Trying to get clownfish to host question

[Sippin’ it Sassy]

First let me say our tank is my husbands and he knows so much more then me and knows the correct terminology. I am posting this question. We have 2 very healthy clown fish in a very established tank who have always just hosted the corner of our tank. We just added an anemone and would love for them to host the anemone. We were able to catch the female and separate her so she could forgot about her spot but the male is a bullet and we just can’t catch him. We do not want to stress anyone out more then needed so my question is how long can the two clowns be separated before they forget they are a pair. I don’t want to wait and add the female back to the tank after waiting a few days and her attack the male. Suggestions, tips, whatever you got to help me decide if we should just put her back and let them continue in the corner or how to get her to host the anemone. Thanks

 

[ReefHomieJon]

They’ll find it naturally. It might take a few days or weeks. To me it seemed that one day they swim by it and say hey let’s live in that thing. I don’t think trying to force it will help. Maybe just stress them out a lil more? They will find it. And they will host. Lol

 

[ThePurple12]

What worked for me was getting a tube, holding it over the anemone, and putting the clownfish in the tube. I got the idea from this well-known video:


But now that I think about it, a possibly less stressful way might be to always feed the clownfish near the anemone so that they notice the nem.

And, I hate to be the grammar police, but anemones host clownfish, not the other way around

 

[salty150]

The ever-popular quote seems appropriate here...

"Nothing good in a reef tank ever happens fast".

 

[iambenfields]

Mine (captive bred) took over a year. I almost made a laminated sign that said ‘anemone is here’ I wanted them to host so badly.

But then, I went on a month long vacation and when I came home - they wouldn’t leave the BTA for all the mysis in the ocean.

So my advice is go on vacation!

 

[ThePurple12]

What anemone species is it? It could be that you have a non-hosting species.

 

[BlazinNano]

It is a weird process. I have had clowns that never touch their nem. My newest set of clowns (tank raised) found their nem in 8 hours. The best option I have seen work is to feed the clowns over the nem. All you need them to do is just touch it and they are hooked.

 

[sprungson]

I have 100% matching clowns with their natural host anemone. I.e.Ocellarus will host with gigantea carpet and magnifica anemone. They are hit and miss with bta.

What kind of clowns and what kind of anemone do you have?

 

[Sippin’ it Sassy]

What worked for me was getting a tube, holding it over the anemone, and putting the clownfish in the tube. I got the idea from this well-known video:


But now that I think about it, a possibly less stressful way might be to always feed the clownfish near the anemone so that they notice the nem.

And, I hate to be the grammar police, but anemones host clownfish, not the other way around

LOL about the grammar. Thanks

 

[Sippin’ it Sassy]

What anemone species is it? It could be that you have a non-hosting species.

Long tentacle

 

[Hugh Mann]

If your clowns are tank raised, I have heard that they often won't go to an anenome for a good long while. And that it can help putting up a picture of clowns in anenomes. Kind of like a momma cat teaching her kittens how to murder.
Can't say whether or not that is actually good advice or not.

 

[ThePurple12]

Long tentacle

Yup, that’s a host species

 

[Servopkg]

If your clowns are tank raised, I have heard that they often won't go to an anenome for a good long while. And that it can help putting up a picture of clowns in anenomes. Kind of like a momma cat teaching her kittens how to murder.
Can't say whether or not that is actually good advice or not.

LOL- the picture didnt work with my clowns. They're both hosted by the sump return. LOL

 

[TooMuchDog]

What we did was get an acclimation box and kinda chase the clowns into the box instead of trying to net them. Then we put the anemone in the box. The next day they were in it. We didn't leave them in there long enough though and after releasing them the clowns went back to the corner. So maybe try putting them together a week or so in a small spot