Anemone abuse prevention?

[Zimmer]

So maroon clownfish are my dream fish, and I finally have a tank set up just for a pair of them and their host. Aside from starting with a big nem and baby fish, any input or advice regarding the tendency of maroons to "love" their host to death? I would like to prevent or minimize this if I can...

I was thinking of making a bta garden - hoping maybe with multiple host options they might not give all their attention to just one nem? Or getting a clone from a bta that splits frequently lol maybe it will make its own garden? Anyone have stories about maroon clowns NOT killing their bta? Lol

 

[MM393]

I have had a gold stripe maroon for somewhere around 7 years and she is rather large and can be quite rough on her nem. I would suggest letting the anemone settle into the tank before the maroon so it can take hold. Also starting with a small maroon would be ideal as well.

 

[Zimmer]

I'm definitely planning to start small with the fish, hoping to start with 2 juveniles in the hopes they will pair up without too much drama or aggression....

Now to just find the biggest nem I can afford..... LOL

 

[MM393]

Good luck with pairing them up, I love a tank like that with just a clown pair and their anemone. My brother in law had a set up like that, which is what got me interested in saltwater.

 

[Zimmer]

Yep the clownfish/anemone relationship has always been the draw for me getting into the saltwater hobby. l've always wanted maroons, but not in my peaceful mixed reef!! And my history with anemones in that same mixed reef is also not so great (they kill stuff lol). So this new setup is going to be all about them.... finally....:spin1:

 

[hotelbravo]

My maroon isnt very rough with my rbta he was at first but after the first week I found him often resting inside the anemone completely motionless for several minutes. Im not sure if this is unusual behavior never really thought to much about it. He is almost never out of the anemone. I doubt he even knows there is another side of the tank

 

[MM393]

That's how mine is he only leaves his anemone to get some food, or to attack my hand.

 

[Norman123]

I've been trying to add an anenome to my maroon tank for months now... I always end up rescuing the anenome and putting it into my nano tank which was supposed to be a reef tank but becoming more like an anenome rescue.

 

[Zimmer]

Norman123 - That's exactly what I'm worried about :worried2:

For those who have been successful - What sizes of anemones and age of fish?

 

[hotelbravo]

I had started with a juvenile gold stripe maroon(all bands were white when I added). The RBTA was around 4" in diameter.

 

[Mom2jayden]

My anemone moved and hid when the oversized clownfishe became too much for it

 

[Norman123]

My anemone moved and hid when the oversized clownfishe became too much for it

Thats exactly how all three of my failed attempts occurred. My female is a good 2.5" long...and the anenome although bigger that her moved away at first under a rock but she followed it there. Then one day I found it just floating at the bottom of the tank. It eventually split in the rescue tank, half died and the other dime sized piece is trying to recover. I know it's not the water quality because I tried to keep another anenome in one of those plastic boxes in the tank. It was happy...until I opened the box. Both clowns immediately moved in and I couldn't get them out. Aaaaargh!

 

[Daniel62]

You could always try more than 1 nem to spread the pressure around. You could also try putting a strawberry basket around the nem to give it a little protection.

 

[Norman123]

You could always try more than 1 nem to spread the pressure around. You could also try putting a strawberry basket around the nem to give it a little protection.

Strawberry basket! Good idea thanks! The fish box was way too big for my 40G. I'll try that thanks!

 

[Zimmer]

I'm going to try multiple bubble tips to see if that will help. Hopefully I'll end up with a splitter and get some clones too... maybe with a bubble tip garden the female miiiight be happy LOL