Clowning around... or mommy fetish?

[CFQTPye]

Hi All,

I've read alot about the peculiar habits of clownfish... ie. sleeping at the top of the water on their sides... swimming face down etc. Never in any of my reading have I read about a clownfish sucking (or perhaps chewing) on the tentacle of an anemone. Has anyone else seen this? I have a pair of pink skunk clownfish hosting two rose BTA's. I noticed on of the skunks alternating between the two anemones, and what looks like sucking on the tentacles.

Advice? Thoughts? Anecdotes? Affirmation that my clownfish indeed does or does not have abandonment issues (mommy complex)? What should I do?

Thanks!

 

[Aqua fire/medic]

My snocassos do this. Doesn't do any harm to the BTA. Not sure why they do it though....... Hmmmm.......

 

[geckoejon]

i have and have had numerous clowns that suck on the tentacles of nems. not sure why they do it. my personal theory is that it's kind of a bonding thing between the nem and the clown. clowns don't suckle milk, so i seriously doubt it's a mommy complex. lol

 

[stevers]

It may be to assist the body of the clown in producing slime specific to the nematocytes the anemone produces.