Oddball trio hosting in my BTA. This may end badly for one of the three?

[daves-reef]

I got a set of young clowns in hopes that they would bond and probably host in my BTA. So far so good they seem to get along together well. The snowflake clown appears to be the more dominant and the frostbite often shows his belly and quivers when moving in close. They hang out together most of the time and have both been in the BTA. Mostly the snowflake hosts in the BTA now. Rarely both together but occasionally they both are in it if the snowflake allows. Its not that large of a BTA.

But there is a third member of the trio (Black Sailfin Blenny) that when I added the clowns started hanging around right up next to the BTA. This only started when the clowns found the BTA. Before that it had a favorite spot on the other side of the tank. Sometimes it still goes there for a few min and perches. You would think that the blenny was bonded with the snowflake clown and also hosting in the BTA. Can't quite tell if it ever really touches BTA tentacles or just curls under them. But it looks like it touches a little to me. The snowflake and the frozen clown occasionally will chase away other fish like a chromis but not the Blenny.

Both clowns spend their nights in or near the BTA but the blenny does not. It sleeps in the rocks somewhere. But when lights are on and the blenny is not grazing. It hangs out on top of the rock with BTA or right under-in the bottom of the BTA. I am not sure blennys can host in an anemone safely. Maybe the BTA stings are no longer potent. Or maybe some day it will move the wrong way and things will end badly for the blenny.

I only have an IPAD for pictures but I finally got a picture of the trio together with BTA.

 

[Marshall O]

That's interesting. I would think if the Clowns were more mature (and especially if protecting a clutch of eggs), they would not allow the Blenny that close. Pretty neat either way. I'm curious to see if they continue to allow it near the BTA as they mature.

 

[Nicole79]

I only have one clown, but I have a bangaii cardinal that I think is in love with the clownfish, He is always hovering next to the BTA and the tentacles clearly touch him most of the time. its wierrd to say the least he doesnt bury in it like the clown, but sleeps right next to it.