Whacko clownfish behavior!

[PadresGirl]

My female false perc, who recently started hosting in my frogspawn, is either trying to eat, or is "suckling" at the polyps! I'm not sure if it's stinging her, but her mouth remains open for a few minutes afterward. Has anyone ever witnessed anything like this before? Do I need to seperate them?

 

[useskaforevil]

i've heard of this happening without anythign bad happening, but never seen it before

 

[Hop]

Clowns can be rough on anemones and I'm sure it is the same when they adopt a substitute as well. They also do this when the "season" is right

 

[nalbar]

It's normal hosting behavior.


nalbar

 

[IslandCrow]

It is normal clownfish behavior for it to do that very thing with anemone tentacles, so I could definitely see one doing the same with frogspawn tentacles. I've never heard a good reason why they do this. Some say it may be a way they build up their resistance to the anemone's sting, but as far as I know, that's just a theory.

 

[PadresGirl]

Thanks, everybody. Just one more reason for me to enjoy my crazy clownfish.