Hosting question

bump3rb33tl3 · Jun 3, 2016

Hi All,

Was just wondering which is better to introduce to a tank first to help ensure hosting between a nem and a clown. Ive had a bta in my tank over a year and my clowns want nothing to do with it...now Im setting up a tank for our preschool and would love to the kids to see happy clowns playing in a happy anemone, Im just worried that I will have a repeat of my own clowns' lack of interest in their anemone happen in the new tank.

So lets have it...nem first or clowns first.....or all at the same time?

jsker · Jun 4, 2016

What type of clowns do you have now? Some clown host better than others. I have a maroon clown and it she took to the anemone with in minutes of adding the anemone to the tank.

Reefinny · Jun 4, 2016

Agree have 2 tanks. My maroons went in right away. My snowflakes took a year and now they won't leave it.

eliramos · Jun 4, 2016

It sounds like it will be a species only tank so only maroons and a nem?
If that's the case then I would add the maroon first just to make sure you have a stable tank for a while. Then when you're ready add the anemone.

If you plan on adding other fish I would wait for the maroon to go last because they are extremely aggressive clowns.

They also get very large, almost 7 inches so the size of your tank will have to be suitable as well.

Maybe choose another type of clownfish. You can ask your lfs for a wild caught clown and they are more likely to host because they have had a chance to do it in the wild. Captive raised clowns basically don't know that they can host anything lol.

Tahoe61 · Jun 4, 2016

You could also try the old tape an image of an anemone hosting clowns to the side of the tank. Sounds crazy but it does work sometimes. Also as already suggested try to get a clown that naturally resides in that anemone type. Some compatibility links.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-10/hcs3/

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/anemoneclownfishprofiles/tp/tpclownanemonematches.htm

bump3rb33tl3 · Jun 4, 2016

jsker said:
What type of clowns do you have now? Some clown host better than others. I have a maroon clown and it she took to the anemone with in minutes of adding the anemone to the tank.

I have two O. Clowns and a RBTA.

bump3rb33tl3 · Jun 4, 2016

Tahoe61 said:
You could also try the old tape an image of an anemone hosting clowns to the side of the tank. Sounds crazy but it does work sometimes. Also as already suggested try to get a clown that naturally resides in that anemone type. Some compatibility links.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-10/hcs3/

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/anemoneclownfishprofiles/tp/tpclownanemonematches.htm

Lol! I tried that and my husband thought I was nuts. Needless to say, it didnt work. I even let my girls set up the ipad in front of the tank and let them show the first 15 mins of finding nemo over and over again...the part where it shows marlin and nemo (and coral) hosting their nems in the reef.....that didnt work either but the girls sure loved it!

bump3rb33tl3 · Jun 4, 2016

eliramos said:
It sounds like it will be a species only tank so only maroons and a nem?
If that's the case then I would add the maroon first just to make sure you have a stable tank for a while. Then when you're ready add the anemone.

If you plan on adding other fish I would wait for the maroon to go last because they are extremely aggressive clowns.

They also get very large, almost 7 inches so the size of your tank will have to be suitable as well.

Maybe choose another type of clownfish. You can ask your lfs for a wild caught clown and they are more likely to host because they have had a chance to do it in the wild. Captive raised clowns basically don't know that they can host anything lol.

It is a tank I set up for our preschool. I was planning on only adding two clowns, a six line, and a gold midas blenny as far as fish go. Eventually some softies, nem, and zoas on top of my cuc.

jsker · Jun 4, 2016

How long have you had the clowns and the RBTA. I read that one member here, it took almost a year before the clowns hosted.

domination2580 · Jun 4, 2016

I put mine in a big strainer at the top and put the rbta in with the clowns. They took to it overnight since they only had so much room to swim in the strainer. I just set it on the top of the tank

bump3rb33tl3 · Jun 4, 2016

jsker said:
How long have you had the clowns and the RBTA. I read that one member here, it took almost a year before the clowns hosted.

