Clownfish and brain coral compatibility

[tylerone]

So I walked in the door today and one of my clowns was MIA. I scoured the floor, knew he didn't jump ship. That's when I saw the hermit crabs and snails munching on what was left of him - not much by the time I got home, but I could tell it was him. My question is, how did this go down? I've only got a potters angel and a dottyback in the tank, plus an emerald crab, a few hermits, snails, and a fire red shrimp. I did notice him hosting my Aussie brain coral a few days ago, and I thought nothing of it, other than the brain coral getting a tiny bit smaller at times - still huge, though. But here's the thing: can the brain coral sting the clown and immobilize him? I'm stumped, can't think of any other reason why the clown would've ended up as lunch. Thanks for any insight, guys. My levels are solid, just nitrates a bit high, but nothing that's affecting my SPS or corals, let alone the fish.

[rileyon]

I highly doubt the brain coral took him down, unless he was already weak or dying. I'm thinking maybe the clown was stressed or ill, and the coral just happened to be nearby. What type of brain coral do you have, is it a lobed brain? Would be good to hear others' thoughts on this. Sorry to hear about your loss, that's always tough.

[felinxo]

I've never seen clowns get taken down by coral, all I've seen is them biting the coral and pieces of it floating around the tank afterwards. Honestly, I think your clown was either already ill or got picked off by something else, coral just doesn't seem like the culprit to me.