another clownfish / anemone question

[Headhunter]

Although I’ve come to recognize there are no certainties in reef life…I’m going to make a run at this.

Which anemones have the highest probability to host an Ocellaris Clownfish?

In other words, if your kids were you asking you 35 times per day to recreate the movie Nemo in your 150g reef tank (already have 2 clowns & blue tang), which 3 anemones would you purchase and what size would you buy, to give yourself the best chance of success?

I will try the old wives tales too: tape pictures of hosting to tank, cell phone light at night, etc…

Thank you in advance, I'm still a newbie

 

[James M]

I would say a carpet and Magnificent Anemone. Sometimes a bubble tip but that isn’t there natural host .
You can also do a anemone basket but that might hurt the clowns and isn’t recommended

 

[AcroNem]

First thing, just a pet peeve of mine, the anemone is the host not the fish and I would add Entacmaea quadricolor of course because that will be easiest. Depending on your experience level clowns are also hosted by Heteractis crispa, H. Magnifica, Stichodactyla gigantea, S. haddoni and S. mertensii.

As for the anemone hosting the clowns, you can't force anything and sometimes will just have to wait on them if they don't quickly or eventually go in.

 

[mochaclownlover]

^ +1

 

[Halal Hotdog]

^AcroNem is spot on. I have had Ocellaris that bonded with both carpets and BTA. There is only a few nems that don't host clowns e.g. the flower, mini maxi, and maybe condy (these are the only ones I am aware of).

 

[AcroNem]

^AcroNem is spot on. I have had Ocellaris that bonded with both carpets and BTA. There is only a few nems that don't host clowns e.g. the flower, mini maxi, and maybe condy (these are the only ones I am aware of).

Correct. Please don't add Condylactis as a host haha. But definitely add flower anemones, they don't host but they're darn pretty

 

[Headhunter]

First thing, just a pet peeve of mine, the anemone is the host not the fish and I would add Entacmaea quadricolor of course because that will be easiest.

I updated my post - thanks!

Depending on your experience level clowns are also hosted by Heteractis crispa, H. Magnifica, Stichodactyla gigantea, S. haddoni and S. mertensii.

is this in order of ease of care...?

 

[NY_Caveman]

+1

They are only hosted by three in the wild

• Heteractis magnifica
• Stichodactyla gigantea
• Stichodactyla mertensii

Some have had a success with Bubble Tipped Anemones (Entacmaea quadricolor).

 

[AcroNem]

I updated my post - thanks!



is this in order of ease of care...?

I meant nothing badly in my statement, just the correction so you knew and no It is not in order of any care requirements, other than Entacmaea quadricolor being the "easiest" of them. Ease of care is relevant to the individual aquarist in most cases. But the others I listed are more demanding in most systems.

 

[Headhunter]

I meant nothing badly in my statement, just the correction so you knew and no It is not in order of any care requirements, other than Entacmaea quadricolor being the "easiest" of them. Ease of care is relevant to the individual aquarist in most cases. But the others I listed are more demanding in most systems.

No worries, all good here - understood and appreciated.

Last question and I'll leave you alone (for now)...what would you suggest as the ideal size of anemone? clownfish are 2-3"

I'm trying to map out my strategy...if they are reasonably priced, buy 3 at once and pray...or 1 at a time if expensive - trying to increase my chances

 

[dylana407]

Your best bet is to buy a clown fish that is already hosting in an anemone from your LFS.

If you are in Orlando, Ocean Direct always put their clowns in with the BTAs. You can check with them. I think they ship.

 

[DeniseAndy]

It is never easy to get a clown to bond with its host. They have minds of their own. I would definitely say a BTA if you are new. Easiest and clowns do like them (captive clowns do not know the difference). For a 1.5 to 2" clowns, you want to get a pretty large anemone. I would say try to get the biggest you can.
My ocellaris have always eventually been hosted by btas. My percs, well, they are dumb and live by a an overflow pipe. My skunks love btas and ltas (long tenticles) and my clarkiis will take any anemone (bta, carpet (haddoni)) within minutes.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Size of the anemone should be at least 3 times the size per fish generally.

 

[AcroNem]

No worries, all good here - understood and appreciated.

Last question and I'll leave you alone (for now)...what would you suggest as the ideal size of anemone? clownfish are 2-3"

I'm trying to map out my strategy...if they are reasonably priced, buy 3 at once and pray...or 1 at a time if expensive - trying to increase my chances

Oh I'm not bothered at all, ask whatever you'd like. As was just said by others, you can't make it happen any faster by trying tricks or things like that. Having multiple can be nice but won't guarantee any more success. And I agree buying a good sized anemone is the better way to go. At least several times the size of the fish.

 

[BestMomEver]

FWIW, I have 4 beautiful BTAs in my nem/Clown tank and the two clowns loved them. That is, until I put two Haddoni nems in there! But I will agree with others, carpets are much harder to keep and require a mature tank. I have only ever had BTAs and LTAs so this venture into carpets is a wee bit intimidating.

 

[Headhunter]

After a ton of research, and my son driving me nuts; I went for it…and by ‘it’, I mean encourage nature a little…

1. Spent a week ‘net feeding’ my clowns until they were unphased by the net and were ‘catchable’
2. Bought a small Kritter Keeper and drilled 40+ holes…hung it at top of the tank using magnets so I could drop food in it.
3. 24 hours later, I ordered a Medium size Kritter Keeper and drilled a ton of holes.
4. Picked up the largest reasonably priced BTA I could find and put him in the medium Kritter Keeper. Within 15 minutes, the Clowns found the anemone and were happy as clams.
5. 48 hours later I found a great spot in the tank for him and placed him exactly where we wanted him. Even moved some coral around to make his home nicer.
6. 15 minutes later he decides to go for a walk
7. 3 days later, he is much close to where we were hoping he would be
8. 5 days later, both anemone and fish are doing well.
9. 6 days later, sit back, drink a beer and relax.
10. 7 days later, “Dad, can we get another anemone?”

So….can we put 2nd anemone in a 150g tank?

 

[dylana407]

Beautiful BTA. Since your BTA is large, I would wait 6 months to see if it split. You don't want to buy 2 and end up with 4 and then 8. Before you know it, they take over half of your tank.

 

[AndrewB]

Wow! Beautiful nem and congrats on your success.

If it were me, I'd add a 2nd with no hesitation. Splits, especially of that beauty, could pay for supplies at the fish store.

 

[davocean]

Yep, you might even get a split right away from that one, very common for them to do so new to different tank params.