Frogspawn vs. False percullas

Our 2 clowns have recently started to host in our frogspawn with increasing force. They rarely leave it at this point and now they swim around with their mouths open all the time. I've read that this is because the frogspawn is stinging them, but has anyone ever heard of this killing the fish? I've heard they have a hard time eating because of this. I've noticed they're not as ferocious of eaters as before but I'm not sure if its because of the stinging or that they won't leave the frogspawn for any length of time. Our frogspawn is about the size of a tennis ball. Any advice is appreciated. We're trying to decide whether or not to trade the frogspawn in and get a rose anenome.

 

If your fish are still swimming without difficulty I wouldn't worry about them. I might worry about a frogspawns health if its only softball sized. That much attention might do it harm. The fish should only show less reaction to the stings as they acclimate and the frogspawn stops stinging.

 

Ours play in frogspawn all day and sleep in it all night. Shown no issues from it and still eat like crazy. Thought I had pics of it on my phone but I don't. Ill try get some tomorrow

 

They're swimming around slower than usual. My husband described them this morning as, "They look drunk or high on the coral!" The frogspawn looks healthy, it's actually grown a bit since the clowns started hanging out in it. I'll keep my eye on it and the fish.

Alex, ours are at the point of being in it all day and night, I hope the coral relaxes because these two are not going to give up!

 

My two clowns were in my frogspawn for 8 months until yesterday when I rescaped the tank. Don't know if they will go back to it, but if you really want them out you could try moving the coral. No guarantee they will go for the anemone.

 

Clownfish (anemonefish) are naturally resistant to the stings of anemones and similar LPS corals due to their special mucus coating. The frogspawn is not stinging them.

 

I would remove the LPS and provide an appropriate Anemone if you can house one safely in an established tank.

Something does not sound right to me with regard to the clowns keeping their mouths open and decreased activity.

Evolution has designed clowns to reside in anemones and only certain types of anemones. Yes a clown may reside in an anemone with a more potent sting occasionally but that is not the norm.

Clowns tend to mouth the tips of the tentacles of anemones, I can see where doing so to an LPS might cause some irritation.

An anemones does not release the nematocysts once the clown has developed the mucous coating that disguises the clown. The anemone either does not recognize the clown as food or the anemone is unable to distinguish between the clown and it's self.

An LPS releases it's nematocysts, as evidenced by hypermelanization of the clown in response to being stung.

 

Nice explanation :thumb_up:

 

The clowns we have, have been moved to different tanks twice in past 6 months with the frog spawn. Once they find it in the tank they are back in it. I'm hoping to add a nem in next few months and I will remove the frogspawn for a bit in hopes they go to the nem! But they show no effect from the frog spawn but it doesn't open up as big as it once did....

 

Keep and eye on the frogspawn, i have heard of people losing corals do to clowns hosting, the coral don't open enough to get what they need and died after a few months.