Clownfish Slime Coat

[jharte]

I currently have a BTA and Sebae anemone in my tank. My female Occellaris is continually switching between the two anemones. How is this possible? I thought a clownfish will mimic the anemone; thus, eliminating the ability to switch back and forth.

 

[deangelr]

No one really knows, although a big grant just got shelled out to try and find out the answer..

IMO, it has nothing to do with the slime coat.. And it is all about the behavior.. there are many fishes that can go into anemones, from wrasses, triggerfish, damsels, etc.. I really think its all about how the fishes approach the anemone, more than any sort of chemical cues..

 

[DasCamel]

They can probably build an immunity to multiple things as long as they are exposed.

 

[jharte]

No one really knows, although a big grant just got shelled out to try and find out the answer..

IMO, it has nothing to do with the slime coat.. And it is all about the behavior.. there are many fishes that can go into anemones, from wrasses, triggerfish, damsels, etc.. I really think its all about how the fishes approach the anemone, more than any sort of chemical cues..

Yeah that is an interesting point. The female clown spent a few days biting the anemone and brushing up against it before she entered. The male appeared to swim right in without any hesitation after the "all clear" was given. This would make me hypothesize it is a combination of both chemical and physical behaviors.

 

[Azedenkae]

Potentially.

There was a fire clown here at work that at one time 'lived' in five anemones. S/he did not seem to have any issues with jumping straight into any newly added anemones either. That went on for like six months before we moved him/her out of the anemone tank. Or maybe s/he was sold. Can't remember.

 

[DasCamel]

Coating.

Coating.

Yeah that is an interesting point. The female clown spent a few days biting the anemone and brushing up against it before she entered. The male appeared to swim right in without any hesitation after the "all clear" was given. This would make me hypothesize it is a combination of both chemical and physical behaviors.

Interesting how no one really knows. Was just reading the Joyce Wilkerson book, it seems like multiple factors are in play.