Help with RBTA and nipping clown?

[WetShepherd]

A couple of weeks ago I added a RBTA and the juvi Ocellaris it was hosting. Everything seemed to be going well, the anemone seemed to like it's placement as it didn't move much - just up and down on the rock a bit - occassionally I would find that it had pulled itself into one of the holes in the rock (i placed it near two so that it could hide it's foot there). It never failed to come back out though.

Today however, it appears to be in terrible shape. It looks like it's had the majority of it's tentacles bitten off, and the only culprit I can guess at is the clown it hosts. The rest of my fish keep a respectable distance. I've seen the clown pull bits of Mysis from the nem's tentacles before during feeding time (I guess they don't always bring food to their host?), and I've seen him put his mouth on the tentacles before as well (which I believe is normal) but I've never seen him (or anyone) bite through a tentacle. Here's a photo I just took:

I've seen the tentacles contract many times and they didn't look like this so I'm fairly certain this is actual damage. I know he's still alive as he has retreated into a cave during the time I've been writing this. Does anyone have any advice?

Should I get the anemone moved out into a QT? Should I just box off his area to keep any fish out? Is it too late to help it?

edit:
This info probably doesn't apply but just in case:

Size of tank: 70g (55+sump)
Age of tank: 8 mo
Skimmer: Tunze DOC
nitrate: < 1
ammonia: 0
temperature: 78.5
Water source: RODI 0ppm
Salinity: 1.025
Alkalinity: 8.0
Lights: 48" T5HO 54w x 4 & 54w LED Strip
Calcium: 420
Magnesium: 1300
Dosing: Nothing currently (previously Tropic Marin Bio-calcium
Specimen was not dipped (i know the tank it's from and had no concerns about unwanted travelers)

 

[bumski667]

I purchased a huge (16") carpet anenome about 2 months ago, did well for about 3 weeks before my clown pair started to host, as soon as they hosted, I saw them nip at the nem. Also weird, but one of the clowns was hitting the nem with it's tail.

Then it slowly started putting it's head into the mouth of the nem. I thought it was normal and part of the hosting process, but after about 3 day, i noticed my nem was not opening as much.

I left for 2 days, came home, and nem was pretty much a goner.

I would QT the nem or the fish, and see if the nem comes back.

That's what I should have done.

 

[BairdimusPrime]

any nems i've had die in the last year were from the hosting...
any rbta's i have that are untouched thrive... i think the nems need a few months acclimation time before any beneficial hosting can occur
good luck

 

[WetShepherd]

Thanks guys - my assumption that I wouldn't have problems because the nem was already hosting the same juvi I bought it with was clearly wrong - lesson learned. Any change can cause a change in behaviour - got it.

I already have a fish in QT - a starry blenny - so it's hard to get a feel for how well he's doing due to already having white spots everywhere and being a fairly 'still' fish. Consequently I don't want to put my nem in with him to be safe, but I've rigged up a clear plastic cover for the nem and his rock with lots of holes for flow, but nothing that will let the clowns in. The nem has since moved to the side of the rock where it's out of direct light and it alternates between shrinking up completely and kind of hanging out loosely. He must have sloughed off some 'pieces' as I've had to pull a couple white chunks out from under his plastic box.
Hopefully he can bounce back - both of my clowns have collectively decided to host behind a torch coral so they might inevitably leave the nem alone.