It's Just Not That Simple: Is your Anemone hosting your Clownfish?

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

This symbiotic relationship is hands down my favorite in the reefing world. There is just something about watching the relationship between Anemones and Clownfish. It's mesmerizing! There's just one problem...My Clownfish couldn't care less about my Anemone! Has anyone else had this problem? Sometimes, this relationship flourishes naturally; other times, it takes some encouragement. And then, sometimes, it doesn't matter what you do; your Clownfish will forever turn their nose up at your beautiful Anemone. What's been your experience with these two creatures?

Is your Anemone hosting your Clownfish? If yes, how long did it take for this relationship to come together?

Photo: Reinhard Dirscherl / Alamy

 

[paragrouper]

I don’t have a suitable anemone for the clown. Besides, he likes the toadstools.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

No nems for me, but Nemo jr. here likes his Elegance coral.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I don’t have a suitable anemone for the clown. Besides, he likes the toadstools.

Beautiful clown!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

No nems for me, but Nemo jr. here likes his Elegance coral.

This is an AWESOME photo!!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Mine ignore mine, haha

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I don’t have a suitable anemone for the clown. Besides, he likes the toadstools.

I love the color of your clown!

 

[MoshJosh]

Yes, and no. I currently have two anemones both WERE hosting their pairs of clowns, but I switched the pairings, and only one pair has gone back to hosting. That said, I will give the other pair time and I’m sure they will host again.

I am cheating a little cause both my nems naturally host clowns in the wild. Though when I had a LTA my clown hosted immediately.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Yes

Half a day

They took to the one that walls at first

It walked into a gyre

They found the one they are suppose to shacked up with

 

[landlubber]

it took 4 years before one clown of my pair discovered the anemones. The other has yet to make the connection. The pair i had previously never did.

 

[Dburr1014]

Yes!

 

[Jekyl]

Took mine 2 years. In return the clowns became extremely territorial.

 

[Uncle99]

Took 6 months.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

This is an AWESOME photo!!

Thanks! I finally had some time to take pics the other day. This is the original. I also have a tomato clown that likes Green Nepthea in second pic.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Yes!

Love both your clowns and anemone!

 

[Freakmachine01]

Other. My 2, made their home in a giant tyree toadstool leather coral

 

[Dburr1014]

Love both your clowns and anemone!

Thanks, loved this pic so much I got the tattoo.

 

[katonge]

Maybe a day? Both the clowns & the anemone were very young & small. 3 tank moves later the anemone has split & the clowns go to whichever one is looking good that day or they split up with one in each.

 

[AquaForge]

My tomato clown hosts in elegance and torches and the anenome. I was hoping he would teach my other clowns. The snowflake clown pair in the same tank couldn’t care less.

 

[ShadowMan]

My clowns decided to host in my hammer coral rather than my rainbow anemone... Oh well, at least someone's getting the love