That's...not an anemone

[briancarterkc]

A frequently asked question is "is it normal that my clownfish decides to be hosted by XYZ." Yes. Yes it is. Anything that makes her feel protected is fair game as a hotel for your clown. Here's my clown who's been living in my Duncan for the last 4 days. Prior to that it was my hammer coral for about 2 weeks. Prior to that, it was a gorgonian for about a month. Surprisingly, she is being very gentle with the Duncan and it doesn't seem to mind. More surprising is how she keeps switching. I guess she's kind of a nomad.

 

[briancarterkc]

Also. Yes. I do have a suitable anemone I bought just for her. Totally disinterested.

 

[Lonny]

Lol! She's house shopping. You gave her a sweet neighborhood and she can't decide which house she likes best. That's pretty cool!

 

[sbash]

Yeah, I have two ocellaris clownfish who have five RBTAs in my main tank, they are completely oblivious. They prefer hanging out in a corner with nothing...

I do however, have a couple clowns in a holding tank who have decided to use a hammer coral as a host...

 

[Salty1962]

My Picassos wouldn't take to any of the 2 RBTAs I had it the tank. They always stayed in my duncans. The RBTA was even right behind the Duncans.

 

[Lonny]

Yeah, I have two ocellaris clownfish who have five RBTAs in my main tank, they are completely oblivious. They prefer hanging out in a corner with nothing...

I do however, have a couple clowns in a holding tank who have decided to use a hammer coral as a host...

Quick question, I want a RBTA but not sure if my tank is ready or not. I hear six months to a year before getting one. Not sure why that is tho. I have a monti cap in there that's growing great. You have five, can you give me a little advice please? I have a 130gl DT with a 30gl sump. Five fish, cuc, monti cap, and three zoa frags. Tank is about three months old.

 

[Lonny]

Salty? Anyone?

 

[sbash]

Quick question, I want a RBTA but not sure if my tank is ready or not. I hear six months to a year before getting one. Not sure why that is tho. I have a monti cap in there that's growing great. You have five, can you give me a little advice please? I have a 130gl DT with a 30gl sump. Five fish, cuc, monti cap, and three zoa frags. Tank is about three months old.

It would probably be best to start a new thread on that subject, but I would advise against it if this is your first tank. I got one after three or four months with my first tank, the tank chemistry went all wonky shortly after... unfortunately, it died. I have heard some recommend a full year before getting an anemone. This is to ensure you are able to maintain the system, as well as allowing the ecosystem to establish. Within the first year of a new tank, there will be chemical shifts, algae blooms and all sorts of weird stuff that happens. You just have to be patient and ride it out.

 

[Lonny]

Not a problem I don't want to get one just to watch it die. I was just curious the reason why. Makes sense. Thanks for the response!

 

[mlivvy]

I had a tank years ago where the clowns made a zoa frag home.

 

[briancarterkc]

I had a tank years ago where the clowns made a zoa frag home.

I've made a whole polyp garden and am just waiting for this phase. It's inevitable.

 

[briancarterkc]

It would probably be best to start a new thread on that subject, but I would advise against it if this is your first tank. I got one after three or four months with my first tank, the tank chemistry went all wonky shortly after... unfortunately, it died. I have heard some recommend a full year before getting an anemone. This is to ensure you are able to maintain the system, as well as allowing the ecosystem to establish. Within the first year of a new tank, there will be chemical shifts, algae blooms and all sorts of weird stuff that happens. You just have to be patient and ride it out.

^^^this. The recommendation is more about experience and stability. If this is your bajillionth reef tank, you can probably hack a nem early on (I had a surprise nem come in with the live rock I seeded the tank with (so a nem in a brand new tank) and its done great. But, I've been at this for 20 years and have killed plenty before this). If it's your first or second, wait it out....they are a fickle beast and need a very stable hand. Once you have the big seven (nitrates, phosphates, magnesium, calcium, alkalinity, salinity, and temperature) rock stable for six months, go for it.

 

[briancarterkc]

Yeah, I have two ocellaris clownfish who have five RBTAs in my main tank, they are completely oblivious. They prefer hanging out in a corner with nothing...

I do however, have a couple clowns in a holding tank who have decided to use a hammer coral as a host...

Fantastic pic.

 

[sbash]

Fantastic pic.

Thanks. One out of a thousand turn out alright!

 

[malira]

My Picassos wouldn't take to any of the 2 RBTAs I had it the tank. They always stayed in my duncans. The RBTA was even right behind the Duncans.

Mine didn't touch my quad color bta for over a year until I put in a Sherman rose anemone. They immediately went to the sherman rose and a few days later they also went to the bta.

 

[briancarterkc]

Mine didn't touch my quad color bta for over a year until I put in a Sherman rose anemone. They immediately went to the sherman rose and a few days later they also went to the bta.

"Thanks for the new anemone. We're going to go live in that old one now though, 'kay?"

 

[billrob71]

Nice pics
I have 2 snowflakes and they host and lay eggs on my wall hammer skeleton

 

[matt_97055]

I bought 2 baby clowns a while back and wanted them to host a bta. So I threw a 7.5 gal nano together and put only a bta and a rock in it. Within 2 days they both were hosting it. I gave them a month and then moved them to my display now they won't leave their bubble tip!!

 

[Zoey]

ive got 3 BTA's and my clowns host in my large leather mushroom.

 

[matt_97055]

I turned the lights on to get a quick shot of my pecaso's loving their rbta.