Tomato clown in Plate coral

[Ryan21391]

I've had a Long Tentacle Anemone for over 8 months. Little over a month ago I decided to get a Tomato clown for the Anemone. The clown loves it :inlove: and usually doesn't leave it for more than 2 mins. He even feeds the Anemone.

However recently I put a Green Long Tentacle Plate Coral (Heliofungia actiniformis) in my tank. For what ever reason the clown has decided he also somewhat likes it too. He'll hop in it for few seconds then go on as he was either swimming around the tank or back into the Anemone.

To give an idea on size of the two things hes hosting the Anemone is 14" diameter. The plate coral is about 6" in diameter.

So why would he be trying to host in the plate coral even though hes been in the anemone for a little bit over a month?

I'd bet this is bad for the plate coral, right?

Is he just checking it out and maybe not get in it anymore soon (its only been in there about 2 days now)?

 

[Ryan21391]

There's a pic of the Plate Coral under T5 actinic lights only

 

[Ryan21391]

BTW I'm a new member but not new to the forum been reading on here for years just never posted.

 

[Turbo snail]

I had a long tentacle plate a while back that my perculas loved. It looked great for about a month and I didn't think the clowns were bothering it at all, but then one day it started to develop a bald spot, and then was completely dead within a few days. From what I've read since, LTP's are extremely picky and something like that happening is not uncommon. Not sure if it was my clowns that killed it, but long term survival in general for these guys is difficult

 

[Ryan21391]

Well great news, I moved it a bit further away from the Anemone and the clown hasn't touched it or even looked at it. I think perhaps the clown thought that the Plate was an extension of the anemone. Time will tell but so far this is awesome!