Can anemones cure clownfish ailments?

[D-Nak]

I have a system with 6 tanks on a stacked shelf -- 2 tanks on the top row with a pair of clowns each and several host anemones, and below that 4 tanks with various fish, including 3 pairs of clowns without anemones, all tied into a single sump. Even with a strict QT, somehow two pairs of my clowns on the lower shelf developed white spots (not sure what it is) so I quickly removed them from the main system into a separate QT where I am treating them with the standard guantlet of meds (they are recovering quickly).

None of the clowns with host anemones were affected, which got me to thinking. Do you think the tentacles of the nems--and the clowns constantly brushing up against them--protect them from diseases? I know it could be coincidence, but I was wondering what you guys think.

 

[hotelbravo]

following this thread

 

[ThRoewer]

I would say the answer to the question is "yes, but". I feel clownfish can wart off infections or even keep them in check when they have a host anemone, or a replacement like a coral. Though that only applies if the water quality is ok and there are no other serious issues.
It is likely due to the clownfish covering themselves into their host's slime.
I'm not sure if the anemone slime has an anti-parasitic effect or if it cloaks the fish's own chemical signature so that parasites don't recognize it as a suitable host to feed on.
It could also be a combination of both.

 

[lifeoffaith]

I'm sure that the fact that there is less stress for a hosting clown might factor in too.

 

[D-Nak]

I would say the answer to the question is "yes, but". I feel clownfish can wart off infections or even keep them in check when they have a host anemone, or a replacement like a coral. Though that only applies if the water quality is ok and there are no other serious issues.
It is likely due to the clownfish covering themselves into their host's slime.
I'm not sure if the anemone slime has an anti-parasitic effect or if it cloaks the fish's own chemical signature so that parasites don't recognize it as a suitable host to feed on.
It could also be a combination of both.

I'm sure that the fact that there is less stress for a hosting clown might factor in too.

I completely agree with the both of you. I'm now wondering if I should conduct an experiment and isolate a pair of the sick clowns with a host anemone to see if the ailment goes away (without any medication). This doesn't prove anything since the ailment could obviously go away on its own, I'm just curious to see what happens.

 

[Amoo]

Following, I would lean more towards protecting against then curing from, but for something like ich it could possibly do both since it has to reattach to continue the re infestation. So basically if it was ich, you may have to "treat" for 3 months (forget exact days just always say about 3 months) to completely get a result.

Also, sounds like a breeder setup, mind showing some pictures of the setup itself?

 

[ThRoewer]

I actually saw my percula suckling on green starpolyps after they had a bit elevated breathing and soon after they were back to normal. I'm pretty sure this was a form of self medicating.

 

[ReefSmarts]

i think there is something to that. I had a local fish store that had a sick Picasso with some type of flukes or bacteria infection. He placed the clown in a holding tank with hundreds of anemones. A few weeks later the clown looked better then ever. 6 months later the clown is stunningly happy.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I think anemones would help with stressed clownfish,and the clownfish that are already established are not stressed out is why you didn't see them showing white spots.I have bought fish before that showed signs of ich after placing in my dt and my clowns never had any spots.So I had to pull all fish out for 4 months while tank was fallow.and also did you pull all the other fish out of their display tanks and place them in qt.

 

[OrionN]

I think in a well run reef tank with diversity of fauna, some of tha fauna are predators of some disease. I am sure that disease like velvet and ick have natural predator control. If we consider consider cleaner shrimp as a "fauna" organism, then this one well know natural predator of parasites. I am sure that in a barren bare bottom reef the tomites of Ick all survived and develops and attack fish in a tank. In nature the percentage of tomites that survive is not anywhere near 100%. If we simulate nature in out tank hopefully the percent of tomites survival is minimal as well.
I do not have any proof of what I wrote. Just my speculation

 

[ThRoewer]

I think in a well run reef tank with diversity of fauna, some of tha fauna are predators of some disease. I am sure that disease like velvet and ick have natural predator control. If we consider consider cleaner shrimp as a "fauna" organism, then this one well know natural predator of parasites. I am sure that in a barren bare bottom reef the tomites of Ick all survived and develops and attack fish in a tank. In nature the percentage of tomites that survive is not anywhere near 100%. If we simulate nature in out tank hopefully the percent of tomites survival is minimal as well.
I do not have any proof of what I wrote. Just my speculation

While I in general agree that all the protozoan parasites are on someone's menu, cleaner shrimp are not among their predators as they rather go after crustacean and worm (flukes) parasites.
The organisms that likely feed on protozoan parasites are all the filtrating inverts: sponges, feather duster worms, clams, even SPS corals. I would also not exclude larva stages of certain shrimp or fish to go for them should they come across them (which is probably less likely).
Also, all the little critters on the rocks and in the sand may go after the protomonts before they can encyst, as protomonts are quite juicy bites and at that stage quite unprotected.