My clownfish is hosting in my maxima clam

[msteane]

My silly clownfish has decided that one of my maxima clams makes a much better host than any of the bubble tip or long tentacle anemones in my tank.  The clam doesn't seem too bothered by him though so I don't see any need for intervention.  Here's a video if you want to see him in action.

http://youtu.be/CBeDXcdIJXg

 

[pulpfiction1]

as strange as i myself finds it,a Google search turns up it happens fairly often 

 

[reeffreak]

they host a variety of different coral .. I have a pair of skunks that are  hosting in xenie Ive had  a pair host a brain coral and kill it

 

[Reef Hero]

My clowns have hosted my coco worm many times.

 

[Darryl_V]

My old clowns hosted my large squamosa for years.  My new clowns host a torch coral.

 

[unibob]

One are currently hosting a torch as well, they choose a rock before.

 

[msteane]

I had seen/heard of clowns hosting in other corals before many times.  This is the first time I had seen them choose a clam though.  Seems to happen more often than I would have thought though. 

 

[Reef Hero]

One coral I don't hear about them hosting a lot is hammer.....mine immediately stated hosting it and then stop......I have heard and read that hammer is able to defend itself against intruding corals.....maybe stinging of a sort....and I wonder if this is why.....anyone have clowns host a hammer for an extended period of time?

If your clam seems to be doing ok then I wouldn't worry too much about it.......just keep an eye and watch for any signs of stress. But like most have said the corals seem to do ok even with the clowns bothering them a little bit. My coco worm is still alive! You can tell it must not bother it too much because it stays out of the shell and "plays" with the clowns lol.

 

[unibob]

When my male clown was inspecting the torch, he actually tore off some of its tips on one side, he was a little rough. The torch is now used to him and is all healed up.

 

[spyd]

I'm sure clowns can be hosted in a Hammer coral without any issues. Some of them can be hosted in a Carpet anemone which has a way harsher sting than a hammer coral does. My False Percs are being hosted in my large Umbrella leather. They have loved that coral from day 1. They are actually very gentle on it as well and don't nip at it very much at all. It is quite amusing to watch them in my leather because they are completely engulfed in it. They live in it when the tentacles are out and then under the flaps when it is contracted. They also do not mind any fish swimming by it whatsoever. But, when I stick my hand within 12" of it, the female gives me a nasty bite every single time.

It is fascinating to see that your clowns can rub right up inside your clam like that without any reaction. If I put my hand over my clam and just shade some of the light, it reacts instantly, yet your clowns can do whatever they want without any reaction. Very cool.

 

[yveterinarian]

My Neon Gobies love to sit on my Blue Crocea clam.  At first it reacted but now there is no reaction whatsoever.  Maybe the clam just gets used to it and feels they are safe.  It still reacts if I get too close.

 

[reeffreak]

Clowns do not feel the harsh sting from any coral  ,wheather its a hammer , carpet nem , frogspawn , clam , xenie , umbrella leather or GSP or open brains ,  mind you some dont have a sting like nems  and hammers too ....they host anything  thats willing to let them host lol  . There are some things that will not let them host like mini maxis will eat any of fish if its stuck in there sticky tips.

 

[msteane]

If anything else brushes up against or a large fish swims over and casts a large shadow the clam it 'flinches'.  It seems that it and the clown have come to some sort of understanding.