1 sick reef
New member
like it says what are some ways to do this 
best way to get a clown to host a anemone
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ashleigho234
New member
It really depends on what clown and what anemone and whether the type of anemone is the clowns natural host, and also whether the clown is tank raised - a wild caught clown is more likely to host, tank raised I have heard hardly ever do.
I have a pair of Ocellaris clowns, wild caught, and I have a Bubble Tip Anemone in my tank, the BTA is not the Ocellaris clowns natural host, although they do tend to host them over time.
I put my clowns in the tank and after a week of them not hosting, I decided to get a net and kind of corner them towards the anemone, and made them stay near it for 5mins, and then just sat the net in the tank and they stayed put, i kept up with this until the clowns would stay where they were, hosting the anemone, this took 4 hours of being persistent and when ever they left the space around the anemone, i got the net and moved them towards the anemone (after a while as soon as they saw me come to the tank and they were away from the anemone, they swam back to it
).
Other ways are to put pictures up of similar clowns hosting the same anemone on the side of the glass, I used this trick on top of the above. once they saw the pictures they seemed to get the hint a little quicker.
There are a range of other methods, but i found this was less stressful to both clowns and anemones as the anemone did not need to be disturbed without the clown naturally trying to host, and that the clowns were not forced to actually touch the anemone.
I have a pair of Ocellaris clowns, wild caught, and I have a Bubble Tip Anemone in my tank, the BTA is not the Ocellaris clowns natural host, although they do tend to host them over time.
I put my clowns in the tank and after a week of them not hosting, I decided to get a net and kind of corner them towards the anemone, and made them stay near it for 5mins, and then just sat the net in the tank and they stayed put, i kept up with this until the clowns would stay where they were, hosting the anemone, this took 4 hours of being persistent and when ever they left the space around the anemone, i got the net and moved them towards the anemone (after a while as soon as they saw me come to the tank and they were away from the anemone, they swam back to it
).Other ways are to put pictures up of similar clowns hosting the same anemone on the side of the glass, I used this trick on top of the above. once they saw the pictures they seemed to get the hint a little quicker.
There are a range of other methods, but i found this was less stressful to both clowns and anemones as the anemone did not need to be disturbed without the clown naturally trying to host, and that the clowns were not forced to actually touch the anemone.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
There isn't a way to get a clown to host an anemone, but there are ways to get clowns hostED by anemones. 
I have been keeping clowns/anemones for about 15 years now, there is one thing that has always worked for me, and that is time/waiting. It has taken minutes, days, weeks and even months, but my clowns have always been hosted by anemones.
One thing I would never suggest is forcing the clown(s) into an anemone. Could very well end up with an eaten clown.
I have been keeping clowns/anemones for about 15 years now, there is one thing that has always worked for me, and that is time/waiting. It has taken minutes, days, weeks and even months, but my clowns have always been hosted by anemones.
One thing I would never suggest is forcing the clown(s) into an anemone. Could very well end up with an eaten clown.
SNAKEMANVET
PREMIUM MEMBER
Clownfish can act strange.My pair were in my small btas,so I bought a lta for them.The lta is now 10'' to 12'' and they would not go near it.I just recently bought a large rbta,while it was in the bag during acclimation my clowns were haveing a fit trying to get in it.Just give them time.
mobert
Active member
Feed your fish with a turkey baster and after awhile they will follow the turkey baster. Then, only feed the anemone not the clowns with the turkey baster. They will go to the anemone for food. They will eventually go in. I have never met a captive bred clown that didn't want to be hosted by an anemone.
tcwoodrn
Member
My B&W occys are tank raised. Before I got them a new they started hosting in my open brain and in some of my zoas. I put a GBTA in the tank and they took to it in less than a week.
I've heard of the turkey baster idea working, it would never work with my clowns though because they attack the turkey baster (and syringe and my hand) the second it enters the tank.
I've heard of the turkey baster idea working, it would never work with my clowns though because they attack the turkey baster (and syringe and my hand) the second it enters the tank.
COreefer
Premium Member
I keep a WC clown that will host to any anemone. When I get a pr of TR or other clowns hesitant to host I toss her in. She goes directly to the anemone and the others chase her into the anemone...Once the pair is in the anemone, they typically stay and I quickly remove the female, back to her dedicated home. If you know someone with an anemone hosting WC clown see if they will let you borrow it...it has never failed for me.
1 sick reef
New member
this is all good info it has been 3 day and no luck they wont go near it but i will just wait it out
tahoe61
New member
Hosting
Hosting
Clownfish have to develop a mucus coating by interactions with the anemone slowly. The mucus coating is made up of sugars rather than protiens, the anemone does not recognize this as food and therefore does not sting the clown. If you force a clown into an anemone before they develop this coating they look like any other food to the anemone and will be stung.
Hosting
Clownfish have to develop a mucus coating by interactions with the anemone slowly. The mucus coating is made up of sugars rather than protiens, the anemone does not recognize this as food and therefore does not sting the clown. If you force a clown into an anemone before they develop this coating they look like any other food to the anemone and will be stung.
COreefer
Premium Member
Some anemones have potential to take a clown, even one that has developed a relationship with. It doesn't take long for the clownfish to develop an immunity to its host anemone...the initial immunity can occur with the first touch the clownfish makes. Most clowns have an anemone immune slime coat, especially of the wild caught variety.
1 sick reef
New member
they are wild caught clowns and i have a seabe anemone so hope that is a good combo.
