bubble tip anemone

[robnuti]

I purchased a bubble tip anemone today, for my maroon clown. I have put the anemone in the tank and the maroon clown seems to be picking at it. As soon as the anemone went into the tank the clown found it as was hanging out by it. All the other fish seem to not notice it. The anemone has turned itself over and has his "foot" facing up. I thought that the bubble tip was safe with clowns? Is this normal? If anyone could help I would appreciate it.

Thanks
Rob

 

[funman1]

I'd set it right side up, as it let go of it's foot hold.
It may wander in the tank till it finds the right spot, hopefully before it finds a powerhead.

The clowns may pick at it but it will not usually harm it any.

 

[jcavanaugh18]

My maroon used too put the tenticals in its mouth, it was weird, I didn't think it was good at first, but nothing bad happened. both of them lived happily until the anemone got sucked into a powerhead. I thought the little anemones would live, but no luck.

I had really good luck with a rock with a hole in it, when I put an anemone in it, it felt secure and didn't move until I transplanted my tank...about 8 months.

Also i hear if you can separate a part of your tank for just the anemone that is a good idea.

And another thing is that since the maroons can be pretty big, make sure the anemone isn't too small...sometimes it seems like the clown will smother it...but I don't really know.

-James

 

[MrMikeB]

That picking is probably the maroon acclimating itself to the anemone's sting so that it may host it. Maroons are aggressive fish and I remember the time when I got my first RBTA. The female maroon clown I had was trying to get to it while it was still floating in the bag. As soon as it hit the water, she was all over it. They will also routinely clean the anemone by running the tentacles in their mouths - part of that symbiotic relationship.

Keep an eye on it though. The premature hosting of a clown in an anemone can add stress to its acclimation process, which might affect overall health. It will indeed wander around the tank and you might even lose sight of it for a day or two. Just watch the powerheads.

 

[kevin95695]

If the anem is too small the clown will 'love it to death'. But what you're describing sounds like normal. When we put a rbta in the tank, the former maroon clown hit that thing and started rolling in it like crazy. I was worried, but everything worked out.

 

[bored4long]

On one of his Reefcasts, Evan suggested that immediately feeding an anemone after you put it in the place you want it to stay will up the odds of it staying in that location. He says the if the anemone knows it will food and light in the location, it should stay. HTH.

 

[bladeruner143]

I did that. I placed it in the spot I wanted. Fed it and it stayed there. Make sure theres no direct flow where you want it. If there is, like in my case, you can a hole-like structure with your rock. I placed the rocks on both sides of the Nem, shielding it from the flow, and now he is VERY happy! Although I dont have any clowns to host it!!!

 

[robnuti]

Thanks for your help. Today the anemone is open, the tips have bubbles and the clown looks like he is in heaven.