Clownfish. . . . "suckling"?

[Teremei]

I have a frilly mushroom rock which my clowns love and seem to consider their home.

A few times, I have noticed now. That my female will have her mouth around the "pimply edge" of the largest of the frilly mushrooms. I swear it looks just like it's "suckling". . so cute .

Has this behavior ever been documented in reefkeeping, and have any one of your noticed your clowns do this?

 

[Buddyboy]

Funny you would say that! One of my clowns appeared to be biting/suckling a piece of liverock yesterday???? My clown pair are doing the jerky mating dance (?) so maybe that has something to do with it? I guess they aren't called clowns for nothing!

 

[MCary]

They do the same thing to anemone tentacles.

 

[Teremei]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8131845#post8131845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MCary
They do the same thing to anemone tentacles.

Why? And what is it she is doing? It's not like she is trying to feed it. I'd like to read more about this behavior.