Artificial anemones for system startup with a few clowns.

[CayeCaulker]

Does anyone have advice on how to keep clowns happy during a new system startup?
I plan on getting a pair after my initial cycle is finished to help with starting a bio load on the system.

I kind of feel bad just tossing them in a bare tank. I will be starting with dead aquascape and dead sand that I have seeded with live sand. So there won't be much biodiversity yet. I am looking for media I can put into the system to get that initial diversity going. I know I can't buy live rock anymore to toss pieces in my sump.

The system will have a long light-off period when I first get themn. Sunlight is about all that will leach into the room for a while and that won't be direct. I will not be able to run anemone supporting light. I can get one and feed once the T5's are on but was not planning that at first.

 

[Miami Reef]

Clownfish do not require anemones for survival. They will find the back wall, powerhead etc as an alternative to an anemone in aquariums.

A fake plastic anemone is fine to add, but there’s no guarantee the clownfish will be hosted by it because it is foreign to them.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

I can second this… depending on your clowns, they might never figure out an anemone, although I think that’s rare. I have a pair of Black Storms that had a beautiful RBTA for 8 months and they chose to host the discosoma mushrooms two inches below it instead. I finally moved the nem to another tank where my MochaVincis were more than happy to live in it after living in Xenias for months. All that to say, clownfish don’t really care. They’ll be happy anywhere they can claim a calm space. And then they will attack anyone who comes near that space.

 

[CayeCaulker]

I kind of feel bad for them lol

Clownfish do not require anemones for survival. They will find the back wall, powerhead etc as an alternative to an anemone in aquariums.

A fake plastic anemone is fine to add, but there’s no guarantee the clownfish will be hosted by it because it is foreign to the

 

[Miami Reef]

I kind of feel bad for them lol

So choose a different thought and you’ll feel better.

The clownfish will be happy and can spawn (ultimate sign of health and vigor) without an anemone. A plastic anemone shouldn’t make you clownfish feel any different from engaging with rocks/walls etc.

If you want to get a plastic anemone, you can get one. Just keep in mind that your fish will be happy regardless of if they choose to live in the fake anemone or anywhere else in the tank.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

I kind of feel bad for them lol

I totally understand that feeling. I’m sure they would love the fake anemone if you gave it to them. Sometimes they just don’t get it though and they’ll completely ignore all the nice things you give them and instead choose to host your magnet scraper. You sound like a really nice fish parent though, so I already know they’ll be happy no matter what!

 

[Trizz]

If your trying to get your clowns to host a nem, get a length of 2 inch clear acrylic tube put the clown fish in the tube and let the clown slowly swim down to the nem keep the tube about 1/2 inch away it will look at first like this is strange but it will go into the nem after the first sting it will settle into the nem and instinct will kick in, might take a few times but most times the very first time will work, if you get a pair do the female first she will bully the male to the nem....