little clown sucks on anemone's tentacles

[morty696]

hey i was just watching my little clown as he was hosting the anemone (BTA) and he was sucking on the anemones tentacles. The anemone seemed cool with it and didnt retract or move at all. Anyone know why hes doing it? sorry i dont have pics, he hasnt done it again yet.

 

[rkelman]

Mine do that from time to time. Its normal behavior. Why they do it I don't know. You'd have to ask them..

 

[morty696]

do you think its got something to do with keeping their immunity up by taking in anemone slime? actually, they probably eat the slime, cuz theirs microscopic food on the tentacles?

 

[Aerowen]

ive seen my clownfish do that also, the anenome does not seem to care at all.

 

[welsher7]

I always thought it was the clown cleaning the anemone's tentacles.

 

[elegance coral]

I've seen this quite often. It seems to happen most often with young/small clowns. My small male Ocellaris does this to hold on when the current gets a little rough. I think hanging on is easier than swimming against the flow.

 

[salty316]

Most of mine do this as well. I had a big maroon go too far and began ripping the tentacles off my LTA. Every morning there were tentacles laying around everywhere. After a few months I had to get rid of her. My nem recovered nicely.