To Host, or Not To Host???

[Smudge01]

How do I get our clowns to find their way into our new carpet anemone?
They won't go into the rosebud anemone either....

HELP!!!

 

[Peterson88]

I'm having the same issue I'm curious to see responses. I have 2 false perculas and two rbta. What type of clowns do you have they looks like mine? I've heard the type of clown could have something to do with what anemone they will host

 

[Kershaw]

Same here but I have read that the best way is to confine the clowns in a small container with the NEM. I have thought about make a egg crate box to trap my clowns around my NEM for an hour or so I think is all it takes.

 

[webbrage]

the crate idea is genius

 

[eliramos]

I have heard that the clowns will either do it or they won't.
If they are aquacultured they may not because they simply don't know how or even that they should.
Now I've also heard that if you try to coax them into it you risk stinging them especially with carpet anemones.
The clownfish has to slowly acclimate itself to the stinging cells of the anemone.
You could definitely box them into it. But give them adequate space to swim away from it if need be!

 

[Hawaii Joe]

Place your clowns in a good sized breeder box and let them find the anemone on their own. Once they figure it out they'll never leave!

Did this on the same clowns I have had for the past 2 years and got them to host three different anemones (GBTA, RBTA, Carpet Nem). The anemones changed as I changed and upgraded tanks.

Don't worry they'll be alright in the breeder box for a good week and a half. When you re-add them to the tank add the anemone and clowns at the same time at night while all the lights and circulation pumps are off. The clowns will stay by the anemone as it settles.

 

[ndeksone]

I just sort of herded my clowns toward my nem with a net in each hand. Literally all it took was one of the clowns brushing the nem once.

 

[fwrcustoms]

Before I put my anemone in my tank I paired them in a smaller one and it worked for me

 

[tomtom2245]

They may or may not take to any of the nems or they may go for something else entirely. Some other methods other than the breeder box are to always target feed them near the desired nem. If you target feed near the nem, they will associate that area with a good food supply and be more prone to hang out there and thus host. A bit of a crazy idea but I know a lot of people have done it it to tape a picture of a clown hosting an anemone to your tank by your own nem. This supposedly shows them what they are supposed to do. I've personally never tried this method. Or you could just let nature take its course and see if they ever decide to. There is nothing wrong if they don't host one of them.

 

[Scottsquatch]

Just a factoid that my OCD won't let me ignore. It's the nems that host the clowns. Not the clowns that host the nems.