Torch vs Clown

OK, about 4 hours ago when I got home from work, I noticed one of the heads of my torch was fully retracted. It was kinda weird, so I thought I'd keep an eye on it. It came back out, and I found the problem.
My male clown fish is continuously trying to host the branch of coral evertime it comes out. I don't really know what to do or think. I'm sure it's not doing the torch any good, from what I understand they are touchy enough as it is.
Is there anything I can do? Is it possible the clown can stress the torch to the point of it possibly being unhealthy? The torch is my favorite coral, I would really hate to get rid of it, but at the same time there is no way I am getting rid of my pair of clowns, either. I just really want to make this work somehow. :-/

TIA all

 

It's really not good for the coral for the clowns to be wollering in it. I know you lost your anem, but what about a toadstool for the clowns to host instead of trying to use your torch.

 

Thats a good suggestion.
Yeah, I had an anemone, and the clowns never touched the thing. Then it died and started me over from step zero. Getting one is completely out of the question as I will never keep one of those again.
I had no idea they would try to host the torch. I also had no idea they would host a toadstool. Basically, I am open to any alternate ideas for whatever else a clown may host, that would remain safe and healthy for both.

 

Mine has tried to host a feather duster! I have a small toadstool leather and as it grows I notice my clown spending more and more time rubbing on it and swimming above it.

Gin

 

OK, so I looked up toadstool at live aquaria. Can someone who has kept these tell me if the description/care info is accurate:
Saltwater Aquarium Corals for Marine Reef Aquariums: Toadstool Mushroom Leather Coral, Brown

Also, whats the difference in toadstools from the various regions? Are they decent shippers? Ive never seen one at the LFS, so I would probably have to order one.

 

leathers are VERY HARDY and are often some of the first corals to go in a tank, i just got a tiny yellow toadstool, and within ~4 hours of being in the tank he was allready starting to open, and they are a top shippers IMO, i kind of wonder if its because they dont really gunk up the water their in like most corals do.

i would try a small leather frag, like kenya tree first, but thats just me

 

Any secondary suggestions nano? I'm just not really a fan of kenya tree's.

 

do you have a local reef club to get cheap frags from?? mine has people toss this coral out on a monthly basis should be very cheap, and its just a starter coral, you can toss it once you know it does good, although im not a huge fan of tossing living creatures....

 

maybe try a finger leather or somethin, im just saying try and get a small cheap leather frag and see what it does, if it dies, not a big deal, but if you buy a big ol leather offline, and that dies, you payed for the leather and shipping, which is almost as much as the coral :-/

 

Are your nitrates down to zero yet? How is the torch doing? Toadstools are very hardy but don't like drastic parameter changes.

Ask your LFS if they can get one for you. I called around until I found one the size I wanted and then sent hubby on a 45 minute drive for one.

What's wrong with a kenya BTW! Mine is beautiful and unlike everything I've read it's not going sexual and dropping babies everywhere either...it's just growing up!