Strange ocelaris behavior

[Koh23]

Help needed.....

So, i have two ocelaris, and For three months now the're hiding underneath overflow box, they dont swim, they dont move from that spot.

They lay horizontaly with overflow box bottom, and thats it. They eat, grow a lot since i got them, but, water flow brings food to them, so...again, they dont move from underneath of box....

No predators in tank, no fish to chase them, no small kids to scare them... 4 bubble tip anemone, but they show no interest....

What to to, to move them from that corner, to host anemone?

 

[Potatohead]

Clowns are weird

 

[Koh23]

I know,but.....is there something that can i do? To make them less weird

 

[Soren]

I know,but.....is there something that can i do? To make them less weird

I've heard that it sometimes works to show them a video of clownfish in an anemone on loop. Sometimes they learn to be hosted by an anemone by watching the video. Otherwise, it seems likely that they just like the overflow box as a host.

 

[Radman73]

I've heard that it sometimes works to show them a video of clownfish in an anemone on loop. Sometimes they learn to be hosted by an anemone by watching the video. Otherwise, it seems likely that they just like the overflow box as a host.

Agree with this. I've read that as well. Clowns are weird. I'm very fortunate that in this tank they've decided to adopt a cave vs the back left corner of every other tank(4 of them) they've been in lol!

 

[Lyss]

How and what are you feeding them? I wonder if you could try hand-feeding them. Eventually they'll associate you with the food and come to the front when they see you. Even if they still have the overflow box host them, at least they'll be encouraged to come over for their food. Mine do now, and they also hang out in the front all day -- the female hunts amphipods in the sand, too.

 

[Koh23]

I was thinking that i just turn pump off, then place frozen cube on rock where anemones are.....maybe food will attract them to that place, and reduce overall feeding, feed only on that spot, i hope in two-three days when hunger kick in, they will come to food instead waiting in corner for water to bring food to them.....

Not sure how this video showing works, what, tape phone on glass and.....?

 

[Lyss]

I was thinking that i just turn pump off, then place frozen cube on rock where anemones are.....maybe food will attract them to that place, and reduce overall feeding, feed only on that spot, i hope in two-three days when hunger kick in, they will come to food instead waiting in corner for water to bring food to them.....

Not sure how this video showing works, what, tape phone on glass and.....?

You can just tape photos of clownfish in anemones to the glass. They will get the idea w/o you forcing them.

I meant to feed them by hand, so they associate getting the food with you directly. Eventually they will swim to you when they see you approach the tank.

 

[Koh23]

Tried that, but they show no interest or curiosity, years ago i have ocelaris who litteraly eat from hand, there was no way that u could aproach tank and that they dont come......

These two.... Nothing, they dont swim around, they dont move from underneath of box....

Still trying to figure that photo thingy..... So, they will indentify anemone in my tank just by looking at picture..,?

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

Tried that, but they show no interest or curiosity, years ago i have ocelaris who litteraly eat from hand, there was no way that u could aproach tank and that they dont come......

These two.... Nothing, they dont swim around, they dont move from underneath of box....

Still trying to figure that photo thingy..... So, they will indentify anemone in my tank just by looking at picture..,?

The picture thing is an okay idea but doesn't often work. It's like showing a child a Van Goh painting and expecting him to be a great artist. Your food idea should work better, just keep in mind that clowns are weird and will do their own thing regardless

 

[Koh23]

Of course, maybe i just can't wrap my mind around idea that fish will see some fish in sometning, and then think - hey, great idea, let me qucikly scan around me and see if i can find something similar.....

For now, there's no activity in my tank, no other fishes swimming around, so, probably nothing intresting for them to come out and seem....

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

Of course, maybe i just can't wrap my mind around idea that fish will see some fish in sometning, and then think - hey, great idea, let me qucikly scan around me and see if i can find something similar.....

For now, there's no activity in my tank, no other fishes swimming around, so, probably nothing intresting for them to come out and seem....

How big is the tank? Adding another creature to the aquarium might interest them enough to get them to leave their spot

 

[Koh23]

500l....

Yes, i think the same, but, at the moment, getting a new fish(es) is really hard, nothing in store, and that what is there.....price is insane, but next month i plan to add something, maybe that will help.....

 

[Lyss]

Are there inverts in there? If they’re the only thing in the tank that’s a big part of the problem. I would def add another fish and some inverts.

 

[Apotack]

How’s the lighting? Maybe it’s too bright?

 

[Koh23]

Milions of snails, not sure what exactly, at least three diffenrent species, two clinabarius....and that's it for now.

Light, don't know, i use 2"90w rs90, white at 30%, blues at 100%, didnt notice any change when light ramps up or down, i also tried to play and fiddle with flow, thinking that maybe its too strong.....nothing changes.....

adding at least one fish, or maybe some shrimps next month, probably this will help......

 

[Radman73]

Milions of snails, not sure what exactly, at least three diffenrent species, two clinabarius....and that's it for now.

Light, don't know, i use 2"90w rs90, white at 30%, blues at 100%, didnt notice any change when light ramps up or down, i also tried to play and fiddle with flow, thinking that maybe its too strong.....nothing changes.....

adding at least one fish, or maybe some shrimps next month, probably this will help......

Just saw your location so fish availability probably is tough sailing. I do agree that adding a fish will likely help, aim for an open area swimmer if possible.

 

[Koh23]

I was thinking about p.hepatus as next addition to tank, paired with s.fasciatus... like that fish

 

[Koh23]

Ok, a bit of update....

Really nothing has changed, clowns stays in their corner, eating, growing, seems happy.....

Today, power goes out, and my clowns swims happy all over the tank. So, i figure, no flow they swim.... Strange....

Is it by any chance possible that they dont like the flow and or maybe its too strong for them to swim?

Based on this behavior when all circulation are off....

 

[bruno3047]

What I’ve read is that if you put the two clowns into a small tank or container with the anemone, they will then allow the anemone to host them. I also read that if you remove them too soon, they will ignore the anenome when they go back into the tank. It takes a month or so for them to become attached to the anemone. It also helps to have the right kind of anenome too. As I said, this was just something I read and not something I did myself.