Clownfish sucking on torch coral tips

[AriMiko43]

Lately my clownfish has been sucking on my torch corals tips. He just floats there and puts the tips in his mouth and keeps them in there. Any idea what he is doing or why he is doing it? I have never seen him do this before.

 

[nanoreefer22]

I'd say hosting My clown use to do it.

 

[CoralMeister]

yep, hes hosting it

 

[rookie07]

He is cleaning the tentacles. A sign that he is being hosted by the Torch.

 

[NYC Joe]

He likes it. Stop staring


Thanx
-Joe

 

[dubs]

all 3 my clowns was living in my torch just like that untill 3 weeks ago when i went away and my friend killed a few my lps torch included now they hosting my xenia colony

 

[CoralMeister]

He likes it.

lol

 

[skene]

Don't judge him.

 

[RARECLOWNSNJ]

There is no definite answer as to what they are doing when they do that.

I have a feeling they are trying to ingest the slime coat on the torch so they can host easier. Do you see any small black spots on the clowns.

In the past i have seen clowns rip tentacles off an anemone and eat them. Leading me to believe it has to do with adjusting their slime coat.

Usually you will see little black spots on the clown when they host torches, the sting from the torch is stronger then some anemones.

 

[AriMiko43]

Thank you rareclowns, yes they do have black spots on them. They switched from my frogspawn to the torch.

 

[RARECLOWNSNJ]

Their slime coat is getting adjusted to the new host. Ive seen clowns rip off whole tentacles and eat them, before hosting an anemone.