Clowns don't venture much.

[vxco]

Recently I introduced a bta into my system and he's doing great. Right in the middle of my tank and hasn't moved from where I originally set him. Only problem is my clowns only hang out in the left side of my tank and rarely swim anywhere else. Curious if there's a way to encourage them to swim around and find the nem.

 

[dbl]

It's truly a hit or miss. It took mine about 6 months to finally find the nem. I had read about people putting pictures on their tank and running videos of nems hosting clowns. Always thought it sounded rediculous until my daughters propped up their IPad and tried it. It didn't happen right away but within a few days after they did it, I was shocked to find the clowns in the nem. No guarantees but give it a shot.

Clowns are weird.

 

[davocean]

The reason why clowns seem weird on the hosting issue is many people do not realize their clowns probably have not been given the type of anemone as they would be found in in the wild.

When you give a clown a non natural host match, it often takes much longer for the clowns to recognize it.

I find this to be super common as probably the most popular clowns usually are occs or percs, (probably thanks to Nemo), and the most popular anemone would be BTA's, as they are easiest to come by, and often quoted as most forgiving.

These are not natural host matches as found in the wild, so they may find it eventually, just often takes longer.

Another safe trick to help is put a flashlight over the nem as lights are ramping down, often the clown will be curious to the lighted area, but bottom line it's usually best to give a natural host match, or exercise patience, do not force close proximity, it can be harmful to clowns that have not adapted to sting cells

 

[Mark Derail]

Some use a glass tube or acrylic clear tube to guide. Basically you capture the clown by hovering the tube over him, going down.
Put some food, have him swim up. Move him over to the BTA.

I haven't done that - mine came paired up already with a large Condy - but saw it on YTube and heard about it at a LFS.

Idea. A clear plastic tube from the dollar store, cut the bottom out from a drink serving jug.