Biting Pieces of Bubble Tip?

CC13 · Dec 30, 2018

Hey guys,

I noticed something strange over the last two weeks with my new edition CSB. It’s doing amazing, opened up very nicely everything seems to be great but I’ve noticed twice now something I think has tried to take a bite out of the anemone arms?

It sounds weird but yesterday I was cleaning the tank, everything was great, and then I left for an hour and came back to see the Nem had receded a lot and there appeared to be a piece of one of its tentacles in the LR (appearing to look like something took a small bite out of one of its arms).

Today, it’s back out and looking great but my question is, is there anything that eats them? And is his normal?

I have seen a few times my Clownfish try to put one of its arms in its mouth, could this be the reason? I thought maybe this action was he process of them starting to host the anemone which they still have not done.

Other fish in the tank are Powder Blue, Yellow and Blond Naso, Filefish, Foxface, Anthias and Chromis.

DSC reef · Dec 30, 2018

I've seen clownfish nibble on the tentacles of the host anemone. I believe it's common behavior but not sure of the reasoning. @davocean

Katrina71 · Dec 30, 2018

I read it's to acclimate to it's sting.

Deiblerj · Dec 30, 2018

Katrina71 said:
I read it's to acclimate to it's sting.

I’ve come across this in my readings as well. It’s part of the acclimation phase. They “nibble” on the tips. They will also quickly brush up against the BTA. After a while they will eventually become more comfortable and swim through them or rest in them.

Mine were just about to do this when my BTA moved! Gah!!

CC13 · Dec 30, 2018

Okay thanks guys the responses are much appreciated.

It’s what I thought but I wasn’t sure if there was anything trying to eat the Nem lol.

WV Reefer · Dec 30, 2018

CC13 said:
Hey guys,

I noticed something strange over the last two weeks with my new edition CSB. It’s doing amazing, opened up very nicely everything seems to be great but I’ve noticed twice now something I think has tried to take a bite out of the anemone arms?

It sounds weird but yesterday I was cleaning the tank, everything was great, and then I left for an hour and came back to see the Nem had receded a lot and there appeared to be a piece of one of its tentacles in the LR (appearing to look like something took a small bite out of one of its arms).

Today, it’s back out and looking great but my question is, is there anything that eats them? And is his normal?

I have seen a few times my Clownfish try to put one of its arms in its mouth, could this be the reason? I thought maybe this action was he process of them starting to host the anemone which they still have not done.

Other fish in the tank are Powder Blue, Yellow and Blond Naso, Filefish, Foxface, Anthias and Chromis.

Clownfish will bite and suckle on their host but I’ve never seen one bite a chunk off. If someone is eating it I would suspect the Filefish.

CC13 · Dec 30, 2018

WV Reefer said:
Clownfish will bite and suckle on their host but I’ve never seen one bite a chunk off. If someone is eating it I would suspect the Filefish.

Do filefish eat Nems? I got him to get rid of my aiptasia, and there is enough in the tank for him to eat....

WV Reefer · Dec 30, 2018

CC13 said:
Do filefish eat Nems? I got him to get rid of my aiptasia, and there is enough in the tank for him to eat....

Aiptasia are anemones.

Deiblerj · Dec 30, 2018

Peppermint shrimp can help with the aiptasia if you’re filefish becomes too much of a problem

I’ve seen a few of my tips fall off when my one nem was on the brink of death. It came back though and is looking healthy again. I’m not sure if they shed damaged tips or not. If the rest of the nem looks healthy I wouldn’t worry too much. Keep an eye on it and see if you can catch any fish messing with it.

CC13 · Dec 30, 2018

Deiblerj said:
Peppermint shrimp can help with the aiptasia if you’re filefish becomes too much of a problem

I’ve seen a few of my tips fall off when my one nem was on the brink of death. It came back though and is looking healthy again. I’m not sure if they shed damaged tips or not. If the rest of the nem looks healthy I wouldn’t worry too much. Keep an eye on it and see if you can catch any fish messing with it.

I’ll take some pictures of it today and post here. It looks healthy and it’s definately growing since I got it a few weeks ago the colour is really coming out nicely.

DSC reef · Dec 30, 2018

The maroon clown in my wife's tank literally bit off large chunks of tentacles on the host anemone like it was making room for itself in the middle of the anemone. After a while it just stopped. While I'm sure it was irritating, it didn't seem to cause any issues and the anemone grew large and colorful.

davocean · Dec 30, 2018

If the clowns are sucking on tentacles but not hosted yet it sounds like they are absorbing sting cells and acclimating.

Sometimes the tentacles will get twisted in doing this and may get pinched off, that would be my guess.

I would be surprised if the filefish did anything to it while smaller, easier to get to aptasia is present

CC13 · Dec 30, 2018

Ya the anemone is very open and looking good again... I’m gonna assume it was the Clownfish.

DSC reef · Dec 30, 2018

CC13 said:
Ya the anemone is very open and looking good again... I’m gonna assume it was the Clownfish.

Now that is a sweet looking anemone!

CC13 · Dec 30, 2018

DSC reef said:
Now that is a sweet looking anemone!

Thank you!

Got it at Reef Raft 2 weeks ago.

reef lover · Dec 30, 2018

Nice nem!!

davocean · Dec 30, 2018

Looks great!

CC13 · Dec 30, 2018

Thanks guys.

I’ll post some pics as it grows and hopefully when the Clowns host.

laverda · Dec 30, 2018

I have had 4 large green and purple BTAs as well as a bunch of rainbow BTAs for many years. Occasionally I see tenticals from the green and purple ones floating around my tank. I have never been able to figure out the cause, and do not believe it is from my clown fish.