anyone try fake anemones??

[kimbertent]

i bought a tank raised percula clownfish about 2 1/2 weeks ago. at first he was doing fine but he has started not to eat and hiding in the back. i was wondering is this because he does not have an anemone? and has anyone tried using the fake plastic anemones that they sell at the fish stores because i cant seem to get my water temperature down cool enough to have a real anemone even with fans (i live in south florida). are the plastic anemones worth the price? will the clownfish think it is real and be in it just as much as a real one? or could it be that i added 3 green chromis and an anthias in there and they could be bullying the clownfish?

ph. 8.2
nitrates 0
nitrite 0
ammonia 0
temp. 80
salinity 1.021

 

[witfull]

they always work with fake fish,,,,,

seriously,,,a clown does not need an anemone to live a full life. they will accept being hosted by just about anything,,,form a mushroom to a whole in a rock to mag-float. if you want to try it,,,try it. whats the worse that could happen,,,,you lose a few bucks. try it and post your findings~

 

[dantodd]

If it is a tank raised fish it was probably never in a tank with an anemone in its life. Most breeder do not keep anemones in their breeding tanks and don't keep them in their grow-out tanks.

Not eating is often an indication of illness in clownfish. They are usually very active eaters in the tank.

 

[55semireef]

Maybe it has an internal parasite?

 

[kimbertent]

thanks for the replies

everything on him seems to be fine lookwise. how can u tell if he has an internal parasite??

 

[traveller7]

IME internal parasites do not hinder a feeding response.

I would be more concerned with external parasites, water conditions, aggression from tank mates, and or a lack of suitable hiding places.

Adding additional fish frequently brings new disease, even if the new fish are not showing signs of issues. Were any of the new fish Quarantined?