Vicious Clown Attacking Pulsing Xenia !

[MantaRay]

Today I noticed a few of my pulsing xenia corals were wilting away and starting to breakdown in the water. I thought something was starting to go with my tank stats so I tested most of my usual parameters. Everything was as normal. Tonight I decided to remove the wilting stems to try and give the rest a chance. When I put the tank all back together, lights back on etc I noticed the larger of the two percula clown fish attacking the main trunk on the xenia and taking a nip / mouthful.

I have noticed lately as the fish is growing it is starting to get more territorial and even drawing blood from my hand on a few occasions.

Has anybody else seen this type of behaviour?

By the way fish and coral have lived happily together since the tank was set up 6 months ago !!!

 

[SkiFletch]

What other fish are in the tank? Is the clown the member of a pair? It could be preparing a nest?

 

[MantaRay]

The two clowns have been together since I set the tank up. The only other fish is a yellow watchman goby.

Its only a small tank (Aquaone AR620 - 90 litres).

I did read that a while ago about clowns, that when the do prepare to spawn they prepare and tend a patch.

It could have chose somewhere else other than wiping out my xenia !!!!!

 

[Lynden]

Wow, drawing blood? That's pretty impressive for a Clownfish....

 

[Mr.September15]

@ Drawing blood. Do clownfish even have the capibility of penetrating skin?

 

[mantis147]

my clownfish can BITE!!! everytime I put my hand it to adjust or clean something they bite my arms

 

[jeffery]

mine do the same thing niping at my hand .i aso have a skunk cleaner that will try and clean my hand wile im doing work in the tank

 

[tmreynolds]

Me too, my clowns attack my hand when I put it in, they are used to me hand feeding them, so I suppose its my fault. No blood though.

My cleaner shrimps also try to clean me, kind of ticklish

 

[sianeds]

My clown swims around my hand and also feeded from my hand. My cleaner shrimp is a PITA as it always interferes when I'm trying to do stuff in the tank. It's also in my bad books at the moment as it stole food out of my sun corals mouth last night I was not impressed as there was plenty to go around.