Can I get a Clarkii Pair WITHOUT an anemone (short to medium term)?

[mattsilvester]

Hey guys,

I posted before about keeping clowns without host anemones, particularly pairs of clowns.

From reading that post I believed the "right" thing to do would be to provide tehm with an Anemone.

I have waited for months, and a true breeding pair of Clarkii clowns has turned up - they are beign returned to my dealer, so they will be a great, well acclimatised pair to get. However my tank is gonig through a few problems at the moment, and its not really the right time to get an anemone - BUT, I don't want to mis the oppertunity to get this clownfish pair!

So..... in short, I was thinking of getting the pair and holding them in a q-tine tank (without anemone) until the tank gets sorted out - meanwhile it will serve as a q-tine period.
My question is:
Without an anemone in the q-tine tank, will I damage the pair bond between the clowns?

Many thanks,

Regards,

Matt

 

[Heterodonut]

You will not damage the pair bond because they do not have an anemone. Commercial breeders keep pairs for ten to twenty years without an anemone, so I would call that fairly long term. I currently have two breeding pairs of clarkii in tanks without anemones. One pair is the parent of the male (F1) of the second pair. Most of us in the states use a clay flowerpot, so the clowns feel comfortable, and gives them a place to lay their eggs. Many people actually think the "right" thing is NOT to keep nems, becuase they often do not live for more than a few years in the "average" aquarium. Don't worry about the bond, I've known clown pairs to be shipped in separate bags 3,000 miles (24 hours) and then spawn within two weeks of being reunited. Good water quality and excellent foods, with 12 to 14 hours of light, you will have a happy pair. One last thing, don't expect to keep many other critters in the tank with them, a spawning pair of clowns can kill fish many times their size, they will protect their nest, just try sticking your hand in the tank!

 

[mattsilvester]

Well they are destined for an 8x2x2 tank. To be honest, if I could get away without a proper anemone, I would prefer that. I had a clarkii a few years back that hosted in a large sacrophyton, and he was very happy

It is only now that it has struck me .... this pair are a true breeding pair ..... it might be an ideal opertunity to convince the Mrs. we need a new tank.... like an 18" cube or something, so they can have a bit of privacy

Cheers,

Matt

 

[Legacy2005]

you could always try the fake anems that many LFS have. this might get them used to it in the qt tank.

 

[adtravels]

no problem wild caught fish will often be a little bolder if there is actually no anemone ime.