anemone/clown hosting

[rayviv]

I was so impressed with the show that those clowns put on for us spectators at the last meeting that I wanted to get a pair of clowns who would some day put on the same show at my house.

 So I traded my anemone hosting adult clown in and got a pair of clowns thinking they would just get right in the anemone to host it. They are small clowns and wont go near the anemone, just hang out around the surface.

 Meanwhile, the anemone seems lonely and does not move as much. It doesnt look; as good or healthy.

 Is there anything I can do to encourage this new pair of clowns to get interested in this anemone?   

[jeremyt]

sometimes you can take a net and chase them toward it, or get one of these http://www.petsolutions.com/Fish-Net-Breeder+I15510934+C1013.aspx hang it on top of tank with them and nem in it (worked for me), and sometimes it takes time, one day they will just go to it.

[micki]

It took my clowns more than a year to decide they belonged in the anemone and finally one day out of the blue they were in it!  a few years or so later after I lost one of my clowns I got another and it went right to the anemone. 

[TechGuy]

Here is my story.

I purchased a Pair of Ocelaris Clowns. Then a nice Green Bubble tip. They never touched it. Soon they withered away to nothing and died (Jack's Fish).

I traded in the BTA for a Condy. THEN I added two Maroon and Gold Clowns. They went straight for it.

They host an anemone, not for fun, but protection. I would suggest an anemone, then clowns.

I hate anemones. Mine always wondered. To the point where my condy ended up in the sump, where he met my return pump and was skimmed out. Speaking of, my reef octopus skimmed out a GIANT Condy, with no traces, or ill effects on the tank. My Nitrates never changed. The only change I noticed was in my remote skimmate bucket.

[JP2006]

A lot of it depends on your clowns, if they are wild caught or AQ. I have heard that you can put the nem and the clowns in a specimen container, all together. The close quarters helps the clowns "discover" it.

I tried that and it did not work, but its an idea. I have since decided against anemones.

[rayviv]

Thanks 4 responses,
 Some good ideas and information. When I transfer to 180 I will try something. (When ever that may be.)

[micki]

I've never had trouble with my anemonies wondering around.  Once in a while one of my babies/splits will "finally" move out of the rock enough for me to be able to get it out of the DT.  Right now I have 2 in the DT that have been in the same spot for at least 2+ years.  My clowns have been both wild caught and tank raised.  I think (please correct me if I am wrong) Aquatic Specialist in Troy usually have clowns and an anemone in the same tank and usually the clowns are already hosting at least when I've been in there.  Perhaps Duane or Justin can chime in.

[Aquatic Specialists]

I have tried it both ways adding clowns and then anemone and anemone, then clowns. I also have done it with tank raised and wild caught. I have had them take up to a couple of months to go to the anemone, but eventually they always do. I have had trouble getting some to host after taking them from an anemone and or the anemone from the clowns, and then trying to put a new anemone in there for hosting. They seem to be very skiddish at first but they always give in. I also have great luck confining them all together. Using one of those net breeders that JeremyT talked about would be a really good idea. There are so many creatures in your tank with tenticles that it could be very confusing for those little guys and also one of those creatures may be much more appealing than the anemone. The clowns will also not always tolerate an anemone that moves too much.

[TechGuy]

Yeah, the tentacle thing.

Since my Anemone has met its maker, my clowns seem to host anything with tentacles. Especially the Torch, and Hammer corals. Weird little guys, always "Clowning Around", hehe ehhhh nevermind...

[rayviv]

This anemone has only moved about an inch sinse he has been in there.