Stupid Clownfish...

[ReefWreak]

Has anyone seen a clownfish host a torch coral? Can they sucessfully?

My clownfish has decided that after 8 months in the tank with the torch, he was going to try to host it. He nudges closer and closer every day, trying go find a comfortable way in.

I saw him the other day sticking his face in it... Well guess what... Now he's got burns/stings all over his face and has a swollen left eye, that I'm worried might become infected. It's swollen and almost hazy, which indicates infection or close to it. What should I do?

Will he be able to fight it off? My more immediate concern was his recent inability to eat, as he is having a hard time seeing food come down, so I've been trying to feed more.

Any thoughts?

I've heard of people successfully having clowns host in torches, but I just want to see what ya'll think...

Thanks,

Eric

 

[reefnetworth]

ive heard of them hosting Torch coral, but never heard of that. are you possitive its not ick or pop-eye?
until i was sure, i would QT him if possible. something doesnt sound write, thats for sure.

 

[ReefWreak]

I'm 100% positive. He's been fine for the 8 months that I've had him, there was a new addition to the tank, but everyone else is fine, and the biggest thing is that I saw him sticking is face into the torch coral, rubbing it back and forth...

 

[Ding2daDong]

Clownfish with anemones build up a few layers of protective film. When they don't have an anemone they lose that and are more vulnerable to disease and infection. The clownfish will gain that back once it slowly edges back into a torch, anemone, or frogspawn.

My pair of true perculas did the same thing and has some burn marks but with lots of feedings it went away and they made the torch there permenant home. That is until I put in a rose bubble tip anemone.

I would just feed multiple times per day with selcon enriched and garlic enriched food. Spectrum pellets work wonders, I would feed those a few times a day aswell as mysis, blood worms, pe mysis and whatever else you have in the freezer.

I hope that helps.

-Matthew

 

[ReefWreak]

I've been pounding the tank with spectrum and formula 1, then added some cyclopeeze since I know clowns are traditionally planktovores, and I've been lazy so I havn't done frozen food, but I guess I will.

So if it takes him some time to adjust to it, but he will, then he'll be okay. He has not been sleeping in it, just sleeping in his usual place, so I guess he's building his film up, and then he'll be okay.

Thanks for the reassurance

Eric

 

[FishAffair]

Yeah, mine tried out my torch at first too when they were little. But after a few burns they gave it up and went for my less painful frogspawn, leather corals. After a year or so they started to go into the torch again and by that time it no longer stung them.

I made them happy the other day and moved them to my tank that has 9 btas. ;]

 

[ReefWreak]

Yea, so I just checked up on the tank to check the CA reactor, and I saw him sleeping next to/behind the torch. I guess he'll be alright.

I just hope his eye heals up.

 

[gasman059]

Put some ice on it!
Take a tylenol and call in the morning.

 

[whaler1582]

yeah, clowns will host in pretty much anything they want to. i have a pair of tank raised false percs that i have had for a few years now. they have hosted in my green torch for over a year now with no problems and where in another torch before that one. they are pretty territorial about it and will bite u if u go too close to them.
Josh

 

[lpsluver]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10505462#post10505462 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by whaler1582
yeah, clowns will host in pretty much anything they want to. i have a pair of tank raised false percs that i have had for a few years now. they have hosted in my green torch for over a year now with no problems and where in another torch before that one. they are pretty territorial about it and will bite u if u go too close to them.
Josh

No clown/torch experience but my perc (at least the male) is hosting my elegance. The elegance doesn't seem to be bothered at all. I'll try to get a picture of him sleeping in it at night. It's kinda cute. I'm guessing the same type of thing had to happen though...building up the tolerance over time.

 

[newreefbishop]

That may be the start of popeye. I have heard of them hosting in torches and frog spawns with no ill effects....

 

[ReefWreak]

I'm 100% positive that it's entirely related to trauma from the torch because he's now living underneath it 24/7, and he's got a bunch of different stings along his body from it. THanks though