Clown's & Elegance

Tom Blevins · Apr 8, 2016

Hi All,

We have had a pair of snowflakes which just started hosting in
an Australian Elegance we have in their 29 bio cube, the question
I have is can the Clowns be to rough on it? the elegance looks to be
on it's way out since they have taken it over.

Thanks
Tom

Tab28 · Apr 8, 2016

Elegance corals are in the top tier of difficulty in keeping alive for more than 1/2 year. Although some are lucky with Australian form, but that is still a no comfort for the people who try without luck.

Clowns can be very aggressive with their host object. Some varieties like maroon are more aggressive than true pecula. But most people who keep clowns will have that issue. They do prefer anemones. But will host anything if one is not found. With a 29 cube. Keeping and anemone, if you take that route, will limit pretty much any other coral. Even clowns in a 29 cube will get tight if any other fish is introduced. If no anemone is kept. They will host something else. If you do not want anemone, they can be difficult to keep. They a hardier, sturdier coral like a duncan.

Tom Blevins · Apr 8, 2016

Tab28 said:
Elegance corals are in the top tier of difficulty in keeping alive for more than 1/2 year. Although some are lucky with Australian form, but that is still a no comfort for the people who try without luck.

Clowns can be very aggressive with their host object. Some varieties like maroon are more aggressive than true pecula. But most people who keep clowns will have that issue. They do prefer anemones. But will host anything if one is not found. With a 29 cube. Keeping and anemone, if you take that route, will limit pretty much any other coral. Even clowns in a 29 cube will get tight if any other fish is introduced. If no anemone is kept. They will host something else. If you do not want anemone, they can be difficult to keep. They a hardier, sturdier coral like a duncan.

Thanks for the reply,
the elegance is almost 4 years old, we have a green torch 3 head, Orange Hammer 3 head and
a variety of Zoas in their with it. Maybe it's time to put a rose in and pull 1/2 the rock out.

Regards
Tom

Tab28 · Apr 8, 2016

They will try for euphyllia, surprisingly they did not take to that before the elegance. RBT get pretty big. Mine divide a few times a year. Maybe a smaller anemone like a sebae. They are not as hardy as RBT but if you kept an elegance for that may years. A sebae should be no issue. I had one for 15 years before my tank crash.