BTA with a falsa percula

[CausticTwin]

I just got a BTA yesterday and was a little disappointed when my clown didn't dive into it right away. I've read that false perculas will host a BTA, and I've read that they won't. I've seen pics online proving that it can happen. My question is: how long does it usually take for the clown to accept the anemone?

 

[rreddick]

Most Ocellaris (false Percs) are tank bred and raised and have never seen a nem. Some take months to host and others never do. The perfered host in the wild is a carpet, but they will host with a BTA so patience. You can try a trick I have used with some success, get a fishing lure shaped like a clown, remove the hooks, use acrylic hobby paint to paint like a clown, let dry 48 hours, then use a fishing line to tie to a small rock and float it next to the nem. The other clowns will get curious and check it out and this may work.

Ron

 

[ChunksInClemson]

great idea rreddick, but what about finding a small toy(plastic) clown and putting that down. Just adding to a great idea.

 

[rreddick]

that would work, I just could not find a small plastic clown here on cape cod when I was looking

Ron

 

[bwest]

In addition to the other ideas, I've heard that you could put the anemone and clown together in a smaller container so it is almost forced to touch it. Then introduce them both back into the tank. The only problem with this is if it has already attached to a large rock, you wont want to rip it off.

 

[OrionN]

I wonder if anybody actually tried their idea out first, before given advices to other people. Some pretty wild idea in this thread.
Neither BTA or Haddoni carpet are natural host of Ocellaris. Which is the natural host of carpet can be found here:
http://www.carlosreef.com/AnemoneFAQ.pdf

 

[CausticTwin]

I'll give these ideas a try and see what happens. In your experiences, how long after the "decoy" was placed did the clown bond with the anemone?

 

[rreddick]

Orion,
beg to disagree with your response, one - Stichodactyla gigantea - is a carpet and is a natural host to Ocellaris clowns, check your source you quoted.

Two - the fake clown has worked for me both times I have used it. It has also worked for several of my fellow reefers.

Ron

 

[OrionN]

Great if it works, just seem to be pretty wild ideas IMHO. S. gigantea are extreemly dificult to keep. Only a handful people here at reefcentral keep them long term that I know about. Most people when talk about carpet refer to S. haddoni which is not a natural host of either Ocellaris or Percula. I did mention that Haddoni carpet is not natural host of Ocellaris.

 

[rreddick]

orion,
Got me there, you day say Haddoni, I have had my Stichodactyla for 14 months, so far so good. Is picky on water quality, if the pH drops below 8.1 he closes up, also very sensitive to its combo of light and water movement, once it finds a happy home I found out, do not change the water flow. Other then that it eats well, silversides twice a week, and mysis twice a week, plus what my clowns bring it. He has doubled in size since I have had him.

Ron

 

[CausticTwin]

I haven't tried to "decoy" tactic yet. I want to give it a little while and see what happens. When my halide goes off and only actinics remain on at night, the clown will nibble on the BTA which makes it retract a little. It happens pretty much every night, but not day time with the halides on. What is that all about?

 

[villious]

Breaking the sound barrier was a pretty wild idea.....until it was done.....

I have a false perc in a BTA....I know that's not his natural host, but I don't think anyone told HIM that.....