Clowns hosting in SPS, please help!!!

[Fliger]

Of course this happens right before I'm supposed to leave for 4 days. A couple days ago I put a decent sized stag colony into my 37G cube that has a pair of clownfish. Well this morning I realized they have decided to host in it. Worst, I think they're going to spawn in it. One is flapping his tail right at the part where the main "trunk" branches out and the other is going all over the colony - kinda nipping at it.

Is this usual? It is my favorite colony (of course) and will it stress the colony to death? Would they really lay eggs on a living SPS colony? The colony has lost its color, but is still definitely very healthy.

I can't believe this is happening this morning.

Any advice (in a hurry!) would be greatly appreciated!

David

 

[artful-dodger]

Yeah, it is pretty common. They don't call them clowns for nothing. They'll pick whatever they pick and can irritate a coral (especially one with small polyps) to the point of death.

In a hurry about the only thing I can think of is trying to gerry rig would be a fence of fiberglass window screen or (depending upon the size of the coral and fish) a quart strawberry basket over the top. Not a great solution long term but might keep them separate till you get home and still allow the coral sufficient, although diminished, light.