Early hosting behavior??....BTA not having it!

[Untamedrose]

So my female clown has suddenly become really interested in the RBTA....after it being in there little over a month now.

Least the past two hours has been within two inches of it and keeps nose bumping or biting not sure which and trying to back into it.

Feed the tank to see what she would do....did leave to dart around for food but didnt try feeding the BTA. Went right back to picking at it after the food was gone and is current slapping it with her tail.
AND the BTA has closed totally up, not looking real happy about it all.

Thoughts?

 

[Tahoe61]

The clown may be too large as it relates to the size of the anemone, or the clown be by too passionate or aggressive.

 

[Untamedrose]

So what do I do if that is the case??
Neither are large but the clowns around 1 inch and half.....anemone face is like 2-2.5 when fully open.

 

[Untamedrose]

She's backed off now ...and it's opened back up again.

the BTA it's kinda sitting on my main big rock in the middle with everything else build up to it cant just pull it out. Catching her is possible in theory.
been thinkin about it IF I need to could zip tie a plastic basket over it temp....would block some light but is the best I can think of atm.

Everything is ok now...but Im guessing it will happen again. so I guess my Q is when should I get worried and do this?

 

[Tahoe61]

When the anemone is closing after contact with the clown fish routinely.
The anemone has a gaping oral opening.

 

[BoneXriffic]

Could the nem just coincidently been pooping?....mine started hosting my small nem recently and occasionally the nem closed to do its duty then opens back up. The clown still sits on him when closed

View attachment 20160617_163521.jpg

 

[Untamedrose]

na know what that looks like.... looked more like sleeping closed to the pooping or deflated water change look.
realise clown in the way in the pics but thats not open mouth at all.

but glad to see it's possible this size range.

 

[BoneXriffic]

Yeah the size sounds about the same, i would leave it be for a day or.two and see if they can sort out their unterpersonal skills. If the clown starts smothering it i would seperate

 

[Untamedrose]

Umm..so my clown apparently forced it to split in the night.

 

[Tahoe61]

I am only speculating that the anemone was in process of splitting and naturally did not host the clown prior to the split.

 

[BoneXriffic]

Lucky

 

[Untamedrose]

LOL I'd rather One large hosting BTA personally....now have two tiny ones. ..but they do seem to be hosting.
Have moved together and just fine with her attention. Just strange.

 

[Untamedrose]

Just for the record.....I think my RBTA was way to small. I think my clown be her a small for the species sizes to big for it. That she did cause the split. and....she will NOT let them move away from each other. They have tried! and no. One goes one way other goes the other in the morning. She beats them bites then back..... by dinner time they are her perfect pillows again. Like a month later and thats where we are. For the record both seem to have Healed, both splits are eating, color is ok....and are bubble tipped and open most of the time......but that clown is their madame. they go where she wants them. 0o And my male clowns in the back going nope.!

 

[RJinPV]

I bought an RBTA about 1 year ago and it split into two about a month after I bought it. My two clowns had been paired up and hosting with the two for most of the time. The 2 RBTAs would separate but always wound up back next to each other. I think voluntarily. Recently one split and I have 3. At the same time my clown pair split up and one has stayed with the RBTAs and the other finally is hosting with my torch coral. I'm hoping the clowns reconcile. One of the RBTAs has moved to the other side of the rock from the other 2 and I see no signs of the clown forcing it one way or the other