Caribbean and Hawaiian Fish with Anemones

[CoralsAddiction]

How do fish from the Caribbean and Hawaiian islands know that some of the anemones they have never been exposed to are not safe? This question is specific to clown hosting anemones not found there.

 

[Dmorty217]

Great question, when I put the carpet anemone in my tank all of my fish which were bought when juveniles if possible or at the smallest size available had never seen a anemone to my knowledge but all reacted as if they knew that it wasn't friendly if you will

 

[CoralsAddiction]

The first thing that comes to mind is instinct. However, part of the reason Lionfish has become a big problem in FL is resident fish don't seem to have a defensive instinct to Lionfish and end up being eaten by it.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Caribbean and Hawaiian Fish with Anemones

So in reef aquaria, how a cherub angel or a kole tang is supposed to know that a carpet anemone can eat it? Lol

 

[fishhuman]

Not sure but it's a great question

 

[albano]

How do fish from the Caribbean and Hawaiian islands know that some of the anemones they have never been exposed to are not safe?

This is why fish spend years in schools!

 

[pinnatus]

This is why fish spend years in schools!

:lol:

 

[ahmed_iAM]

I'd leave this to a more experienced keeper but clownish host things with tentacles, not necessarily anemones. Mine hosted hairy mushrooms until it moved over to GSP's.

As for other fish, that's a great question which I find have a good theory for.

 

[Marshall O]

I'd leave this to a more experienced keeper but clownish host things with tentacles, not necessarily anemones. Mine hosted hairy mushrooms until it moved over to GSP's.

As for other fish, that's a great question which I find have a good theory for.

I would say that Clownfish will be hosted by almost anything, including heaters, powerheads, macro algae, etc.