Will my BTA ever host my clowns?

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

I'm aware that it's a loaded question, and that anemones and clowns are going to do what they want to do no matter how hard I try to get them to be besties. But every day that passes that my anemone isn't hosting my clowns makes me sad!

Has anyone ever experimented with trying to encourage and successfully cultivate this symbiotic relationship?

I haven't tried really much of anything except bringing my feeding pipette near the anemone to attract the clowns to it. They'll get close, but as soon as the food is gone, so are the clowns. They definitely know the BTA is there, but are not showing any interest. Both the clowns and BTA were added roughly two months ago. Any advice helps!

 

[Tang fastic]

Maybe put the nem and clowns in a large breeding box

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Maybe put the nem and clowns in a large breeding box

I haven't thought of that!

For context, my tank is a 20g. Do you think that would still be beneficial given that the tank is small as is?

 

[Tang fastic]

Not certain

 

[Tang fastic]

I haven't thought of that!

For context, my tank is a 20g. Do you think that would still be beneficial given that the tank is small as is?

Yes I think so

 

[Tang fastic]

I have done it before but it was in a 40g long

 

[OrionN]

You can try to put a net or something in the tank waves it around try to get the clown insecure so the seek protection. This trick works for me. I use it for anemones that do not kill and eat fish like BTA, Malu and Crispa. Never have to use it for Magnifica, and would not dream of using it wi the any of the carpets or LTA.

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

You can try to put a net or something in the tank waves it around try to get the clown insecure so the seek protection. This trick works for me. I use it for anemones that do not kill and eat fish like BTA, Malu and Crispa. Never have to use it for Magnifica, and would not dream of using it wi the any of the carpets or LTA.

I'll be trying this. Thanks!

I have done it before but it was in a 40g long

Thank you! I'll be looking into this.

 

[exnisstech]

Captive bred small clowns can be hit and miss some taking months, some never hosting. Larger clowns like maroons and clarkii host within minutes of being added to the tank IME.

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Captive bred small clowns can be hit and miss some taking months, some never hosting. Larger clowns like maroons and clarkii host within minutes of being added to the tank IME.

Yeah, I'm not feeling super hopeful right now. I used to have a pair of Wyoming Whites that immediately hosted my gigantic toadstool. That one experience made me believe that this would be a made in heaven. I was sorely mistaken.

 

[OrionN]

Captive bred small clowns can be hit and miss some taking months, some never hosting. Larger clowns like maroons and clarkii host within minutes of being added to the tank IME.

BTA is the natural host of Clarlkii and Maroon clowns. That is why as soon as they hit the tank they go into the BTA.

 

[exnisstech]

BTA is the natural host of Clarlkii and Maroon clowns. That is why as soon as they hit the tank they go into the BTA.

Agreed but also only took 10 minutes for my clarkii to host in my blue haddoni. I've had similar experience with long tentacle nems and larger clowns. Captive bred small clowns have just been slow to host anything for me except a power head. This has just been my experience with no science to back it up.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I'm aware that it's a loaded question, and that anemones and clowns are going to do what they want to do no matter how hard I try to get them to be besties. But every day that passes that my anemone isn't hosting my clowns makes me sad!

Has anyone ever experimented with trying to encourage and successfully cultivate this symbiotic relationship?

I haven't tried really much of anything except bringing my feeding pipette near the anemone to attract the clowns to it. They'll get close, but as soon as the food is gone, so are the clowns. They definitely know the BTA is there, but are not showing any interest. Both the clowns and BTA were added roughly two months ago. Any advice helps!

I have the same issue! You know how clowns tend to stay in 1 corner? Well the one mine stay in is literally about 3 inches from my RBBTA, and they don't acknowledge the nem in any way I have read that putting a mirror in that corner may help, as it will drive them to get to the nem before that "other pair" does . But I have not tried this ,YET.

 

[Rjukan]

I'm aware that it's a loaded question, and that anemones and clowns are going to do what they want to do no matter how hard I try to get them to be besties. But every day that passes that my anemone isn't hosting my clowns makes me sad!

Has anyone ever experimented with trying to encourage and successfully cultivate this symbiotic relationship?

I haven't tried really much of anything except bringing my feeding pipette near the anemone to attract the clowns to it. They'll get close, but as soon as the food is gone, so are the clowns. They definitely know the BTA is there, but are not showing any interest. Both the clowns and BTA were added roughly two months ago. Any advice helps!

I haven't tried it, yet... but I've read sometimes it will work to print out a picture of some clowns in a nem and paste it on the side of the tank closest to where the clowns hang out. Lol, it sounds crazy and maybe it was just a joke, but I've been meaning to try it.

 

[mwil79]

I put one Anemone in my 20g (now its two) and my clown completely ignores it. I also had two clowns in a 32g with a large anemone and they didn't care about it at all. Same two clowns are now in a large tank and live in the anemones. I seem to notice the smaller tanks its harder to get them to be hosted and I'm not exactly sure why.

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

I have the same issue! You know how clowns tend to stay in 1 corner? Well the one mine stay in is literally about 3 inches from my RBBTA, and they don't acknowledge the nem in any way I have read that putting a mirror in that corner may help, as it will drive them to get to the nem before that "other pair" does . But I have not tried this ,YET.

I haven't tried it, yet... but I've read sometimes it will work to print out a picture of some clowns in a nem and paste it on the side of the tank closest to where the clowns hang out. Lol, it sounds crazy and maybe it was just a joke, but I've been meaning to try it.

These seem like similar methods, I'll definitely be trying this! Thank you! It honestly makes lots of sense as clowns are super territorial. Right now my thermometer is "hosting" my clowns...

I've also started target feeding my clowns with long tweezers right above and even inside the anemone. @Sophie"s mom I'll let you know if this makes a difference.

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

I put one Anemone in my 20g (now its two) and my clown completely ignores it. I also had two clowns in a 32g with a large anemone and they didn't care about it at all. Same two clowns are now in a large tank and live in the anemones. I seem to notice the smaller tanks its harder to get them to be hosted and I'm not exactly sure why.

Sounds like it's just clown fish being clowns.. I hate to love them.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

These seem like similar methods, I'll definitely be trying this! Thank you! It honestly makes lots of sense as clowns are super territorial. Right now my thermometer is "hosting" my clowns...

I've also started target feeding my clowns with long tweezers right above and even inside the anemone. @Sophie"s mom I'll let you know if this makes a difference.

Yes, please. I really want that relationship to happen. I have had it in the past and it is o darn cute.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Yes, please. I really want that relationship to happen. I have had it in the past and it is o darn cute.

Also, my tank is 90 gallons, so I know space is definitely not the issue here.

 

[OrionN]

Clarkii is like the STD of anemones. They use any anemones as hosts, even Atlantic Condydactis anemones have been known to host Clarkii. Maroon are much more selective. They just use BTA and Magnifica.
On the flip side Magnifica host a lot of clowns naturally