Clown will not host anemone

[jfevans1]

They have been in the tank together about 2 to 3 weeks now, and have tried ushering the clown toward the nem, the tube method, and (stupidly) physically placing the clown in the nem by hand. Every time the clown acts almost afraid of the nem, dashing away from it at all costs. Any advice? The only only thing I have not tried is withholding food then placing it directly in the nem, and (a silly but hey worth a shot idea) placing a photo next to the tank of a clown hosting a nem. There was a damsel guarding the area that has been removed if this could have been the issue.

Also the clown was introduced before the nem, didn't realize this could cause problems before I had done some more research into it after the fact.

 

[Jekyl]

The nem hosts the clown. Mine took over 2 years with multiple anemone surrounding them.

 

[Jedi1199]

Most of the clowns available for purchase today are captive bred. they have likely never seen or have the first clue what a Nem is. Let alone that they are supposed to live with them.

If they choose to live in it, be grateful, if they don't, don't be surprised.

 

[adittam]

Clowns are dumb. Could happen tomorrow, could happen never.

(I’ve had a beautiful BTA in my tank for about 4 months now and my clowns still prefer the return nozzle).

 

[EakTheFreak]

Agreed, I saw it happen about 1 year after purchase. Once 1 did it, all 3 in my tank went into my anemone. My anemones are also huge and I have 4 of them!!

 

[jfevans1]

Clowns are dumb. Could happen tomorrow, could happen never.

(I’ve had a beautiful BTA in my tank for about 4 months now and my clowns still prefer the return nozzle).

That's exactly where mine likes to hide out at, and unfortunately in my evo 13 that means you don't ever get to see it.

 

[Clown2020]

It will happen if/when its gonna happen, my 2 are captive bred, one loves my rose bta and dived in after a week the other does not want to be hosted after 7 months.

 

[KyOsIBa515]

I made a thread a few months back on this. I have a pair of black snowflakes I have had for 2 years and they never hosted. I tried everything much like you have said. Isolation, tube trick, mirror, picture…done it all.

Clowns host anemone for security. A safe place. If they are comfortable in their surroundings it will be tougher or more unlikely they will host.

In a last ditch effort and I wish I hadn’t and do NOT recommend as it caused stress on me and the fish but I added a second pair of clownfish. I got lucky and they now both co-exist and both took to anemone within the tank.

However, in retrospect I should of realized that a clown will either host naturally in the environment provided or not at all and if not then it just needs to be accepted.

 

[aSaltyKlown]

That's exactly where mine likes to hide out at, and unfortunately in my evo 13 that means you don't ever get to see it.

Mine do the the same, they love some return nozzle. My BTA is also near the nozzle, it's like they don't even see it. I've thought about trying to catch them and using a tube to add them back directly onto the nem. But figure that is too much work and don't want to stress them out. I may end up putting them in my 20 cube.

 

[adittam]

Do a search for clownfish/anemone and you’ll find VERY quickly that this exact post has been made once or twice before…

 

[jfevans1]

Do a search for clownfish/anemone and you’ll find VERY quickly that this exact post has been made once or twice before…

I figured it had, but figured I'd toss a new thread out since all the ones I've seen seem to have the same few methods in them. Was hoping it might draw in a few fresh ideas

 

[Uriken]

The new reproduced designer clowns seem to have the instinct to host but to only host an anemone is an ongoing thing that for many takes months to years or they choose something else available in the tank. Mine ignored the rainbow bubble tip and chose a large bush of anthelia to host.

 

[GaryE]

I used a floating basket (mind you it's a 75 gallon tank), put the nem and clowns in the basket so they were isolated from everything in the tank and very close together, and the clowns were in the nem within 15 minutes and have never left since..



used some foam pipe wrap to make it float.

 

[Jekyl]

Best option is to get an anemone that hosts your specific clowns. BTA are not natural hosts to most of the clownfish people have. Research your specific clowns and what their natural hosts are. Then find out if your setup can support those anemone.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

One trick I do for CB clowns is a tablet with clowns diving and out nems on repeat. Push tablet to glass and use painters tape to hold it there. There is a really long video on youtube that I use just for this. So far, it was worked every time and usually in less than a week.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

One trick I do for CB clowns is a tablet with clowns diving and out nems on repeat. Push tablet to glass and use painters tape to hold it there. There is a really long video on youtube that I use just for this. So far, it was worked every time and usually in less than a week.

I say long, but only an an hour. Just select loop for the video from the "More" menu and it will play over and over with only the first ad playing, unless they changed something with the ads.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

One trick I do for CB clowns is a tablet with clowns diving and out nems on repeat. Push tablet to glass and use painters tape to hold it there. There is a really long video on youtube that I use just for this. So far, it was worked every time and usually in less than a week.

I ran the 6 hour video on loop after a few months of the Glads having no interest in the anenomes. I did this twice in a week. A little more interest day by day, then BAM. They fell in Loves!

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I ran the 6 hour video on loop after a few months of the Glads having no interest in the anenomes. I did this twice in a week. A little more interest day by day, then BAM. They fell in Loves!

Link to 6hour one? I cannot find it for the life of me and reset my tablet, so not in bookmarks anymore.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Link to 6hour one? I cannot find it for the life of me and reset my tablet, so not in bookmarks anymore.

Give me a bit. The people who pay me are expecting me to be working right now for some reason...

 

[JKBrown]

One trick I do for CB clowns is a tablet with clowns diving and out nems on repeat. Push tablet to glass and use painters tape to hold it there. There is a really long video on youtube that I use just for this. So far, it was worked every time and usually in less than a week.

Really? Or are you kidding?