Favorite Anemone

[tdileo]

I recently acquired two widebar mocha clowns and I am so in love with these guys. I have heard from a few people that clowns with anemones that host them seem much happier and less stressed out, especially wild caught clowns. While mine are captive bred, I would still like to provide them with an anemone to live with.
So the purpose of this post is to hear everybodys experience with the different species of hosting anemones. I would like to hear about which ones, in your experience, host clowns most readily, behave the best (as in moving and stinging lol), and overall are your favorite. Any extra input on them is appreciated as well!

 

[Killer Karma]

It's really hit or miss with clownfish and hosting. Mine at home will not host my bubble tip but the ones in my office tank love the bubble tip in there. However for your particular clownfish the most likely anemone's they would host would be

Host Anemones:

• Leathery (Sebae) Sea Anemone (Heteractis crispa), Magnificent Sea Anemone (H. magnifica)
• Giant Carpet Sea Anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea), Merten's Carpet Sea Anemone (S. mertensii)
• May adapt to Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) and other anemones in aquariums.

 

[Vincent100]

Goni ....lol , iv 2 nems and my clowns won't go near them

 

[tdileo]

Goni ....lol , iv 2 nems and my clowns won't go near them

That's pretty interesting. My tank is just about all softies and SPS so theres not much for them to host. They just sit in the very top corner all night.

 

[keddre]

It's really hit or miss with clownfish and hosting. Mine at home will not host my bubble tip but the ones in my office tank love the bubble tip in there. However for your particular clownfish the most likely anemone's they would host would be

Host Anemones:

• Leathery (Sebae) Sea Anemone (Heteractis crispa), Magnificent Sea Anemone (H. magnifica)
• Giant Carpet Sea Anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea), Merten's Carpet Sea Anemone (S. mertensii)
• May adapt to Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) and other anemones in aquariums.

+1
I would also recommend staying away from the carpet. While they may be my favorite, they are infamous for eating tank mates

 

[tdileo]

Goni ....lol , iv 2 nems and my clowns won't go near them

That's pretty interesting. My tank is just about all softies and SPS so theres not much for them to host. They just sit in the very top corner all night.

 

[tdileo]

+1
I would also recommend staying away from the carpet. While they may be my favorite, they are infamous for eating tank mates

That's the main reason I'm avoiding it. I honestly have a really open area on my sand bed it could live in for a while but my cardinal likes to hang down low, not to mention gobies and inverts.

 

[94Roarge]

I personally have a love for Domino Damsels being hosted by any anenome, call me crazy but I think it looks awesome.

 

[keddre]

I personally have a love for Domino Damsels being hosted by any anenome, call me crazy but I think it looks awesome.

I was going to do the same but decided that banggai cardinals in an anemone are cooler

 

[tdileo]

I was going to do the same but decided that banggai cardinals in an anemone are cooler

Wait, that's possible? I thought only clowns, some damsels and a few inverts could go in anemones?

 

[trevormass7]

I love bubble tips, sadly i bought it sick trying to nurse it back to health and since it died my clowns haven't hosted either of my condylactis

 

[keddre]

Wait, that's possible? I thought only clowns, some damsels and a few inverts could go in anemones?

Banggais like being hosted by nems and long spine urchins. Mine lived in my LTA before my maroon got jealous

 

[keddre]

I love bubble tips, sadly i bought it sick trying to nurse it back to health and since it died my clowns haven't hosted either of my condylactis

Condies don't host clowns. They may be forced to, but this usually results in the clown being eaten

 

[Crabs McJones]

I have a colony of Duncan coral that is hosting my clowns. I've tried anemone's with no luck.

 

[trevormass7]

Condies don't host clowns. They may be forced to, but this usually results in the clown being eaten

Haha well that's good to know, I'm getting a healthy rbta pretty soon tho

 

[tdileo]

Condies don't host clowns. They may be forced to, but this usually results in the clown being eaten

I thought they do? Maybe it's only maroon or skunk clowns then?

 

[tdileo]

I have a colony of Duncan coral that is hosting my clowns. I've tried anemone's with no luck.

Well I planned on getting some duncans eventually so if they don't go in the rainbow bubble tip at least the RBTA will look pretty. Lol

 

[keddre]

I thought they do? Maybe it's only maroon or skunk clowns then?

Condy anemones come from the Caribbean where there are no native clown fish species; as such, Condies have never made any symbiotic relationships with anemone fish. However, there is an exception to every rule; while Condies will readily eat a clown, some don't and will accept the relationship. So I should change my "don't host clowns" to a "very unlikely"

 

[tdileo]

Condy anemones come from the Caribbean where there are no native clown fish species; as such, Condies have never made and symbiotic relationships with anemone fish. However, there is an exception to every rule; while Condies will readily eat a clown, some don't and will accept the relationship. So I should change my "don't host clowns" to a "very unlikely"

That's really interesting and I'm glad you mentioned that. If I didn't go with a BTA a condy was going to be my next choice..

 

[94Roarge]

Wait, that's possible? I thought only clowns, some damsels and a few inverts could go in anemones?

I think in the wild they share nems with clowns?