Its been a little over a year

bump3rb33tl3 · Jun 4, 2016

domination2580 said:
I put mine in a big strainer at the top and put the rbta in with the clowns. They took to it overnight since they only had so much room to swim in the strainer. I just set it on the top of the tank

That might be a good idea, yep....might just have to try that!

dwebb1031 · Jun 4, 2016

So one thing you can do to help is when you first introduce the fish is to run some kind of tube from the surface to the nem, and put the fish in the tube. The fish will swim straight down to the nem and hopefully take to it. The problem is that most of the clowns we buy are tank breed and have over the years lost that nem host mentality due to this. It can take quite some time for Mother Nature to kick this instinct back in. My black occls just recently took to a nem they've been in a tank with for over two years. I came home one day and poof they were in it. No gradual work into it just one day they weren't the next they were. Good luck.

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1465065971.146684.jpg

Tahoe61 · Jun 4, 2016

bump3rb33tl3 said:
That might be a good idea, yep....might just have to try that!

This can also end badly for the clowns, it does take some acclimation for the clowns to develop the mucous coating that makes them basically invisible to the anemone. I have lost clowns and domino damsel from the fish just diving in to an unknown anemone. The sting of a BTA seems less intense than an anemone like a Haddoni/carpet. Clowns seem to do well with LTA also so keep that in mind.

jsker · Jun 4, 2016

To be to the point, then I do not think the clowns want anything to do with the anemone. @Tahoe61 knows her stuff and I would go with what she is recommending.

Pura Vida · Jun 4, 2016

bump3rb33tl3 said:
Its been a little over a year

Ocellaris are the hardest species to accept a host in my opinion.
You are wanting these fish for your school? If this is for the preschoolers I have a set of Gold Flake maroons. They are beautiful and I guarantee they will accept a host. Any bta or carpet will gather their attention. Send me a adress and I can ship them to you next week. They have been in my mix tank with other fish and are behaved.

domination2580 · Jun 4, 2016

My ocelleris hosted now two btas. First one was the strainer method, second was on its own

domination2580 · Jun 4, 2016

Tahoe61 said:
This can also end badly for the clowns, it does take some acclimation for the clowns to develop the mucous coating that makes them basically invisible to the anemone. I have lost clowns and domino damsel from the fish just diving in to an unknown anemone. The sting of a BTA seems less intense than an anemone like a Haddoni/carpet. Clowns seem to do well with LTA also so keep that in mind.

Thats why its a big strainer. Big enough where the bta doesnt even take up half the strainer.

bump3rb33tl3 · Jun 4, 2016

Pura Vida said:
Ocellaris are the hardest species to accept a host in my opinion.
You are wanting these fish for your school? If this is for the preschoolers I have a set of Gold Flake maroons. They are beautiful and I guarantee they will accept a host. Any bta or carpet will gather their attention. Send me a adress and I can ship them to you next week. They have been in my mix tank with other fish and are behaved.

I appreciate the offer. But our preschool is a non-profit. We keep our rates as low as possible so any family seeking quality care in a licensed Christian pre-school is able to attend provided there is space. Because of this we have a very minimal profit margin. We wouldnt have it in our budget to buy the fish and pay for over night shipping. Thus far, everything for the tank has either been donated by myself or other local hobbyists. Gold Flake Maroons are definately very pretty fish, Im sure they look amazing in your tank and bring you much joy to watch

Tahoe61 · Jun 4, 2016

domination2580 said:
Thats why its a big strainer. Big enough where the bta doesnt even take up half the strainer.

Oh it's a valid method. My concern is that I have lost clowns that just rushed right in.

One minute I am "oh fantastic the clown is taking to the anemone, that next moment was oh great why is my fish floating around looking stunned".

My last Haddoni ate 3 Domino Damsels that rushed right in and 2 clowns.