Ouch!

[CTN1983]

I have an interesting story to share...my clown fish has recently taken interest on my Derasa clam, the fish would usually swim around the clam, and protecting it from any inhabitants that would get near it. (I even caught the fish catching flank food and spitting it at the clam's mantle lol). The Derasa did seem a little irratated whenever the clown fish swam near/lay on the mantle... it would usually retract or close its shell.

After getting home from work today, I caught the clown fish trying to lay on the mantle again! :mad2: But today he learn a valuable lesson, when he tried laying on the mantle, the clam quickly shut it's shell, catching the fish! The fish was half-way inside the clam...crushing it's poor head. I was like OH Shi#T! After struggling for a few seconds, the clown was able to free itself, but now he has a scar around his head! YIKES

Both the clown fish and Derasa are doing are okay now, the clown has stop bothering the clam...I guess he learn his lesson!

Do you guys know of any corals (other than anemones) that can serve as a host for clown fish...I don't want to take another risk, even though it seems unlikely he'll repeat the same mistake.

I've heard people using long tentacle plate corals...anyone know if they share a relationship similar to anemones?

Here are some pictures of the scar, but it looks a whole lot worse in person. I hope he recovers

 

[BKtomodachi]

poor guy! try some hairy shrooms or frogspaws, etc.

 

[fishdoc11]

They will associate with toadstools and Euphilia species.
Chris

 

[cwbroden]

Ouch is right. I'm suprised he was not killed.

 

[CTN1983]

Thanks for the advice, I have a hammer coral, but the clown fish doesn't seem to care much about it...probably because it's too small.

I also heard toalstools can serve as a good host, but I don't want to take any risk because they are also known to release some pretty harmful toxins that can kill surrounding corals.

Right now the clown fish isn't bothering the clams or any of the corals...so I'm not too worry about it.

 

[Julio]

try getting an elegance coral,
thanks for sharing the story hope your fish is ok.

 

[nanocat]

Too strange, my ocellaris pair host in my deresa. They have the choice of hairy mushrooms, frogspawn, or a lovely RBTA...but no, they have to host the clam. Fortunately for them (and the clam), the clam doesn't care at all. It doesn't close on them (and they swim and cuddle right in the middle of it). Same mantle extension and growth, so I guess it's OK with the clam.

They're a little surprised at night when it closes and they're homeless. They sleep over the top of it, or just to the side of it.

 

[Cappy]

Hope Clown took him seriously. Also, hope that the fish is Okay.
Interesting thread. thanx for sharing.

 

[clsund]

It never ceases to amaze me what you see in this hobby. Really quite funny. I wouldn't go with the elegance suggestion though. Lately, the elegance corals have been having survivability issues for reasons unknown. See the post in the Reef discussion and coral forums for Eric Borneman's study on this. Other than an anemone and the hammer, I would suggest a frogspawn as a possibility.

 

[hwynboy]

Too strange, my ocellaris pair host in my deresa. They have the choice of hairy mushrooms, frogspawn, or a lovely RBTA...but no, they have to host the clam. Fortunately for them (and the clam), the clam doesn't care at all. It doesn't close on them (and they swim and cuddle right in the middle of it). Same mantle extension and growth, so I guess it's OK with the clam.

They're a little surprised at night when it closes and they're homeless. They sleep over the top of it, or just to the side of it.

My maroon did the same thing...he hosted in m frogspawn and left the RBTA alone. I moved the frogspawn to a different position near the RBTA and left it there for a few days. Then I moved the frogspawn across the other side of my 6 foot tank and sort of hid the frogspawn. To my surprise the maroon actually THEN took to the RBTA and he has lived there ever since. I suppose he found true love. And I am the matchmaker!:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Julio]

these fish don't stray far from there home, but i bet if you took the anemone out ant put something else there he will remove whatever you put there.