Anemone Q & A!

[ChuckNasty]

Hey all, so I have been thinking about purchasing my first Anemone. One thing I've wanted for my tank since I thought about setting one up! Now, 4 Months into my tanks life, I think my 24 Gallon is ready for something other than shrimp, fish or snails. I have no unwanted algae, my water is clear with plenty of copepods, and has good movement. My rocks have start of coraline that is beginning to take hold.

So basically my reason for this thread is to find out what Anemones work best with Ocellaris Clowns? (I have two) I have heard that some Nem's wont host Clownfish so I thought Id come here where you all have been so much help in the past!

Any insight would be great.

 

[ajcanale]

In regards to anemones that host clownish, I think your only viable option, given small tank size, would be a quadracolor(bubble tip).

With ocellaris there is no guarantee though, as they can be quite stubborn when taking to anemones, especially bubble tips. The highest chance would be with a gigantica(carpet) or magnifica(ritteri), both of which aren't suitable for small tanks, and are more difficult to keep than bubble tips.

HTH

 

[kfisc]

Don't forget really strong lighting, and that they are prone to move at will, and require food. In fact, some clowns will host a condylactis- at least my pair of maroons I had 12 years ago did; it was a hoot.

 

[snorvich]

To see which anemones host which clown fish see this. But as ajcanale said above the only viable option in your tank would be a bubble tip. And as also stated, the clownfish may or may not choose to associate with it (the anemone hosts, the clownfish associate with it)

 

[ericarenee]

Don't forget really strong lighting, and that they are prone to move at will, and require food. In fact, some clowns will host a condylactis- at least my pair of maroons I had 12 years ago did; it was a hoot.

the Anemone Host the Fish .. not the fish host the anemone.
With that said a 4 month old small tank is NOT Mature enough in my Opinion..

 

[ca1ore]

Ocellaris and BTAs are 50:50 as to whether the former will see the anemone as an acceptable host. BTAs are nice, though, so worth trying IMO.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Simon while I agree with your statement on occy's and bta's I have two true perc's. SO to increase my odds of having one of the bta's host my perc's I got two of them One sunset bta and one rbta. Still hasn't happened

I've got two beautiful perc's and two beautiful nems :thumbsup: Just not together

 

[davocean]

Being that a BTA is a natural host nem for occs it may work out for you, but I do agree you are on the early side of adding any host nem, 6mo is the usual minimum recommendation.
BTA's wander, in that size tank it will always be very close to intakes, make sure you cover them.
Personally in that size tank I would just go w/ a safer alternative like frogspawn or hammer, they don't wander.

 

[ChuckNasty]

Thanks for all the replies... So far what I've gathered is that...

More Q & A added -
1. My 24 Gallon tank may be too small. - Why is that too small?
2. Bubble tip are the only viable option I potentially have. - Explain?
3. May be too early for an Anemone. - Even if my water param's are okay?
4. Someone mentioned Frogspawn or Hammers. - What are these, and do they host clowns?

 

[ericarenee]

Being that a BTA is a natural host nem for occs it may work out for you, but I do agree you are on the early side of adding any host nem, 6mo is the usual minimum recommendation.
BTA's wander, in that size tank it will always be very close to intakes, make sure you cover them.
Personally in that size tank I would just go w/ a safer alternative like frogspawn or hammer, they don't wander.

my mated perc clowns have Decided to make a Large GSP Home..

As you say there are a a lot that seem to draw the clowns in. I think its as much as them being comfy in the tank and the location of the coral or anemone
OHH And Lots of luck..

 

[snorvich]

Corals which host clownfish are often damaged by the clownfish.

 

[davocean]

Thanks for all the replies... So far what I've gathered is that...

More Q & A added -
1. My 24 Gallon tank may be too small. - Why is that too small?
2. Bubble tip are the only viable option I potentially have. - Explain?
3. May be too early for an Anemone. - Even if my water param's are okay?
4. Someone mentioned Frogspawn or Hammers. - What are these, and do they host clowns?

A typical host nem will be about 12-18" in diameter, that puts it very close to all pumps and intakes even if it stayed perfectly centered, which most likely it won't.
If it gets sucked in it could nuke everything.
BTA's are fairly forgiving and a natural host found in the wild for occs, most other nems will be too big, too sensitive, or your clowns may never accept it, occs are notorious for this.
6mo allows params to not just be "fine", but to stabilize.
look up frog and hammer, soft corals, look similar to nems, often used as an alternative, I have a number of times long term and those two have never seemed bothered by any clowns I have a had, they are a great alternative used by many.

 

[davocean]

This is frogspawn hosting a pair of SI percs I had

 

[ca1ore]

Being that a BTA is a natural host nem for occs

Though there's conflicting published information, it's my understanding that the BTA hosts neither occs nor percs in the wild.

 

[Sapelo]

My pair have beaten my poor Duncan coral until he's really not doing well at all. I've had to transfer him to the QT tank for recovery and can only hope that the dang clowns forget about him when I return him to the tank. Ugh!

 

[kfisc]

To see which anemones host which clown fish see this. But as ajcanale said above the only viable option in your tank would be a bubble tip. And as also stated, the clownfish may or may not choose to associate with it (the anemone hosts, the clownfish associate with it)

the Anemone Host the Fish .. not the fish host the anemone.
With that said a 4 month old small tank is NOT Mature enough in my Opinion..

Obvious blunder on my part. Not to mention my maroons were downright mean and nasty; I can't imagine them hosting anything.

 

[ryeguyy84]

Thanks for all the replies... So far what I've gathered is that...

More Q & A added -
1. My 24 Gallon tank may be too small. - Why is that too small?
This one was answered
2. Bubble tip are the only viable option I potentially have. - Explain?
3. May be too early for an Anemone. - Even if my water param's are okay?
Anemones are more difficult and less forgiving than soft coral so your parameters should be stable before they are added. newer tanks tanks tend to have spikes here and there
4. Someone mentioned Frogspawn or Hammers. - What are these, and do they host clowns?
soft corals that clowns tend to treat like anemones

That said mine hosts candy cane (or trumpets I forget which is which)

 

[ArmyGreens]

Wish I hadd a host for pics... lol

Ive 2 maroon clowns that lay in patches of cyano... "yo humAn, cold have at least purchased a nem with tentacles"

 

[chicagoreefer20]

I have a 35g and bought from another reefer his two clown fish and the hosted rbta. I watched the clownfish frolic in the rose bubble tip anemone. Well, its been about 2 years now and the two have never spent any time with their old friend. One hangs out inside a candycane coral and the other tries to sleep on top of a leather that deflates at night. The rbta is a monster - usually it splits after awhile - its split four times so far but this time its stayed as one and it takes up about 1/4 of the real estate in my tank. Hasnt moved much, fortunately. Clownfish will do whatever they want. I have heard them "hosted" by the return pipe or the back corner.

Think of it this way. You are a specimen in an alien exhibit and they buy you what they think is a couch or maybe is a couch, but you just happen to like sitting on a table. Frustrating.

 

[ericarenee]

Wish I hadd a host for pics... lol

Ive 2 maroon clowns that lay in patches of cyano... "yo humAn, cold have at least purchased a nem with tentacles"

Poor Clowns..

I know my Female Clowns Host the ideal of Eating my hand if i stick it in my tank. Terror Clown i tell you ...

Never seen a Fish try to eat me..