They do look kinda close... good chance the flowerpot stung it. Hard to tell how close they would get with it being deflated...but if it was anything like mine was it would have been all over the place. The flowerpot's aggression is pretty high up there, and the sting isn't anything to laugh at. My flowerpot fell from it's position onto a plate coral with poor results for the plate. I wouldn't assume chemical warface, usually heard more of with SPS and softies.