Clownfish Doesn't Like The Snail?

[-Nemo-]

I bought a decent sized zebra turbo snail about a week ago, and ever since my two clowns will not leave it alone. They follow it around the tank and stare at it and peck at its shell.
A couple of minutes ago I saw the female bite hard on the end of the snail's shell, which has prompted me to now ask, whats going on?
The other fish leave him alone, and i have several other snails (though not zebra turbos), which they don't bother at all.
I'm worried they'll end up killing it, or get hurt themselves.

Thanks

 

[Lynden]

Probably just examining the new object.

 

[SkiFletch]

Clownfish are often inquisitive of new additions, especially if they come into the clown's territory. Although uncommon, I don't think the behavior would be dangerous to the clown or terribly unusual. Might be dangerous to the snail but nothin you can really do there...

 

[dilbert]

"Inquisitive" is a nice wording for these guys that often are only simply mean. I remember now a photo from a book on reefs where the author writes: "This pair of clownfish travelled the whole tank only to harass a tankmate".

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah I would have to agree with the "mean" comment as well (think mid sized cichlid) I started off with a pair of clowns and while they started off ok the dominant one did start being very aggresive. (the smaller one ended up getting caught by a pest crab, most likely because it was spending more time near the rock work).

On the other side it does seem to be very interested in its sorroundings. Mine often swims right up close to rockwork and slowly "searches" all over it. When a hermit comes towards the front of the tank it will often follow it around closely (never seen it attack them but it certainly seems interested in what they are doing).

As long as it is only going for its shell there isnt much to worry about. It is probably just trying to figure out what it is and if it can be eaten They seem to be fairly intelligent little critters (more so then your typical FW fish, again they remind me a lot of a mid sized cichlid).

 

[Colin_T]

it's in their territory and they want it out. It will move eventually and they will be happy.