Bubble Tip Anemone Care

[The Saltwater Kid]

My wife really wants a home for her Nemo clownfish but my LFS discourages us every time she looks at one because we have a reef tank (small as it's only 29g) and he said they have a mind of their own and could stay in one place for weeks or months and then move somewhere else for no apparent reason, stinging corals as it goes. Is there anyway that you can possibly convince one to stay where it is? I've heard that the Bubble Tips are the least likely to roam, is this true? How often would you feed it (will the clown feed it himself or should i spot feed as well)? I appreciate any and all info/opinions...my wife seems adamant about getting one eventually and I keep putting it off but I can't do that forever (if only Nemo would host in the frogspawn, torch or hammer coral).

 

[Slakker]

You've got all three and he's not hosting?

Is he a true percula or an occelaris?

 

[Chupacabras]

LFS guy is right. BTA's are notorious roamers that do it for no apparent reason. You cannot convince one to stay put... if it's comfortable somewhere it will stay for a while but chances are high it will eventually go walking.

You can keep a 'nem in a reef but'll have to realize this is an anemone tank with some corals and not the other way around (anemone's are almost always the key species in a tank with one it it).

 

[OldmillXxX]

Perhaps this has been touched upon, and I am no expert I can assure you, but has anyone ever tried "glueing" a nem in place? We do it all the time with other corals, zoas, and shrooms and such, but can it be done with nems? Will the nem just seperate itself from the glued portion by splitting?

I am not recommending this practice at all, but would like to know if it has ever been tried, what the result was, and could it be done without hurting the animal?

Thanks, just asking here.

 

[redvipe2010]

I don't suggest adding an anemone to a system that small with all the corals you currently have in there. BTA's will roam, they will park themselves where they want. Also there is no guarantee your clown will want anything to do with a BTA.

Don't depend on a clown to feed an anemone. I feed mine small portions twice a week. Many feed less often. I have a clown that will steal food from his anemone, so I have to somewhat protect the anemone while he eats.

Slakker: It is not uncommon for a clown not to host those corals, in fact it is not uncommon for them to not host at all, ever.

 

[redvipe2010]

Anemones are not corals, glueing them would be a bad idea. If the glue held, it would likely tear it's foot trying to get away. It might survive and it might not survive the injury.

 

[Slakker]

Absolutely true, i was just curious as to what type of clown the OP had.

Oldmill, corals are sessile, while anemones are mobile, and actually have a foot similar to that of a snail...it seems to me like it would be kind of like gluing your dog in place.

 

[redvipe2010]

I was thinking more along the lines of glueing your fish's tail to a rock! Ouch!

The two clowns your speaking of, are very similar, neither is the natural host of the BTA.

 

[Slakker]

Yeah, but they are slightly different in hosting habits, and the only two species that really resemble Nemo

 

[redvipe2010]

I've never noticed one resembling a cartoon. Different how? I have both. Not sure what your saying here, please explain.

 

[Slakker]

:rolleye1: It's painfully obvious that Pixar modelled Nemo and his family after either A. Percula or A. Occelaris...not really sure why you're arguing that.

Furthermore, I'm sure i've read several people saying that their A. occelaris was a lot less eager to host than their A. percula.

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

Our clown is an ocellaris. Maybe if we had a bigger tank I would add one but too many people are saying the same thing for me to chance one in a small reef like ours. Thanks for the advice/info!!!

 

[redvipe2010]

I don't see the argument. You questioned it, my point was that they are very similar and that neither is a natural host to a BTA. As I'm sure if you will continue reading you will find more about these species. But until you go from your Beta in a one gallon bowl to an actual tank with these creatures I don't think you should be giving any advice and arguing with those that have. Reading is one thing, experience is another.

 

[redvipe2010]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9142629#post9142629 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Saltwater Kid
Our clown is an ocellaris. Maybe if we had a bigger tank I would add one but too many people are saying the same thing for me to chance one in a small reef like ours. Thanks for the advice/info!!!

Good decision.

 

[Slakker]

I merely asked a question, out of curiosity. I never said either species was a natural host to the BTA, nor did I start typing unintelligent gibberish "ZOMG UR CLWN WULD NEVER LIVE IN TEH AMONEMDE U HAV!" or anything of the like...I asked which species his particular fish was, that was all. In addition to that, if Occelaris and Percula were one and the same they wouldn't be separate species. They are different both in genetics and personality. The only thing that I argued was your ridiculous statement regarding cartoons, which appears to have been an attempt to discredit my comments.

Regardless of your supposed limitless knowledge and experience, you still felt the need to resort to personal attacks, and for what? Because someone without "vast" personal experience has differing opinions based on the experience of multitudes of other people? Apparently getting hostile is the best way to explain ones own viewpoint.:rolleye1:

 

[redvipe2010]

Maybe you should read your past posts.

 

[Chupacabras]

:rolleye1:

 

[RedSonja]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9142629#post9142629 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Saltwater Kid
Our clown is an ocellaris. Maybe if we had a bigger tank I would add one but too many people are saying the same thing for me to chance one in a small reef like ours. Thanks for the advice/info!!!

Thank you for researching and asking questions *BEFORE* you bought it.

That said, our pair of A. ocellaris host in Anthelia, if you want to try that.

-Sonja

 

[redvipe2010]

Anthelia is a possibile host, leathers, mushrooms, and many other things are also a possibility. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee.