Clarkii and malu help?

[ajwalker261985]

Iv got a clarkii clownfish and a malu anemone.

Iv tried moving the malu in various spots but my clarkii keeps moving it back to the same spot on the sand bed but then kicks all the substrate out around the anemone which is really annoying as in having to move the sand back daily!iv tried to move it up on top of rock away from the sand but he moves it right back
Any ideas or is this something ill just have to live with???

 

[OrionN]

The clowns do not move an anemone. I am not sure hat you mean by "...my clarkii keeps moving it back to the same spot on the sand bed..."
Clownfish do not move anemone. The anemone move to where it wants to stay if it is healthy. If it is not healthy and not attach, then the water move it to where ever.

H. malu is a sand bed anemone. Healthy H. malu will anchor itself under the sand to the bottom of the tank or to a rock under the tank. I suggest you leave it alone to seek out where it wants to stay.

Consider posting a picture of the anemone so that we can be sure you have the correct ID. My advice above depends on the correct ID of the anemone species

 

[ajwalker261985]

It's healthy and eating but I mean when I move the anemone my clownfish will literally push it.

It won't get a chance to anchor,as I said the clownfish flicks the sand out from underneath it.

Heres a pic

 

[ajwalker261985]

Do they anchor via root type things that grow from the base?

 

[bjledbetter]

No. There shouldn't be anything coming out of the foot. Is there? If so there is a foot tear and that is usually a death sentence for a anemone. If it was health it would have attached quickly to something

 

[ajwalker261985]

No there is nothing coming from the bottom,it has attached to the sandbed but as I said when it does my clarkii flicks the sand out from around it.

 

[bjledbetter]

Can you put something around it to keep the clown away for a few days so the nem can settle in and attach to the bottom glass. My guess is the nem is allowing the clown to host and when it is, it's kicking up the sand out from around the base and not allowing it to attach completely.

 

[ajwalker261985]

Hmmmmm not sure,any suggestions on what I could put around it? Plastic mesh or something you mean?

 

[OrionN]

Anemones are mobile invertebrates. They will move to where they are happy.
The picture you provided cannot be use for definitive ID but it could be a H. crispa instead of H. malu. Crispa is usually a rock anemone. Often they attach to rock near the sand surface. They attach their foot to the surface of rock or bottom of the tank.
In this case, you need to remove the clown fish so that the anemone can settle down and attach. Once the anemone attached, you can let the clown back into the tank.
You can also use a barrier, like a basket, to protect the anemone from the fish. This is not optimal because the basket will change the condition where the anemone is. Once you remove the basket, it may move again.
Good luck with him.

 

[OrionN]

can you put the clownfish in your sump for a few days?

 

[bjledbetter]

I used a clear window screen material to let mine settle and keep the clown out. Sense it was clear there wasn't a lot of light blockage and water flow was still pretty normal. I only did it like that because I wasn't taking every rock in my tank out to catch one fish. If you can catch the clown and move him for a day or two that would be best

 

[ajwalker261985]

I know it's a bit rough but I don't have anything to hand except a white ice cream tub,could I fashion something from that? :s

 

[OrionN]

You can fasing a small box out of eggcrate and cable ties that should either hold the fish or protect the anemone.