Anemone and A. Ocellaris

[maysorum]

I have to admit that I haven't been a big fan of clown fish in the past, but something has changed. Now, I find that I am fascinated with the commensal relationship between anemones and clownfish.

I know that in the wild A. Ocellaris host Heteractis MagnifIca, Stichodactyla haddoni, Stichodactyla gigantea, etc. I would like to know what kind of anemones have your A. Ocellaris hosted successfully in the home aquarium? Any anecdotal stories would be much appreciated!

 

[tekim]

Interested as well - along for the ride!

 

[maysorum]

Anyone?

 

[DeathWish302]

E.Quadricolor (Red, Green & 'Orangish')

 

[NatureNerd]

Almost 15 years ago I bought a small (1/2") tank raised occ. clown. A few weeks later I rescued an even smaller fin-ripped occ clown from a LFS. The people there said it was wild caught and was not going to make it because of how it was caught. I doubt both statements. It took about a month before it was healthy. The two quickly paired and adopted my Macrodactyla doreensis: LTA anemone. They have been living in it ever since.

They pick sand out of it to clean it, they feed it big pieces of frozen food, and they stay in it 90% of the time. They spawn next to it and protect it from my two skunk cleaners. They don't need to, but they do anyway.

Even after all these years it is my favorite part of my reef. Symbiosis is so cool.

 

[sesheru95]

Green Bubble tipped anemone, they started being hosted by it after four days of it being there ( at least the female did lol ) .

 

[NatureNerd]

I should let the experts chime in. I believe I have a M. doreensis. See below:

 

[NakedClown]

 

[maysorum]

Wow, thank you for sharing everyone.

NatureNerd and NakedClown: thanks for the awesome pictures. How long did it take for your clowns to start hosting?

 

[NakedClown]

mine hosted ASAP.

 

[NatureNerd]

Wow, thank you for sharing everyone.

NatureNerd and NakedClown: thanks for the awesome pictures. How long did it take for your clowns to start hosting?

It was a few days. They started paying attention to the LTA on the second day. By the third, the smallest one was in. The larger, who became the female was in a day later.

 

[ocellaris123]

I have to admit that I haven't been a big fan of clown fish in the past, but something has changed. Now, I find that I am fascinated with the commensal relationship between anemones and clownfish.

I know that in the wild A. Ocellaris host Heteractis MagnifIca, Stichodactyla haddoni, Stichodactyla gigantea, etc. I would like to know what kind of anemones have your A. Ocellaris hosted successfully in the home aquarium? Any anecdotal stories would be much appreciated!

Ocellaris do not host in haddonis in the wild, but mine hosted in bubble anemones and now in haddonis.