clownfish I would say "no" this will not hurt the brain. Unfortunately, with saddlebacks, I cannot give this definitive answer. They are very odd clowns in the fact that they play really rough with their hosts. They are know to even kill their host anems. In the wild, this is one species of clown that can move around and many times will not stay with one host its whole life. Light shouldn't be an issue...it'll get plantey even with a clown hosting it. The only problem may be the rough nature of polymnus. Be careful and watch closely.