Is clownfish really reef safe?

[hermesfansf]

I just found out that the snowflake and black clownfish that i just added to my tank are nipping on the brain corals especially on the scolymia. It is very frustrating. They are definitely well fed. So i really don't know what goes wrong. The female snowflake for sure is very aggressive, she is able to swim side by side with the purple tank when she was in the quarantine tank.

I really need opinions on this situation.

 

[xtlosx]

Probably establishing territory, but I can assure you clownfish are reef safe. They are probably the most popular fish and are in just about every reef tank I have ever seen. She might be trying to get the brain to "host" her....

They are clowns of course, so expect whacky behavior.

 

[jbax]

clowns do mouth the tentacles of anemones or what ever coral they are trying to host.

 

[ScottCRRT]

I agree that it is probably just establishing territory. Although they can hold their own, I'm sure it will settle down.

 

[Herk]

Nothing is truly reef safe as it may hurt the coral if it is trying to have the coral host it or if it is just establishing territory, but clownfish are probably as close as you can get to reef safe.