Will my clown goby hurt my birdsnest?

[Ssteve]

Moved a pink birdsnest frag a friend gave me up off the sandbed to where I would like to see it grow, and my little clown goby has taken a liking to it. He sits on it and swims around it most of the day. Should I attempt to move it, or do you think it will be fine with the little gumdrop in it?

 

[Peter Eichler]

Clown gobys aren't exactly SPS friendly. If that's your only SPS there's a good chance you'll see a decline.

 

[chris1292]

My hawkfish sits on mine all the time, I dont think it bothers the coral

 

[Ssteve]

There's two small sps frags in there but they are both significantly smaller.

 

[Dapg8gt]

Moving the coral isn't going to do anything =).. It's gonna find it regardless.. I've had a clown goby for years w/sps and although I notice the coral close up when he's in it I've never noticed any decline or damage I'd say just let it do it's thing..

Now If you have a pair of clown goby's from what I've read is they will actually strip the tissue off the acro/sps to lay the eggs on it so that would he an issue Imo.. I have a pink striped clown goby and it's the smallest thing in my tank with the biggest attitude lol.. He bites me if I get too close or any of his tank mates.. Awesome little fish though.

 

[ReeferKimberly]

He could hurt it, yes. They often nip SPS, to the decline of the coral.

 

[LoJack]

Even perching can cause damage. I had a flame hawk who perched on the same spot on my monti day after day. It eventually became very faded in that spot with zero polyp extension. The coral was large enough that I don't think it hurt it too badly, but it was definitely affected aesthetically.

 

[Paul B]

They don't hurt it much unless they spawn, which they do all the time. These are with their eggs and have spawned 4 times this month.
Their eggs are in between the fish. Hard to see but they are mutilating this coral



Newborn clown gobi

 

[Ssteve]

That's very cool. Since I only have one I don't need to worry about spawning. Don't plan to add another either, he's gonna be a bachelor for life. Or bachelorette, but I prefer to consider him a him since I named him Carl.

 

[Paul B]

The baby in the post I submitted is named Greta, after my Grand Daughter.