Yellow Stripe Clingfish

Question
I have just recently added new fish to my 65 gallon tank and they all seem fine, but my new yellow stripe clingfish keeps biting my long spine sea urchin. Is the fish hurting the urchin or just picking things off of it? Every time the clingfish bites the urchin it freaks out.

Answer
Hi Gabby,

Well, your Clingfish is also referred to as the Urchin Clingfish, which lives inside and around an Urchin.  

Like a clownfish and anemone form a symbiotic relationship, the Clingfish forms one with the urchin, protecting it from parasites, and the urchin's thick spines protect the fish back.  It's a safe relationship.

The Urchin may not like it now, but with time, he won't notice it.

He is carnivorous and so he requires finely chopped foods, meats, shrimps, crab, squid, mysis shrimp, and he will survive well on those, but he isn't eating the urchin.  He's doing what comes natural.

I hope this helps.

Renee